The holidays are here, and you have an approaching CPA Exam. How do you relax and enjoy time with family, while also staying on track with your exam preparation? Believe it or not, it’s possible to effectively balance studying, traveling, and celebrating during the busy holiday season.
Check out these tips from the Becker community to stay on track with your CPA study plan AND be a part of the festivities.
Take and enjoy breaks
“Take one day off to recharge and go back to the hard work the next day.” |
“Don’t beat yourself up too much. Try your hardest, but still enjoy the holiday season!” |
It’s important to value the time you have with family and friends. Plan your schedule around these gatherings. Maybe you study in the morning, before the festivities begin? Or perhaps at night, after the celebrations end?
Whatever schedule works for you, remember that it’s okay to prioritize your personal life—especially during the important moments. Enjoy the breaks that will help you recharge and clear your head for the studying that you need to do later!
Organize your study
“Color code the topics based on your own expertise. Then work questions in the sequence that you feel comfortable with, focusing on the highlighted areas. This gets people out of thinking they must follow a certain flow and just provides them an opportunity to reframe the material and get a fresh perspective.” –Becker instructor, Jennifer McAllister |
Rather than worrying about what to study and where to start, make the most of your study time during the holidays by being well-organized.
You can improve your focus by categorizing topics based on your level of understanding. This helps you easily jump into the concepts that most need your attention.
Eliminate distractions
“Switch off the phone and keep it aside.” |
“Unsubscribing to Netflix is a good start.” |
We all have distractions that keep us from buckling down to study. In a season when your time and attention are stretched especially thin, make the most of the time that you can set aside to study by eliminating anything that can distract your attention.
Remember…you have a legit excuse to escape
“ ‘I have to study’– perfect way to escape conversations.” |
“Make a commitment to getting up early to study or be willing to study as you travel to visit your family. There is always plenty of downtime for family members during the holidays. Sneaking away to study for an hour or two will not prevent you from partaking of the big, truly essential family traditions.” –Becker instructor, Jennifer McAllister |
Let’s face it: sometimes, big holiday get-togethers can be overwhelming. If you need an excuse to take an hour to yourself, you’ve got the ultimate reason to slip away!
When you're ready to take a break from the commotion, just remind the crowds that you have an upcoming CPA Exam date and use the opportunity to review your next topic. You can enjoy the valid reason to get some alone time and come back to the festivities refreshed and ready to mingle.
Focus on the end game
“Sacrifice now so you can be a CPA forever!” |
If you’re lacking support and CPA Exam motivation, remember the final goal. If you put in the time now, you’ll soon be able to experience the limitless career opportunities of a CPA.
Focus on all that a CPA can do that an accountant can’t. This will help you regain focus and motivation to cross the finish line!
Start your CPA success
We hope these tips will come in handy for you this holiday season. Enjoy making memories and celebrating traditions, while also staying on top of your studying needs.
Becker’s industry-leading CPA Exam Review course makes it easy to keep up with your study schedule even during the holidays with a customizable study planner that adjusts to your exam date and study progress!
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