[2017cpa]

Hi everyone. I’m struggling staying focused and actually studying. There’s times I question if I even want to take this test because I hate studying so much. When I start to think I may not take it I remember that I’ll regret it if I don’t do it now and that I’ve made every decision in my career and education to allow me to take the CPA. This unfortunately doesn’t help while I’m actually studying. I have never liked to study through all of my schooling and I always procrastinated when I had to. I guess what I’m trying to say is what helps you to keep studying even if you don’t understand, get bored, fail practice problems? I think when I start to study something I’m not understanding I struggle to stay motivated the most. I took AUD in April and take FAR in July 31 and I wont get my scores for AUD until August so I guess I just feel like I’ve had all this studying and no rewards (I’m praying that God blessed me and I passed AUD) I’m hoping that if I passed AUD that will be the motivation I need to keep me going. I know this is only a short term sacrifice and the less I focus on what I’m studying the longer it will take me to pass. I need a change in mindset. I just feel overwhelmed and not only do I want to pass but my whole family wants me to pass. Probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. (I had a baby without pain killers and I would do that again gladly over this exam) Anyway how do you stay positive, motivated, focused and all that other good stuff?

[Anonymous]

My motivation is the time and money I have put into this process-I want to be done, I want my life back! 🙂

[Matthias]

You sound like myself. I was a heavy procrastinator all the way up and through grad school and a very bad test taker. I still find it easy to get distracted and can't stand long study sessions without taking several breaks. I paid for Becker back in 2013 and didn't even end up using most of it taking Audit in February and August 2013 and not passing. For the longest time I never wanted to even think about it again.

However, anywhere you go in the accounting field it will always hang on your back. It's held me back a lot in my career and I really feel it's definitely the key to my success. My family has been pressuring me as well and, with my wife and I's first child due in early January, I've been using that to motivate me to knock out this goal and put it behind me. I just pray that my will is justified. Its definitely a struggle but I'm just forcing myself to focus on the doors it'll open for me and grit the damn thing out.

[2017cpa]

@matthias Thank you for letting me know that I'm not the only one on here that is distracted and a bad test taker. I've been thinking about your response a few days now and it has made studying better. Your perspective and outlook have helped me just go and study. No time like the present. Yes this studying is only temporary but that doesn't make it any better for me. I'm just going to give it my all now and if it doesn't work out I may just decide to try again in the future. Not having so much pressure helps me relax. What still petrifies me is that I'll be sitting at the testing center for 4 hours with no clue how to answer any of the questions. (I can't wait 'til this is over)

[Author]

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