[Justletmepass]

Hi guys,

I finished school in May and have moved back home with the ‘rents for the time being.

I joined the forum recently to prepare for passing REG, AUD, & BEC. I passed FAR earlier this summer. My usual week consists of studying about 50 hours each week, Becker Self-study. I took 6 weeks to pass FAR and 5.5 to get through REG.

All along throughout the last three months or so I noticed my energy levels steadily dropping each week. This has been caused primarily by my extreme hermit lifestyle I am living while trying to pass. The loneliness has been a little overwhelming.

None of my friends from college live in my area of the country, and my high school friends are scattered about. My job kicks in full-time later in October, but until then I want to take AUD and schedule 2ish weeks to re-take REG if I don’t end up passing.

While leading up in the days and weeks to taking REG two days ago, I have become uncertain of how much longer I can handle this lifestyle.

From anybody who has experienced this type of loneliness, what tips or advice do you have to counteract this?

From a basic strategic standpoint, I need some social stimulation if for nothing else than to recharge the batteries and get me through this exam. Once this is done, I can go back to being my usual social and outgoing self.

Thanks.

FAR: 86 (July 15, '14)
AUD: 88 (Oct 1, '14)
BEC: 83 (Nov 23, '14)
REG: 71, 72, retake: Jan 2, '15

[theCPA15]

I'm in the same situation as you. I lived with my parents for the fist half of the summer and just moved out to live with my boyfriend at the beginning of August. While I was living with my parents, I tried to spend time with them every once in a while. I don't know what your relationship is like with your family, but I would go to dinner or to get a smoothie with my mom once in a while or hang out with my sister for an evening if I finished studying at a decent time. I went to lunch with my dad on his day off a few times, etc. For the first two exams I took, I was able to take a few Sundays off when I would either make plans with a friend who is still around from high school or go hang out with my grandparents. It's been the little outings that have kept me sane. I also went to a concert one time and I try to give myself at least one full day off between exams to do whatever I want. Just know that this is temporary and that it could be worse. You could have failed FAR and then might feel like you were lonely all that time for nothing. Or you could have kids or a job to balance. When I see other people going out and having fun, I think to myself that they won't be a CPA in a few months. Hope some of that helps. I totally get where you're coming from. This forum has also been great because I appreciate knowing that other people are going through this same weirdness that is the CPA exam.

[JamesBJames]

I'm in a somewhat similar situation. When I was studying for FAR, I lived right off-campus at a big college town and I still had time to hang out with friends while studying. Then, at the beginning of May, I moved back to my hometown, population 161. We have a general store! And two churches!

It's unbelievably boring.

You've gotta find ways to hang out with friends, even if it's not as much as usual. Every so often, I've had people come to my place, about an hour away from Columbus. Occasionally, I go there. Once a week I would go out with some high school friends to eat and see a movie. It kept me sane. If you can't get together with any friends whatsoever, at least go out and do something maybe once a week.

I'll also recommend something @theCPA15 said — take breaks! 50 hours a week is insane. I only do about 25-30 a week and I still have to take at least one full day off every week.

FAR: May 1st, 2014 - 91
AUD: May 29th, 2014 - 97!
BEC: July 16th, 2014 - 91
REG: August 29th, 2014 - 88

Licensed December 2015

Feel free to add me on LinkedIn by clicking my username!

[RachelP]

I would definitely say you should probably add some exercise to your daily routine if you find your energy levels dropping. I know your mom/grandma is probably always telling you this (; — but make sure to drink plenty of water & get some green stuff into your diet. I gained 10 pounds studying for AUD, decided I needed to stop eating like a college kid & totally account my healthier eating lifestyle to my FAR & BEC passes. I blame tax season & Christmas for my REG fail haha. I also give myself one night a week out with friends. Maybe join a young professionals club if you have no friends left from highschool to hang out with?

"Don't worry, beeeeee happy!"

Unhappy with job, long distance boyfriend, not much studying:
FAR- 66 [08/28/12] AUD- 61 [10/04/12] REG- 59 [11/28/12] BEC- 63 [01/11/13]
Year off (from exams): Got new job, got married, moved, etc
✓ AUD- 79!!! 01/10/14 FIRST PASS!! WOOOO!!!
✓ REG- 73 02/27/14, 81 10/27/14
✓ FAR- 83 5/16/14
✓ BEC- 80 7/24/14
✓ Education ✓ Experience
Ethics Exam

[Justletmepass]

Well said. I should've joined a while back instead of watching from afar for the last 11 weeks!

That being said I'm totally stealing your idea of looking at other people having a blast every time I'm on social media. Solid approach to that haha

FAR: 86 (July 15, '14)
AUD: 88 (Oct 1, '14)
BEC: 83 (Nov 23, '14)
REG: 71, 72, retake: Jan 2, '15

[theCPA15]

@justletmepass Speaking of ocial media… I would recommend that you consider getting rid of it until you're done studying. It's obviously totally up to you, but I did after I took FAR because I realized that it was a terrible distraction and that it was making me feel bad. People only put things that make them look good on social media. Most of the posts were people on vacation, getting married, losing weight, and (fill in your happy life event here) etc. That was frustrating to me in general, but it's even worse when you don't have time for fun. I'm sure I'll go back to my Facebook addiction eventually, but for now it's great to be disconnected from all that.

[thechapman]

I'm basically in the same boat. I moved to a city where I basically don't know anyone, so I've hung out with someone legitimately one time in the past 3 months. It's rough, but you just have to remember that this is temporary.

@theCPA15 makes a good point as well. It sucks to see everyone going about their normal lives on Facebook and whatnot knowing that you can't really do any of that. I got rid of mine as well.

Passed - 2014

[Author]

Replies