When you choose to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), you must already are aware that it takes a lot of time and effort to prepare and pass the exam. To achieve the required result, candidates typically invest hundreds of hours in their studies or join some CPA exam prep course, whether online or offline. Although this demanding schedule may aid your learning, it also carries a substantial risk of burnout.
This situation comes as a result of the stress of the CPA exam mounting up with each passing day. But remember, negative feelings and stress can only put obstacles in your progress. However, there’s always a way out. The key to preventing burnout is to take care of yourself. Pay attention to your body and emotions to prevent the sense of burnout from developing. Your CPA preparation sessions will always be focused and beneficial if you follow the appropriate actions. Here are some effective tips to keep you inspired and concentrated when studying.
How to Deal with CPA Exam Stress
- Break up your Study Plan
With so much to study and vast study material, you may want to study for 12 hours nonstop every day; practically, this is not a feasible CPA study plan. The CPA Exam is challenging, and you must thoroughly understand difficult topics. It might be more difficult to remember, what you have learned if you study too much at once. Instead, divide your learning into smaller, digestible chunks. For instance, if your goal is to study for eight hours, get up and take hourly breaks. You may refresh yourself with something as easy as a five-minute stretch.
- Set Specific Goals
Your CPA exam stress level can be lessened if you set clear objectives. Decide how many topics you want to review each day, and then plan your time accordingly. Yes, you want to get through all the material as quickly as you can, but doing so risks burnout.
With every goal you achieve, give yourself some small rewards. For example, allow yourself to watch an episode of your preferred program if you review four topics in one day (one of your set goals). The strain you experience when studying might be lessened by having something to look forward to.
- Find a Support Group
When preparing for the CPA Exam, many people experience isolation. But remember, you don’t have to go through the procedure alone. Find friends or relatives to vent out your stress over the CPA Exam. Moreover, you can look for an online support group, as talking to someone in a similar situation can be enlightening. You might even be able to help others by sharing what you have learnt while studying for exams. You can find such groups with CPA exam prep online courses that allow you to connect with a large group of accountants and finance professionals.
- Keep Yourself Refreshed With Plenty of Sleeps
Avoid staying up all night attempting to study. Retention of memory very much depends on sleep. For a healthy mind, an individual needs 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. To ensure you receive the rest you need, try going to bed a bit early. You may also want to have a nap during the day. You may increase your attentiveness and feel more refreshed with a 20-minute power nap. However, don’t rest for too long, or you can wake up feeling sleepy.
- Let Your Loved Ones Know Your Goal
You will probably spend the majority of your free time studying while preparing for the CPA Exam. As a result, you won’t have much time to spend with friends and family. To ensure that people around you support your professional goals it’s crucial to establish boundaries with them.
Tell your family that you’ll be busy studying and you might not be able to take part in some social events for some time. Inform them that you appreciate their support and will find time for them when you can.
Bottom Line
There is no denying that the CPA Exam is difficult; thus you may have to face a lot of challenges. But at the same time, you have to avoid burnout situations and retain your attention during the long study process by taking care of your physical and mental health. In order to keep CPA aspirants on track during their preparations, Andrew Katz Tutoring provides personalized assistance through its CPA exam prep online course.