[kmwgrace]

So I’m home today, trying to get some of my Becker homework done since I actually have to pass the class at my university in order to graduate in May. My husband, who is a professor with a somewhat flexible schedule, is home too. Let me just say… it is REALLY hard to focus when someone is walking through the house humming, or making random observations about life, or when their phone rings, or their email notification bings… (a personal pet peeve of mine is the audible email notification).

There comes a point where saying “shhh” for the upteenth time isn’t adequate and I come pretty close to saying something unkind to the person I love most in this world. Argh.

What are your distractions or pet peeves when you’re trying to study?

~ Kate... MTX!
CPA exam on hold while I homeschool my 6 year old!

[jeff]

Leave. The. House. Silly.

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[kmwgrace]

I don't wanna!!! In all seriousness I was recently diagnosed with diverticulitis. This flare-up is (hopefully) just about gone although I have 5 more days on antibiotics after today. grr. Anyway the worst symptom is lower abdominal pain that is aggravated by sitting up at a 90 degree angle, and even worse when I'm leaning forward say at a desk or table. The least painful place where I can reasonably work is in my recliner with my laptop, where I can adjust the position as needed for comfort. So on a normal day after the flare-up has gone (or before it arrived) I'd say yes, of course, I should go to the library/coffee shop/campus and find a quiet place to study but right now, that literally causes me pain. So, I'm kinda stuck at home.

And now my DH is on the phone (speaker of course) with his mother. Granted he's in another room but these walls are thin! Good thing I'm on the forum and not studying at this moment! lol… Anyway we'll see how well I do in a desk chair when I go back to work tomorrow for the 1st time in almost 2 weeks. Thankful my boss has been so flexible – an advantage of working for a small family franchise!

Sorry if all that is tmi. I am definitely going to have to find an alternative place to study this summer when DH is home a lot more.

~ Kate... MTX!
CPA exam on hold while I homeschool my 6 year old!

[Tootsie]

I have a problem with distractions at home too when I study. When I study, it seems that my husband is always playing computer games, and my dog is playing or wanting my attention. I think the only thing I can do is lock myself in our room. If I go to the library, coffee place, etc. I can never seem to get away from noise. I don't know how people study/focus with ear phones; wish I could.

FAR - 76
AUD - 88!!! DONE!!!!!!!!
BEC - 76
REG - 77

never, never, never give up

[kmwgrace]

I don't like earphones either. And I don't even try to study at home when my 5 1/2 year old daughter is home and awake, it's just not possible.

~ Kate... MTX!
CPA exam on hold while I homeschool my 6 year old!

[KasiaS]

I practically lived in ear plugs when I wasn't listening to my audio course. Seriously, invest in some of these:

https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/sperian-howard-leight-leight-sleepers-soft-foam-earplugs/ID=prod6058273-product

I tested about 5 different types/brands and these were by far the best. I even wore them during the actual exam.

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

[kmwgrace]

Worth a shot for $5.00.

~ Kate... MTX!
CPA exam on hold while I homeschool my 6 year old!

[Anonymous]

I live and work in NYC, it is impossible to block the noise out completely.

For me earplugs work in “quiet” environment only.. they won't block high/annoying tones such as ppl talking. Plus it looks ridiculous to take them out every time someone is talking to you and you can't quite hear what they said..

I highly recommend noise-blocking earbuds, and soft music (Solo Piano or Kitaro station on Pandora radio). It blocks the outside world to me.

[jokami]

Wow… I think I have to go to a doctor or something… Because I get distracted with the oxygen in the air… Noises are the least of my problem… I really should get some help.

But @kw… what you have to do is really discipline and obligate yourself to do it. I know is easier said than done… Believe me!!! I know what I am talking about here, but this phase is about discipline and learning to control the situation and work everything around your study time not the other way around.

B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
A - 68, 81
R - 70, 82
F - 84

"The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

[KasiaS]

@AgaveRain, perhaps you just didn't find the right plugs. I work in Chicago and commute via bus and train (both noisy) for over an hour each way and I was able to block out the vast majority noise with the ear plugs that I linked above.

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]

I go to the library to study. The one I go to has a designate silent zone for studying and closes really late. I don't have many friends, so cell phone is not a problem, and I left my ipad in the car before I got in to study. The problem I have is

I daydream ALOT! By the time I got back to reality, it's like half an hr later. Sometimes I got so tired I took a nap at my desk…

[Anonymous]

@KasiaS Thank you for the suggestions re earplugs @walgreens, I will check them out soon!

[Anonymous]

oh, Kasia….<3…you look so pretty 2day…

[HustlinHustlin]

I have figured out a few ways. One, earplugs ARE essential. It seems no matter what, when I'm studying, the tiniest crick aggravates me and sounds like the world is crashing down.

My sweet boyfriend bought some legit headphones for his tv so he can play video games/watch movies while I study in my room without a peep (very envious of him and his free time!)

But when it's time to get real, I hit my old stomping ground, Sac State and go to the fourth floor library, where they practically chop your head off for making a peep! Its some hard-core focus time.

…..but I just love my PJ's too much so most of the time I study at home.

B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
R 65 - 48 - 45
F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

"The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
Still need 30 more credits, in basket weaving (gotta love new CA requirements)

[KasiaS]

Aww shucks, CPATerminator, you make a girl blush!

@AgaveRain, my pleasure. Worst case, you lose $5 but for my experience these were the best at blocking out the outside world and once I got into the study groove, I was lost to the world lol. Now I'm just lost. hah

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

[jomarie]

I'm trying a new thing today. I've told myself I can only go on Facebook once a day. I already went on once today and OMG is it ever hard not to go back on. Maybe I will before bed just to check on statuses. But I have to make sure I get more lectures in before I do. Maybe it'll be my “treat”. LOL!!

Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

[Author]

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