How do you stay sane? :)

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How do you stay sane? :)

21 posts from 15 voices

Started 1 year ago by Florida_Candidate
Latest reply from Dale

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Florida_Candidate

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What do YOU do to keep yourself sane while studying for these things?

My outlet is exericse! I was training for the Chicago marathon on 10-10-10 but I injured my knee so I've been bike riding like crazy while trying to rehab the knee. But yep, my outlet is exercise :) Though I have to admit sometimes while I'm running or on the bike I'll start to go through Becker mnemonics in my head! It's so much harder to remember them while you're physically exerting yourself!

FAR-91 (7/29)
AUD-99 (8/23)
BEC-90 (10/1)
REG-99 (11/3)
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Posted 1 year ago #
CPAWannaBe

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I read this forum and remind myself that I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE going through this.

REG - 75 (expired, retake July 2011)
FAR - 69, 64, 67 <-Becker, 80 <-Yaeger
AUD - 82 ETHICS - 100
BEC - 72 (retake May 2011)

Posted 1 year ago #
AU1222

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Prozac.

FAR-97
AUD-94
BEC-91
REG-96...DONE!

Posted 1 year ago #
SeanM

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A bottle of Johnnie Walker always seemed to do the trick for me

FAR-87; AUD-89; BEC-85; BEC-84
DONE!

Posted 1 year ago #
Florida_Candidate

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LOL I'll put a "plus one" on the forum comment! As you can tell I'm on here ALL the time!

FAR-91 (7/29)
AUD-99 (8/23)
BEC-90 (10/1)
REG-99 (11/3)

Posted 1 year ago #
nolifecpa

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i run about 2-3 miles every morning but injured my ankel so i do the elliptical now, there's nothing like a good sprint to get your frustration out and relieve the stress. at the same time i'm getting in shape and looking good which makes me feel great. i stay away from the bottle of johnny until after the exam. this is exam is making me more healthy physically but killing me mentally..lol!!

REG-65,71,74,73,70,74,79
BEC-60's,60's,69,71,76
FAR-67 (TBD)
AUD-54,60's,65,83

Posted 1 year ago #
HazeEastwood

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Well, I try to pace myself and do studying in a way thats realistic. I may do an hour of studying before work, studying on lunch for an hour and do an hour and a half after work. On the weekends I try to get up as early as possible and study so I have the rest of my day to myself. It takes the edge off a bit from feeling like this blasted test takes over your life!

FAR-81
BEC-84
AUD-91
REG-89

Posted 1 year ago #
potatogun

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I usually run but I haven't been very good about that the last week. I think I only did 8miles last week after my REG test. I probably wont start running again until this next monday. I moved and am visiting some friends out of town so I am off a schedule.

FAR 92 - AUD 91 - REG 94 - BEC 86

Posted 1 year ago #
herbert7890

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I usually watch some American Greed on CNBC, love that program.

FAR 88 - BEC 86 - AUD 90 - REG 85 - I'm DONE!!!!
Licensed CPA - Puerto Rico

Posted 1 year ago #
RittCPA

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I use my lunch break to lift weights and run. I got on P90X when I started the CPA studying in May and went from being able to knock out 8 sets of 9 pullups to 8 sets of 12 pull ups. I also got on nutri system for a month because I saw they had 3 meals and I did not want to waste time deciding what I was going to eat for Bfast, Lunch or Dinner (that is an extra 45min - 1.5 hr study time think about it)....I also stopped dating (gotta get this money...can't let my work performance slip). I figured 4 months of straight grind was worth getting this thing knocked out quickly. As a result, I lost weight, and saved a bunch of money not taking girls out (come on ladies its 2010, yall need to start paying half)...thanks AICPA! LOL...to bad I starting hanging out HEAVY after taking FAR (which I am praying that I passed to be done with this nightmare).

Posted 1 year ago #
potatogun

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@RittCPA hey if you can lose weight and save money from studying that doesn't sound so bad :P.

FAR 92 - AUD 91 - REG 94 - BEC 86

Posted 1 year ago #
RittCPA

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@potatogun - I was a light cavalry scout in Iraq (I once went 40 days with no shower during combat operations). I know what hard is...this test isn't hard. It is just a right of passage...sort of like pledging for a fraternity or sorority in my opinion.

Posted 1 year ago #
potatogun

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Definitely. We can all be humbled to the relative difficulties of the exam process when we think about all the hardship many people face everyday. We're fortunate to even have the opportunity to challenge ourselves like this. And I will just assume the lack of showering wasn't the hardest part of your op.

FAR 92 - AUD 91 - REG 94 - BEC 86

Posted 1 year ago #
RittCPA

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@potatogun..Great Assumption, and like you said we are lucky to be living in a society that lets EVERYONE chase their dreams. I have been to many third world countries where if you are born with no opportunities....you get no opportunity, and failure means you don't eat....

Posted 1 year ago #
cpa journey

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RittCPA

Thanks for your service.

40 days and no shower - bet you can't smell yourself! At least I hope not! lol we do owe you!

Posted 1 year ago #
RittCPA

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@cpa journey - Thanks! After 2 weeks you can't smell anything or anyone...LOL!

Posted 1 year ago #
Freefall_Doug

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This is a hypothetical questions right, like if I was already sane, how would I remain sane through the exam process? Scheduling an exam during busy season is a good way to keep on the right track, hehe!

But honestly I think I lost my mind after my first year or two in big four...

I have a few fun past times to keep from getting less "sane". Throwing workpapers into my cube is a good one. Yelling at workpapers is another good one!

Work hard play hard helps. That is how I found my hobby of skydiving, and heavy drinking. =P

Posted 1 year ago #
Camelia_CPA

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I have no anser to this question. I have been studying for 14 days all together, but no going out, no dancing, no love, nu music, none of these. Just study like crazy. The bad issue here is that while studying, I tend to think that all the concepts are the same, and "I know them" and thinking that I got the idea... when in fact... when I do the MCQ ..I AM LOST.... hahaha. I mean most of the answers that i choose ..are wrong..... Anyway, the more I study, the more i know...It's a huge progress though.... But I had just one night that I had wine, and waste time on some chat with "virtual friends". And I saw 2 movies in these 14 days. :))) BAD!

FAR OCT 11, AUD Jan 11

Posted 1 year ago #
75_stay_alive

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I'm a little late on the response but I thought I'd share with you something about me & how I keep sane. I work FT for a cutthroat company where everyone expects you to fail. People ask about you and your studying but in reality, they're all looking to fish out any little dirt that you have so they can use it against you; not being cynical but that's just how it is in my company. If you're not on point, they will see right through you and you're basically done. When I'm at work, my mindset is at work, but as soon as it's closing time, I'm all about keeping the homefront in tact & taking care of my 2 energetic kids ages 10 & 6. I'm a very lucky single parent to 2 good kids; they are the the ones who keep me sane. Homework & family time always comes right after dinner till about 8 during school nights, 9 or 10 during weekends. After that, then it's my time and I make full use of it. Sometimes when I'm ahead of my review schedule, I watch a little TV preferably sports and the news. I basically have no life and that's fine for now because I know this is just temporary. I'm manning up to get this done. I know that all this sacrifice is worth it not only for me, but for my kids so I can provide for them a better future, better than what I had. To me, that's all that matters to keep moving, keep going forward...failure is not an option.

Posted 1 year ago #
sixth sense

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For me, I play Super Mario Brothers every day after dinner. lol~~

Posted 1 year ago #
Dale

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Love the answer there 6th Sense.....

I've already passed through the insanity (well, the extra insanity the exam caused). There are three things that are critical for sanity during this exam prep process.

1. One day at a time. You have to break the materials into manageable chunks. If you attempt to look at how much you have to do to be ready for these exams it will demotivate and overwhelm you. One day at a time is your mantra.

2. Comfort from others taking this exam. Finding others going through the same thing is a huge stress relief. Being on this site has already accomplished this for many. The other people in my Becker live classes was also a big help. Encouragement from those that don't know what this exam is like from experience just doesn't seem to help as much.

3. Personal time. You have to take some time for yourself. You cannot study every waking moment. For me, this was Friday nights and Saturday/Sunday afternoons. I did no studying on Fridays. My wife and I would try to watch a movie (and usually be asleep 10 minutes into it). I did my weekend studying in the mornings and took the evenings for my own personal time. This definitely helps keep you sane.

As to me personally, I'm a computer geek. I spent my free time infront of my computer working on a couple of games and other techy projects I have going on. It was annoying to have a new game come out the day before my birthday right in the middle of my studying for FAR. I intentionally did not get it because it would have distracted me. I did get it on the way home from my FAR test (which was my last section).

RTCDQ!!.......Read the Cocka-Doody Question!
AUD-94; REG-97; BEC-93; FAR-94
see how I did it day by day: http://cpa-exam.dalesines.com
contact info on blog

Posted 1 year ago #