[Anonymous]

I work as an ERP consultant and I manage multiple implementations at a time and am continuous pressure to complete tasks on a daily tasks to ensure projects move along without any delays.

My issue is everytime I sit down to study, I immediately get distracted and begin sending emails to clients and co workers and never get back to studying!!

How do I stop concentrating on my day job and begin concentrating on studying…urghhh very frustrating… its like my mind continues to play games with me! 🙁

Thanks,

CPA002

[Tncincy]

when is your test? Sometimes you have to put that date before you and realize how much material you need to cover before it really set in the you must study if you're going to pass. I am sure others will have motivators for you but you have to be aware of your test date and how much material you need to cover to pass, unless you have more money for test fees. (just a thought) it helps me to stop procrastinating and get it done.

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

[Anonymous]

I agree with tncincy, you have to set a date. Also, I never studied at the house or at my office. I have since spent hundreds of dollars and have a Gold card now at Starbucks. This is from a Folgers guy.

[Anonymous]

@6silvermoonbeams yes, i have a date set – april 4th..for FAR….but i feel like work is more important. How do i shake this feeling and start concentrating on my studies….

[ruggercpa2b]

I have been struggling with the same issue as well. I just started another job and they load us up with work. Once you are done with one deadline you already have one looming over your head on top of other adhoc projects. I have my test scheduled for Feb 27 but between work, studying and planning a wedding I feel like I am drowning. Part of me wants to push the exam to April because I hate to go in unprepared. But part of me is thinking to just suck it and utilize every waking moment. Oh, did I mention a fiance who needs a little attention occasionally.

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[Allergic2CPA]

@OP

It's difficult to know if you have so much work that leaves you with no time for CPA studies or if you're using work as an excuse to delay your studies.

Which one of these situations are you in? Try to be honest :).

FAR 46*, 77
AUD 70, 79
BEC 67, 82
REG 75

Texas License July 2013

Used Yaeger lectures based on Wiley textbooks

*Studied less than two weeks, forgot I had purchased NTS.

[Anonymous]

Good point @Allergic2CPA.

I need to think about that more as I suspect at times I probably do use work as an excuse to delay my studies. I just dont want to fall behind at work and feel like im consistently drowning. I guess, I have to make time and devote that time to only studying and then work if I am still up for it afterwards. This approach might actually make me uber productive at work! Will try it out. Thanks everyone.

[Anonymous]

I've found because of work, I don't study well on week nights because I get too distracted. I try to study in the mornings (before work) and on weekends. This leaves my evenings completely free to handle any work bs that I have to deal with.

[Anonymous]

You will always have distractions. Always. If you want to pass this test , you will need to take massive action and dedication. Especially for FAR. The tests that I have passed have taken me 5-6 weeks of study time per test. I am allocating 7-8 weeks (2-3 hours m-f and 5-6 hours on sat and sun). I am in public accounting at a 20 some employee firm. I am an active board member for a charity. 2 kids and wonderful wife. You might need to take the exam to see what it's like to fully understand that you'll need to split off from other aspects in life in order to pass these. It's only temporary though.

[Mamabear]

You need to set a schedule and stick to it. Taking 2 hours out of each day or 4 hours every other day to study is not going to make you fail at work. The longer you let work or anything else distract you from your set study time, the longer you will be taking this test. It took me 18 months to pass them all because I prolonged things. Don't do that to yourself. You'll regret it.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Anonymous]

Great point @Mamabear and @6silvermoonbeams!

Did you guys try to study at work?

[Mamabear]

I didn't. I studied at lunch sometimes, but it is near impossible to study in my office unless I close the door. Too many visitors and interruptions. And honestly I don't like to study at my desk very much because I respond to emails, etc. like you do. You need to allocate your time and separate work/study since you have trouble focusing on one because of the other. Keep it strict for yourself without all of the overlap. If you are studying, shut down your work email. It will help!

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Anonymous]

@Mamabear Thanks!

Did you use any cpa review programs to help push you through?

[Anonymous]

Just assume death if you do not pass. That always gets me studying harder…

[Mamabear]

I used a lot of different things for passing exams:

BEC: Kaplan book, lectures, test bank

AUD: Kaplan book, Ninja notes/audio/flashcards, Wiley Test bank

FAR: Wiley book, Wiley Test bank, Ninja notes/audio

REG: Wiley book, Ninja MCQ/notes/audio, Becker flashcards

I had to take AUD and REG twice. I changed my test bank for AUD from Kaplan to Wiley and added ninja products. The Ninja products were a huge factor in my understanding of the material. When I walked into the exam I could quote the Ninja audio almost verbatim and it helped me answer a lot of questions.

I added the Wiley book for my REG retake. Keep in mind that there were no Ninja books when I started and the Ninja MCQ was only out for my REG exam. I can't speak for the Ninja books, but of everything I used I would do a combo of Wiley book & Ninja MCQ/notes/audio for my exams if I had to do them over.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Anonymous]

Awesome thanks for the information and motivation.

I've planned to set aside two hours once i get home without my email being opened.

Time to tackle this once and for all!

[Author]

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