[MintsRGood]

Warning…RANT AHEAD!!!!!!

I took today off work to spend quality time with cost accounting and seriously I just should have gone into work because I am getting NOTHING accomplished!!! AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!!!

1: My phone is ringing off the hook from work!!! I realize that an easy fix would be to turn my phone off…but one of my close family members was recently released from the hospital after a bad car accident and I’m the closest person in proximity in case of an emergency…everyone else lives out of state and the injured family member lives alone. Turning off my phone makes me sick with worry because I’m terrified that they will call and get my voicemail instead of me if they needed help!

2: My husband decided to take today off as well and is trying to be helpful and nice…but his knocking on my office door every 15 minutes to say “how’s it going?” “are you hungry?” “do you need anything from the store?” “wanna take a break?” is sweet but is making me insane. When I quietly started packing up to hit the local library, he took the hint so he decided to run some errands…but now is calling/texting incessantly!!! Again I could turn my phone off, but please see #1.

3: My in-laws are arriving from out of town tonight and apparently are staying ALL weekend!!!!!!! I completely forgot about it and now have spent the last hour frantically cleaning and tidying! So much for getting in 8 hours of BEC study tomorrow because instead I have hostess duties! EEEKKKK!!!!!!

4: I’m testing in 14 days and was counting on all day today plus a power weekend to wrap up my last 2 videos and grind out the first round of comprehensive non-stop MCQS. Apparently that is not going to happen and I’m just getting really upset. Now I can’t even focus and am so frustrated!!!!! I will have the house to myself for the upcoming holiday weekend for 3 glorious days but that’s cutting things awfully close. I can fit it 3.5 solid study hours per day during the week, but I really depend on these power weekends get it done. Should I consider pushing my exam back to 7/1??? Am I screwed???

I’m sure everyone here can relate to distractions!!! How do you deal with them????

Thanks for reading and Happy Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[CPApracticer]

How did you make that improvement on your AUD score, I am taking mine in 2 weeks

F: 54 (4/13) 60 (4/14) 67 (9/14) 66 (10/14) 63 (11/15) 79 (2/16) PASSED
A: 60 (5/13) 80 (4/16) PASSED
R: 60 (7/13) 61 (2/15) 70 (4/15) 77 (7/15) PASSED
B: (6/16)

[smp73]

Sorry to hear all your distractions.

I understand your reasoning for not wanting to turn off the phone…is there a way you can change the settings so it would only ring if your family member called you and would be silent for the rest? I have done that and put my phone someplace out of reach but still with in listening distance to try and minimize that type of distraction.

As for studying with the in-laws in the house…maybe try waking up early and getting one or two solid hours of studying in. Even if you only get in a few you will feel better than getting in none. If you have the time what about taking a half day from work one day before the test and going right from work to the library to help avoid any distractions?

I would say no to pushing it back. I think you are just a little overwhelmed right now. Take a deep breath. Maybe take a walk get some fresh air. You can do this. you have been studying hard and in all reality you probably know a lot more than you think. I know when I would get overwhelmed I would convince myself I knew absolutely nothing. It was times like that I just walked away from the studying for a few minutes, went for a walk or played with my dogs. It allowed me to come back focused.

I think…wait I know you can do this!

NYS CPA License # 113563
CIA: Done as of 2/15/14

Training for a half marathon post studying!

[Jennifer241]

@MintsRGood – I think we are twins! My husband, bless him, does the same thing!

To fix #1, only answer the phone if its your family you need to hear from, silence your phone for any other incoming calls. Your study time is the #1 priority to you right now, they can all wait (as harsh as that sounds, we have to do it)

To fix #2, I put up a sign on my door, that says “Unless you are dying or the house is on fire, go away – INTENSE study mode in progress” I only put that during my weekend power study times. My family would think twice before interupting me during those times, and it helped greatly. Also, if my husband took off a day that I took off to study, I would schedule my lunch times and break times, write them down and give it to him on a piece of paper. He would make us lunch, we would sit outside and talk. He felt like he was helping me, which is what they are trying to do, and I greatly enjoyed and appreciated it.

To fix #3 – My in-laws were here 2 weeks ago for an entire WEEK, right before my BEC exam! Carefully write down a study schedule fitting your study time into blocks where you know they will be busy (showers, etc). My afternoon sessions, I would tell them that I wasn't getting very good sleep and that I needed to go take a nap. Other times I would complain that my allergies were killing me, or that I had a horrible headache and needed to go lay down. I would only be gone for 30-60 minutes, but I would power study during that time. Also, sit with your husband and have him plan some activities to do away from home with his in-laws, shopping, help with a project around the house, movies, etc. Remember, this study time is temporary, they won't even remember your “naps” next year at this time.

To fix #4 – Don't concentrate on what you aren't getting done, it will make you loose your motivation. I don't know how far you are into your study schedule, but you still have a week or so to think it. So concentrate on BEC and keep moving forward!

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[MintsRGood]

Thanks ladies for the suggestions!!!! They are much appreciated and thank you for listening!!!!!

@CPApracticer here is a thread I posted after I received a 68 in February and the follow up to how I turned it around in April for a 92. Let me know if you have any questions as I'm always happy to help; auditing is a b!tch and I despise it!!!!! https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/160-hours2000-mcq150-simsbecker-text-completeddaily-audio-notesaudit-fail

@smp73 you are wonderful, thank you for the kind words! You are also brilliant, because after I read your post I started messing with my iphone and stumbled onto a delightful featured called “do not disturb except for favorites” 🙂 Productivity went up 1000%! 🙂 I also tried to sneak in study time whenever possible (hello ninja notes in ibooks and ninja flashcard app!!!!) so at least I punched in some time on the study clock yesterday!

@Jennifer241 That is hysterical!!!! They are so sweet and try so hard, but sometimes they just don't get it!!! 😉 I love your idea of scheduled and published break times, that is very smart!!!!! If my in-laws stayed for a week, my liver would shrivel up and die from being constantly immersed in red wine!!!!! Bless your heart for being so gracious to them during such a stressful time! I snuck in time as appropriate and now they have packed up and gone home, so after dinner I can get a few quality hours in before bed.

Thanks again and good luck everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[Anonymous]

Here is the Ragin' Cajun way to solve these problems:

1. Change the message on your phone to say the following: “Hi! This is me and I'm studying for the CPA exam. If this is (insert name of recently hospitalized relative), please call back immediately. I will answer the phone for you and you alone. If you are not (insert name of recently hospitalized relative) then I'm afraid I will be unable to help you today as I am currently working towards a better life and have no time to solve your problems today. I am in the process of solving all of the problems I purchased from Mr. Wiley. Thanks for calling.”

2. The next time hubby walks in to ask a question, accidentally “toss” your Wiley FAR book in his direction and make sure it “goes astray”, preferably towards his head. It will leave a red mark and there will be bruising, but he won't walk in again and it will heal in 3-4 days if he applies ice immediately. Don't ask me how I know this. Lets just say experience is life's greatest teacher.

3. The in-law situation is a tricky one. If I were you (and I was for too long), then I would (and have) taken the following action: Don't clean the house. When they show up, make sure you are wearing the proper CPA exam study attire, i.e. the tackiest t-shirt with the most obscene phrase on it that you own, sweats, socks that do not match, and there can be no fewer than 3 pencils stuck in your, preferably, unwashed hair. A bathrobe is also a nice touch. When they ask if they have the wrong weekend tell them “No. This is the right weekend. I just need you to understand that this is the life I've chosen for the next few months in order to have a better life later on. Respect my decision and do the dishes or leave, the choice is yours.”

In retrospect maybe this is why my husband flinches when I have a large object in my hand and my mother in law never visits. Hmmm. I guess we will never know for sure.

[wendywhite]

go kricket!

FAR 11/2012: 80
AUD 2/19/2013: 90
REG 5/14/2013: 76
BEC 11/2013: 85
Ethics: 100
Waiting on the packet....

[MintsRGood]

HAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! Kricket you are the best!!!!!!!!!! I hope you are feeling OK these days and thank you for the much needed laugh tonight!!!!!

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[MintsRGood]

HAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! Kricket you are the best!!!!!!!!!! I hope you are feeling OK these days and thank you for the much needed laugh tonight!!!!!

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[Anonymous]

MINTS: How's BEC coming? Are you liking Roger's Cram?

Kricket: I will use your tips for future encounters with the in-laws… Only I don't know that I will still be studying when they materialize, at least I certainly hope not 😐

[Anonymous]

Y'all act like I was joking! I'VE DONE ALL OF THIS!!!

@mintsrgood – I'm doing alright. I'm ready to see the doctor and find out what the next step is going to be. I don't think anyone anticipated that I would have the 2 forms of cancer that require completely different treatments.

@bcjasper09 – Any of the Wiley books will work, but FAR is the thickest so it is the most effective. It's sort of like the difference between a .22 and .45 both will inflict some pain but the .45 will do a lot more damage!

[Anonymous]

Mints that is so tough! I have had big plans the past few weekends to get tons of studying in and then keep getting pulled away into other things as well. I honestly feel exasperated and just confused about to how balance “life” and studying. I've just conceded that in passing these next two exams I am going to have to give up sleep. For me, usually the hours between 11PM and 3AM are distraction free and my most productive times.

[Author]

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