[pacific1]

Kasia – I saw your post last week about rhodiola and how it helps you focus, I did pick some up the other day but was just curious as to how long you noticed until it was working for you?

[KasiaS]

@pacific, I can't say I know how it works it terms of the mechanics but what I noticed was that I'm significantly more alert and can concentrate on a task for longer periods of time. I think it has something to do with the fact that it does calm the nerves without making you lethargic. If I'm more calm, I'm sharper since my doesn't wander as much.

I take 2 pills and I'd say I felt the difference within about 3-4 days of taking the supplement. It may vary by person, but for me, the difference was fairly noticeable. I also, experienced no side effects.

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[pacific1]

Thanks Kasia!!

[Anonymous]

Kassia. I might purchase a bottle because I just started work and I can't focus when I get home at night. Can you compare it to coffee? And what times do you take it? I want to copy your schedule( read it on a precious thread)

[KasiaS]

@CPAer: In comparison to coffee, Rhodiola is not a stimulant so I like that I can take it at just about any time without cursing the gods that be for downing coffee too late in the day. There is no crash and no withdrawal headaches if you stop using Rhodiola. LIke I said above, it overall calms my mind and nerves, allowing me to settle my thoughts on the exciting world of accountancy. lol

I usually take the pills around mid-day (somewhere around 3:30PM or so) and that'll help me finish the work day strong and pull me through the rest of the evening and I have no problem falling alseep once 10:30PM rolls around. I still do drink coffee, but only once when I get in to the office, otherwise I stick to tea and water. Here's what a typical day looks like for me:

Mon-Fri: 4:45-5:00AM Wake up and brush teeth/wash face and make tea.

5:00-6:30AM Study

6:30-7:25AM Shower, dress, pack lunch and head to bus stop

7:25-8:25AM Study on the bus/train on commute to work (I usually only get about 45 minutes of real study)

8:30-1:30PM Work

1:30-3:00PM Eat lunch and study (I take 30 mins to eat in peace and study the remaining 60 mins)

3:00-5:00PM Work

5:00-6:20PM Study on the bus/train commute home

6:20-7:00PM Eat dinner and prove to my family I'm still alive and somewhat social

7:00-10:00PM – Study some more!

10:00-10:30PM – Brush teeth and get ready for bed.

Sometimes I study longer but I try to call it quits so I can get at least 6 quality hours of sleep. I use an audio course so I always fall asleep listening to the lectures – usually I choose a lecture on a topic I feel I need more exposure to. I set my iPod to a 90 minute sleep timer and am usually attentive for abour 20 minutes before I pass out.

I'd describe my weekends but they're not nearly as structured as my work week. These vary a lot but I generally try to shoot for 5-8 hours each day. Sometimes I get more or less done depending on chores, errands, and my will power lol

I hope this helps!

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[pacific1]

Kasia you are a machine!

[KasiaS]

Haha believe it or not, you're not the first person to tell me that! Even my boss compares me to a computer.

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[Anonymous]

Seriously a machine … I can't follow your schedule lol. Out of curiosity how efficient are you if you don't take the supplement?

[KasiaS]

I'm still fairly efficient but it all depends on the type of day I'm having. If things at home aren't going well or work is just awful then I will probably be about 2/3 as attentive as I would be with rhodiola. On good days I won't take the supplement at all. I usually use my lunch study hour to gague if I could benefit from a boost. If I find myself hopping online or checking email too often during that hour, I take the pills.

And the schedule is only intimidating on paper. Once you do it for a few weeks, it just becomes a routine like anything else. I should also disclose that I don't always study on the way home if the train only has standing room and I don't have space to hold my book up. And there are evenings when I take the night off and go out to dinner though I generally only allow myself 2 such outings per study period (about 6 weeks per section)

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[Anonymous]

Thanks for replying! You're 2/3 attentive w/o rhodiola on a tough day?

[Anonymous]

That's a huge difference! 67% attentive w/o it on a tough day?

[KasiaS]

Yeah, on a rough day (like today) Rhodiola makes a really big difference for me. I've tried other calming herbal supplements like Valerian, but nothing compares to Rhodiola. Again, that is on a rough day when work is overwhelming and I have abaout 1,000 things on my mind other than the CPA – this is when it makes a HUGE difference for me personally.

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[Yvonne570]

Look at your scores Kasia:) I'm down. Who deals it and for how much? LOL.

AUD - Passed:)
FAR - Passed:)
REG - Retake TBD
BEC - Missed by 3 points Retake TBD

[KasiaS]

Haha! Yvonne, I got it at GNC for about $30. I think there were 90 pills in there. You can probably find it cheaper online or at a local pharmacy. I was desperate for any help other than Red Bull so I bit the bullet and coughed up the cash. I hope it works as welll for you if you decide to give it a shot.

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[Yvonne570]

Thanks. Anything would help being a single mother of teens and a high demand full-time job. LOL.

AUD - Passed:)
FAR - Passed:)
REG - Retake TBD
BEC - Missed by 3 points Retake TBD

[katiekanton]

I just found it at iHerb for about $11 including shipping for 40 caps. Supposedly the Swedish Institute's “arctic root” packs a pretty good punch. We'll see…..

AUD - 88
FAR - 90
REG - 85
BEC - 88

[Author]

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