[aspencookie]

I need to figure out a way to stay awake during the weekdays to study.

this is my schedule-

Work – 8am to 5pm or sometimes 6pm or 7pm
6pm or 7pm to 8pm — Get home and take care of pets (go for a walk etc) Arrive home back from the park
8pm to 9:15pm –Feed pets, eat dinner, rest, watch tv
Get ready to study
Study or TRY TO STUDY 9:15pm to 12am (this lasted a week)

usually now by 10:40pm im falling asleep
and then it starts all over again
Wake up at 6am most of the time 6:40am…
Get ready and make it to work at 8am

Start cycle all over again.

Every time I pick up the FAR book i fall asleep, i tried reading the other books but i dont have the attention span to do it.
I force myself to AT LEAST do something before sleeping, even if its one paragraph.

[JMG]

Get rid of your pets and you can pick up a couple extra hours of studying (lol similar to the cocaine joke!)

But seriously, I agree with the quality vs quantity statement, get up early and study, and try to dedicate as much time on the weekends as you possibly can. Good luck!

[RyonT]

I think I agree with Diddy, and Tncincy. I would give up the job search for now. You can get up at 5 and study until 6:30. Ditch the tv for now as well. Eat and feed pets from 8-8:30. Study 8:30-11. That's 4 hours a day, and you get to break it up a bit which is nice. Tim is also right. If studying isn't a priority, then you're just wasting time and money. I'm all for watching tv or taking breaks, but if what you're currently doing isn't working….

[rencpa]

Agree with Tim and others.

My biggest suggestion is to spend time analyzing your priorities/needs BEFORE you start studying. One or two hours of studying each day is better than nothing. Catch up on weekends!

Entertain your pets AFTER studying. Everything and everyone can, should, must wait. Period.

Skip this part, “early mornings im putting in job apps to look for a better opportunity”. Looking for a job, is like having another job.

Nothing good comes easily!

[aspencookie]

can people get off my back about watching tv while i eat????!!!!!!! who said i sit there and watch tv? i watch tv while i eat…Geeezzzzz..thats 20 – 30 mins of tv..is that a crime? and to those who think “studying is not my priority?” okkkk..good to know that you know so much about me from one post.

[PDiddy2000]

don't get offended about those posts. However, I think there were some good advice and pointers given. Take a few of those and see if they work for you.

[TREK2018]

Reading a FAR study guide at the end of the day would be tiring for most people- hope you find the best time for you, maybe you could find a hour in the morning and then another 90 minute session at night and divide it up a little with longer work on weekends. Anyway good luck in your quest.

[Anonymous]

this thread has become weird now

[Recked]

I would usually wrap up the books by 7pm so I could eat and watch some tv to unwind before trying to go to bed at 830-9.
Back up around 6 the next day to do it all over again.

TV is not the devil. Keep your mental health game right, first and foremost.

[JMG]

You ultimately have to find a balance and a rhythm that works for you, regardless of the advice given here. Definitely set a routine that you will stick to but be flexible to tweak that routine as you track your progress. If watching tv while you eat is the mental break you need to study better and harder then by all means, go for it.

[jdub]

I'm all about quality over quantity and I'm definitely a person that needs a mental break after work and I'm not very productive with thinking if I wake up at 4 or 5 in the morning before work.

However, I was getting my MBA when I had a high pressure, low flexibility job (thankfully that's not the case with my CPA now) and I took up a caffeine addiction (Dr Pepper.. mmmm..). I also studied pretty much all day on Saturday, but would give myself Sunday to sleep in a little bit and recover some then hit it again. I switched up my “me time” aka the gym/walking the dogs – to before work because I didn't have to think at 5 in the morning to go for a run. So that helped because it was 1 less thing I had to do after work and therefore could study sooner and get to bed sooner. I had a puppy and was single and maintaining a fixer-upper home so I get being pulled in 18 different directions. I could ignore everyone in my house because it was just me, but a puppy was time consuming and I couldn't ignore when my little fixer upper decided to do fun things like the crawl space flooding.

Also, I currently work through my lunch break to dip out a little early. However, keep in mind that it doesn't matter how busy you are – your employer legally has to give you a break if you want one (my last 2 companies have been very pro-union so I'm very aware of worker's rights both hourly and salary haha). So you can also use that as your brain break time as well.

[Recked]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOb0RMvfQbg

[Tncincy]

@aspencookie: Sorry you feel attacked. We hope you get what you need to pass. Good luck.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Anonymous]

Job applications early in the morning < Studying for the CPA exam in the morning IMO especially since you already have your job OR just quite your job and study full-time then start applying for jobs or even better – do your job applications at night and study in the morning. Juggle around with your schedule I guess…

[Meg267]

Have you tried doggie daycare before? I take our dog once a week and it tires her out for a few days. As soon as I get her home, she sleeps the rest of the night. That might free up some time here and there if you took your doggie to daycare.

Pushing yourself to stay awake when you're obviously exhausted isn't the way to do it. Maybe study 2 hours a night and then longer on weekends. It's about balance.

[Anonymous]

Aspencookie, if you just try to read the FAR book (or any textbook) from cover to cover, it will most certainly be overwhelming. I'd maybe start by cross-referencing the text to MCQ's to see what is important for the exam.

It's also important to have a goal or deadline imo. For example, an exam date, whether you're ready or not. You can't treat this like some part-time hobby.

[Author]

Replies