[Anonymous]

I have heard some people say studying before work is better than studying after work. The benefits is that you will be focused and won’t be tired unlike if you study after work. The thing is though, I am not sure if I can wake up really early in the morning. And also, REG is in 3 weeks, and so to start incorporating studying in the morning before work is going to really mess up my sleep schedule. I’m just curious, what do you guys yourselves prefer?

[Topo30]

Determined_To_Succeed,

I too find it extremely difficult to study in the wee hours of the morning, especially after work and having to take care of the little guy (3 yr old son). I don't know if you have children, but what I do is drop him off at my mother's or a relative, so I may study at home for a good two or three hours at home.

At times I do feel tired, but the motivation to become licensed and show my son that one can accomplish anything that ones' heart desires, are the things that keep me going. Find the reason(s) that motivate you, then that will give you the strength to move forward. Like I said, after working 8-10 hour days, I too lack the energy to study, but motivate myself and answer the ‘why'.

A wise man once told me: ‘Son, everyone has problems/challenges, we just need to find a way around them.”

Hope this helps.

AUD-FAILED X5
FAR-FAILED X1
BEC-FAILED
REG-FAILED

[gflurry]

I started a new job as the Business Manager/Accountant in January, right when I began studying for AUD. I would arrive at work for 7AM, study for my lunch hour and leave work at 4:30 and hit the coffee shop until 7-7:30pm. I scored a 67 on my first attempt, and realized that I was too tired to comprehend the info. I have now switched to arriving at work for 6AM and studying until 8AM, still studying on my lunch hour. I feel much better about understanding the info and my studying is much more productive and efficient. Disclosure: I am 38 and have a 7 yr old and married. Studying after 5PM is just not efficient and I am a morning person, but it is rather taxing to wake up at 5AM every day. I also study 6-8 hours each weekend day. Good luck!

AUD: 67, 81 (NINJA MCQ's ONLY for 2nd Attempt)
FAR: NOT GOOD, LARRY!
REG: ??
BEC: 4/4/2015

"F**K CALM, GET MAD. DESTROY!"

[nicole2035]

15 minutes will help you study

i'm not exactly a morning person, but if i can blindly get up, put on my work out clothes (which i lay out, so no excuses) and go do cardio for 15 mins as a small run, ellepitical at my apt's gym, or as a walk around my neighborhood, then i'm able to study in the mornings. After work, if my mind is in a daze, i will either take a power nap (25 minutes. there's also an i phone app for it, which is pretty awesome) or do a walk around my neighborhood. Being able to calm down your mind or get it going back to speed is so vital to studying. I think we are capable of doing a ton of stuff, the problem is we don't give our brain a break. I prefer cardio or a nap during my 15-25 min break but you could clean, cook, whatever, just don't think about anything you need to get done

also at work i *try* to take 10-15 min breaks every 45 mins or so, and with that time i will do flash cards on my phone (seriously, the ninja cards are awesome) or sneak and do some MC on the internet if no one is around. On my lunch break, i take an hour and i read my book or do mc

[mla1169]

It all depends on what works best for you. I am a night person by nature. Nothing in the world would get me up in the morning earlier than 5:30. I worked 7:30-5, studied during lunch. Came home and either had sports practice or Girl Scouts 3 nights a week. Studied for my grad classes 8-9:30 or 10 and CPA stuff from 10-midnight. Rinse and repeat for 11 months. One lucky thing is my kids are teens and slept until noon on the weekend so I'd get 4-5 hours uninterrupted before weekend games and activities.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Kimboroni]

I'm so not a morning person, so that would never work for me. I think so much more effectively at night. MLA's schedule looks much like mine.

Studying in the morning is a great way to sneak in some extra study time if that's a good time for you. So do whatever works for you.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[missjones513]

After work. I don't get up that early to study before (and I refuse to).

If there's some down time at work I'll look at the NINJA notes. But I didn't say that if anyone asks.

REG - 5/29/12 (64), 10/1/12 (74), 5/20/13 (75, expires 12/31/14)
FAR - 8/14/12 (64), 8/5/14 (75)
BEC - 11/19/12 (70), 2/25/13 (72), 11/21/13 (73), 1/21/14 (73), 8/30/14 (72), 11/24/14 (75)
AUD - 4/22/13 (65), 10/12/13 (79)

I'm done!!!

Ethics - Pass

[samdiegoCPA]

No way in the morning. I wake up at 7:15 (and I'm still late everyday) and any earlier would make me die. I am not even fully functioned til after 9:30 (aka don't talk to me at work til 10 or you'll get nothing of value out of my mouth 😛

I studied at work and after work. Yes, it's hard after work definitely but way easier than in the mornings. I think it just depends on your personality. My coworker gets up at 5:30am just because, so she could probably study in the morning.

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[vmedin2]

+1 for studying in the morning, I'm way to fried after work to retain anything

[Anonymous]

Prior to taking the exams I always woke up around 4;15 am every morning to hit the gym, so I was already used to it. Once i started studying I would wake up at 4 am and sometimes at 3:30 am and study until 6:00 am then head off to work. Then I would study during my lunch. I would then study after work from 5pm-9pm. It sucked but it was worth it in the end. On the weekends I would wake up at 6am so I could get some extra sleep.

[Kimboroni]

haha, samdiego, you sound like me!

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Author]

Replies