How do I stay awake and focused while studying?

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    Topic
  • #178150
    vlc1982
    Member

    I’m a single mother, so I have to study late at night after my daughter goes to sleep…usually from 9:00 – 11:00 pm. After a long day it’s so hard for me to 1) stay awake, and 2) stay focused. They are two separate issues. Sometimes I’m awake, but don’t feel like my brain is focused and open to learning/memorizing/understanding. I’m in a quiet, comfortable environment so it’s not like I’m being distracted by outside forces. And I try not to drink coffee because I want to be able to go right to sleep when I’m done. I put in a lot of quantity, but it’s not necessarily quality study time. I’m taking FAR for the second time and trying to figure out my problem. The first time, I didn’t take notes while watching video lectures. I’m taking detailed notes this time and that’s helping a little bit. But when I’m faced with a MCQ or SIM I don’t understand, I just mentally drift off and my brain doesn’t want to try to figure it out.

    Also, I tried waking up early to study before work, but again found myself unable to stay awake. I suppose caffeine would help with that. I eat a good diet and get excercise when I can. I sleep great, and it’s usually 7 hours a night.

    Does anyone have any good tips for staying awake and staying focused?

    FAR 66, 80
    AUD 86
    REG 76
    BEC 74, 77 - DONE!!

    Yaeger, Ninja MCQ for BEC
    TX Candidate

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 25 total)
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  • #422687
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Jumping jacks and lots of water. Every time I feel like I am drifting off, I get up and do jumping jacks or run up and down the stairs in my house to get the blood flowing.

    #422688
    Mel
    Participant

    I agree with BaxterCPA, do some exercise will help you stay awake and hopefully focused. I'm a single mom too vlc and I've passed two exams so hang in there! I'm taking FAR in August as well so if you want we can be late night study buddies because i need help staying up too! Let me know whenever you want to “meet up” on here in the FAR study group.

    BTW: is 1982 your birth year? If so I'm an 82 baby as well.

    #422689
    MCLKT
    Participant

    Oh yeah, 1982 single mother CPA to be(s), in the house!!!

    🙂

    Get angry.

    At least it worked for me! Last night I was so very sleepy around 10:30, but I really needed to finish a lecture to stay on track. I just thought about my 3 failing scores, and how mad I was when I had to restudy. I thought about how I can do the work now, and pass. Or be doomed to repeat it all again. That was enough to keep me focused for the rest of the night.

    Also, espresso, latte's, coffee, Mountain Dew, Red Bull, chocolate and sour gummy candy does wonders.

    A:[73]97 F:[74]85 R:86 B:[74]82
    *NINJA 10 Pt. COMBO & Yaeger*

    #422690
    Last chance
    Member

    I tend to stay focus and wide awake when I'm familiar with the topic. It gives me hope and feels like i can pass this exam.

    So the first time I go through the chapter or mcq, it feels like it never gonna end.

    Sometimes I read ten pages and feels like i've done so much and i closed the book with only a little progress

    Now I just jump right in to the mcq and do them twice. first time doing them, I take notes(not too long)

    Once i get that confidence and familiarity with the chapter, I go back and read book.

    after I read book, I repeat this with all other chapters, then I do only mcqs. again and again

    I think you're amazing studying this exam as a Mom. You probably have a long day and need more sleep? maybe one or two more hours once a while?

    If that's not possible, how about going right to sleep at 9 and wake up at 5?

    HOpe u find the way to get through this!! and you will 🙂

    #422691
    mla1169
    Participant

    Don't sit somewhere comfortable while you're trying to study either. When I was doing the exams if I sat on the couch I'd crash and burn. BUT if I sat at the kitchen table to study I was more awake. And believe it or not your body will eventually adjust to the change in schedule even if it is uncomfortable in the meantime.

    FAR- 77
    AUD -49, 71, 84
    REG -56,75!
    BEC -75

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #422692
    piperdogg
    Member

    Try sleep with your kid at the same time and get up at 3:00 am to study. That is what I do. I have two kids. I put them in bed and sleep the same time as they do (9:00-10:00). then I get up at 3:00 to study 2-3 hours. after that I go back to bed rest for a hour before i get up and go to work.

    FAR 75
    BEC 70 72 77
    AUD 73 77
    REG 74 82

    #422693
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I tried to avoid caffeine too, but ended up giving in and it was very helpful. You just need to find the right timing so that the caffeine keeps you awake to study, but doesn't make it too tough to fall asleep after you're done studying. Everyone has that specific time that they can have caffeine up to without messing up their sleep – it may be helpful to try to figure out what your time is.

    #422694
    StephAV
    Member

    I'm a '82er too! Not a single mom but my DH has been working out of town ALL the time lately. Since I started studying a month ago he has been home 2 weekends, total! And the kids never go “to their dad's.” I do caffeine. Lots of caffeine. Last night I had a bowl of cereal at 10, the night before that I had an iced coffee (homemade of course) around 10. I'm studying for about 2 to 3 hours after the kids go to bed most nights. If I'm really struggling I just go to sleep. I can only go so many days on 6 hours of sleep…

    You may want to try waking up early. Roger says get up at 3 or 4, have some coffee and get in a good 3 hours of study time. I'm not good at getting up early. So I generally would prefer the night time study routine. I have done a few early mornings though. I have to say when I do, I always feel really glad I did it and accomplished. Like by 9 am, I've already done half a days worth of activities. Good luck!

    FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
    BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
    AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
    REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
    I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

    #422695
    vlc1982
    Member

    Thank you all for your advice!!!

    @Mel4CPA – Yes, I'm a 1982 baby!

    @MCLKT – I really like this suggestion. I was SUPER angry when I was so far from passing the first time. I'll try to channel that when I study from now on.

    Uncomfortable sitting, jumping jacks, 4:00 am, and caffeine – here I come!

    FAR 66, 80
    AUD 86
    REG 76
    BEC 74, 77 - DONE!!

    Yaeger, Ninja MCQ for BEC
    TX Candidate

    #422696
    vikavin
    Member

    I have the same problem staying awake. I am a mother of two and work full time as a Sr. Accountant for non profit org. I usually don't get home until about 6 PM and then i have to cook dinner, clean up, take the dog out, so the only time i have to study is after 9 PM, when i don't even feel like studying. So what i am doing lately is I would read couple pages and then find some kind of tv show on my computer and watch it for 5 min., then study again, then take a break. It seems like it helps but then i also feel bad for wasting my studying time like that. I usually go to bed around 1 AM and have to get up at 7, so there is no way i am waking up earlier. Also, eating helps me a lot too, but it seems like i am starting to gain weight every time before the exam (and i never had any weight issues before). So the suggested ways to stay awake without drinking caffeine are: exercising, watch some tv show or eat in between your studying time. Oh yeah and i was born in 82 too!!! 🙂

    AUD-75 YAY!!!!
    REG-81
    FAR- 73; 76-Feb.2014( Praise God!!!!!!!)
    BEC- 73,65,78 and I am DONE!!!!!

    #422697
    StephAV
    Member

    @Vikavin – I also have two kids and work at an NPO as a senior accountant… Weird!

    FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
    BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
    AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
    REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
    I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

    #422698
    Mel
    Participant

    This is some good advice that i may be able to use, thanks everybody and thanks vlc for posting the question!

    #422699
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I consider driving is the same as studying. The same level of focus is required on both. If I am sleepy or drowsy, there’s no way I can drive very well. So I would pull over somewhere safe & take a quick nap. That is after I set my phone alarm for 10 minutes or so. Once I get back up, drink coffee or soda then take off and hit the road.

    I have the gift of being able to take a short, quick nap even at work. Most of my co-workers are amazed of how I do that during lunchtime. I would nap between 5-15 minutes then I get recharged the whole day. They said doing that would only cause them headaches. So they call me a tiny mosquito sleeper.

    I do the same thing with my studies. If I start feeling sleepy, there is no way my brain & eyes can keep up. So I would close my book, set my alarm for 15 minutes or less, lay flat on couch or bed. Oh I’d jump like a frog upon hearing the siren. From there, I can last another 4-5 hours without interruption.

    My grandma told us, “When your body asks you to rest, give in. Don’t resist your sleepiness. Otherwise your body will charge you more than you can bear”.

    #422700
    MCLKT
    Participant

    The late night caffeine and snacks definitely have done a toll on my body. I've always been extremely athletic and easily maintained a healthy weight. Since I began studying … I gained 24 lbs. (in about a year).

    But, now I've added exercising to my routine when before I thought I couldn't fit it in. Just 10 min on the treadmill in the morning and when I get home. I'm eating very healthy during the day (I'm talking egg whites, tons of green veggies, and steamed chicken or tuna only… all day). I still allow myself one Red Bull at night but not every day.

    I use the Pomodoro Technique, which is study 25 min. break for 5.

    During my breaks I snuggle with my daughter, check A71, do a quick “chore” like rotate laundry, etc.

    Every 4th break is 30 min instead of 5. That's when I will eat dinner and fit in 10-15 min of exercise. There are a ton of videos on youtube. I like blogilates. The girl is a little immature, but she keeps me going, and my daughter joins in too.

    I've lost 6 lbs since 5/31 so it's working 🙂

    I'm hoping when I finish this last test, I'll be back to my regular weight and won't feel like I have another huge “goal” looming over me.

    A:[73]97 F:[74]85 R:86 B:[74]82
    *NINJA 10 Pt. COMBO & Yaeger*

    #422701

    Want to chime in – misery loves company 😉

    Don't know the exact number of pounds I've added due to all late night snacking (trying to snack on healthy but looks like volume is WAY off:), but my shirts are very tight around the belly and belt in on the notch that rarely had been used. Last week, I thought my shirts shrunk somehow but the truth is all the munching 24/7 becomes evident in flesh now. Also, noticed that my lower legs hurt from time to time from all the sitting down.

    There is definite physical toll that this exam has taken on my body. Despite having private gym and a bunch of machines to work on, often times there is no time to even touch any of them. Outside very fast walking or light running for 40-45 min and 10 min cool-off does wonders but lately I' reach home when it is dark outside and venturing outside is not optimal (about a month ago, I was chased in darkness by a good size bulldog which I mistakenly took for a pit bull; barely managed to get away; talk about adrenaline rush for a couple of hours).

    As soon as this exam is over, my life will revert back to good ole' times with working out, no food past 18:00, more working around the yard and more outings. Yeah, can not wait for it!

    Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
    CPA license pending 🙂

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 25 total)
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