Alison Derringer- Tax Staff

Most candidates studying for the CPA exam are working professionals and let’s be honest, at the height of “busy season,” when accountants are clocking in anywhere from 50 to 70 hours a week, studying is not going to be at the top of your list of priorities, it’s just not. At the same time, you don’t want to just put the CPA exam on hold; you want to become a CPA as soon as possible. So, how do you find time to study when you’re just too, for lack of better words, “busy?” Well, you are an accountant aren’t you?? Numbers are you’re thing. You know how balance sheets, statements of cash flows, and income statements work. You can balance a financial statement in your sleep so presumably you should be able to balance your own time, right? Here are a few valuable tips for keeping on track during the seemingly endless months of January through April.

1.Know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. First and most importantly, you need to have a vision. Remember what your ultimate goal is and stick to it. Without keeping your goals in mind you are bound to lose sight of where you want to be and end up getting discouraged. You might ask yourself, “Wait, why am I spending hours on end reading books and taking notes?” Then, light bulb! Oh yes because I want to become a CPA. Be sure to remind yourself of all the benefits of eventually achieving your goals and studying won’t feel nearly as hollow.

2.Fail to plan and you plan to fail. Without a plan it is much easier to get sidetracked and in turn minimize your efficiency. You wouldn’t hop on a plane and fly to another country without having an itinerary, would you? Well maybe you would, but most of us would want to at least know where we’re staying, how much things are going to cost, mode of transportation, etc. In much the same way, you can’t just dive into your books without first having a plan. Ask yourself plenty of questions. …how much time do you realistically have to dedicate to studying? What will you do if you get sick? And so on. Once you have a plan laid out you can focus your energy on studying rather than worrying about what you’re going to do next.

3.Don’t neglect your health! Speaking of getting sick….if you have ever heard of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, physiological needs are at the bottom of the pyramid. Maslow wasn’t just arbitrarily placing them there for fun. It’s because if your physiological needs are not met you can’t progress to meeting your other needs like self actualization or achieving goals and desires…hmmm sound familiar? Make sure through all the chaos that you are allotting time in your planning stage for plenty of sleep, exercise, and healthy food because we all know when you’re sick all your other priorities become insignificant.

4.No one likes a Hermit! Last, but of course not least, remember to plan time for your friends and family during this demanding time. We all know you want to become a CPA, but what good is becoming a CPA if it ends up costing you imperative relationships. Don’t lock yourself in a dim lit room, hovered over your desk. Not only is that slightly creepy, but no one likes a hermit, save them for the beach. Your friends and family will understand that between work and studying you are realistically not going to have much time for them. That’s what planning is for and make sure they are penciled in somewhere. If you keep positive relationships with people that are closest to you they will inevitably be more inclined to help you out when you are say, engrossed in the middle of a chapter and good old Rover needs to go outside and do his business.

Keep these tips in mind and you will make it through busy season and pass the CPA exam with flying colors!