[1skibum]

Hi all! I’m currently in the situation where I have an exam expiring at the end of April and have three exams to get done in that time and it’s busy season. I’ve taken both AUD and REG scoring a 72 and 73. I’ve come to the realization that I will probably lose BEC, but do you have any advice on how to stay sane while working 55-65 hours a week and studying?

I’ve been working 55 hours a week since the beginning of the year and studying about 20-30 hours on top of that, mostly on the weekend and am basically getting extremely burnt out. Last weekend I studied 5 yours after work on Friday, about 8 hours after work on Saturday and put in a solid 12 on Sunday, which led to my brain being in a fog all last week. I’m not sure if I should just let my 3 NTS’s go or if there’s some way to juggle all of this while my hours are about to increase in the next few weeks. Any thoughts/help would be much appreciated!

[PTBP2018]

I feel you! Your work schedule is going to get crazier as the deadline approaches. Your brain needs time to rest. If you don't rest, you won't retain anything. Trust me! When I studied for FAR over Q4, I was putting in a lot of hours at work, preparing for the insanity. I took zero time to rest, despite the many hours I put in while studying. I lost weight and my health was completely compromised. By test day, I was so burned out, and I realized I retained a lot less than I bargained for. I put in more hours than ever, and it was my worst fail yet. Between the holidays, work, and studying, I slept very little. I looked like a complete zombie – and I felt like one too. The stress caused some health issues, so now I am trying to find a balance.

If you are at a point to where you can do a lot of your work mindlessly, I recommend getting to work by 6am. Find a quiet place (could be your cubicle) and hit the books. Get a good 2 hours in while your brain is fresh (and not depleted). Then begin work at 8am – 8:30am. Work until you can head home. Make a healthy dinner. Crash. Get sleep. Recharge. I am finding that I am retaining a lot more this way. My homework scores are WAY better than the last time around.

Lastly, studying for 12 hours straight isn't efficient. This took me a long time to learn, and sometimes, I am still guilty of making this mistake. It makes you burned out for the upcoming week and it makes studying in the morning even harder. Set a quit time – even if you didn't get as far as you wanted. Turn on a Netflix for a few hours and turn your brain off. Seriously, your brain will thank you.

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