Quit Procrastinating and Start Studying!

Around this time every year, thousands of aspiring CPA's all over the country are kicking themselves. The October/November window is the most popular window to sit for the CPA Exam, and candidates need to apply 5-6 months in advance to secure their choice of location and time. Many CPA Exam candidates simply get too busy, distracted or complacent in their daily routines, and the time just slips away. Suddenly, the leaves are falling, the air is cooler and... uh oh! Your exam window has passed you by. This brings us to today's topic: Procrastination!

Why do we procrastinate?
Many psychologists suggest that procrastination can be attributed to a combination of the following 5 reasons.

1. No personal desire to accomplish the goal.
2. Fear or intimidation
3. Lack of education
4. Lack of motivation
5. Laziness

Each of these hurdles can be overcome through understanding and preparedness. Once you know why you're procrastinating, you're halfway to conquering the problem. Here are some tips to get you the rest of the way there.

1. No personal desire to accomplish the goal:
Ask yourself if you really want to be a CPA, or is someone/something else pressuring you? With something as difficult and time consuming as the CPA Exam, you really have to do it for yourself. Don't be afraid to change directions if you aren't 100% committed. But, think carefully... Even if you're not committed yet, you should really do some research to find out more about the accounting profession and the CPA designation. Find out for yourself if it's right for you.

2. Fear or intimidation
This is a big one for many people. I hear the worries all the time: "It's too hard" or "I'll probably fail" are the most common. No matter how well read a person is, or how thoroughly they've prepared, there's no doubt that the CPA Exam is scary. Aside from general test-taking anxiety, many candidates also experience a greater level of stress and pressure due to the monetary investment they've made in studying for and applying to sit for the exam. Job pressures can also contribute.
Just remember that the CPA Exam itself isn't anything to be afraid of. It's just a test.
You can do it, if you study and work. It isn't a test of intelligence, or skill... it's a test of discipline! If you study, you will pass.

Try some positive reinforcement excercises, once every day until exam day. Look in the mirror, give yourself a big smile and say "The CPA Exam is tough, but I'M TOUGHER!" or "I CAN pass this exam!"

Reward yourself for studying and working the problems.

Seek help and encouragement from family and loved ones.

Break the exam down into smaller parts in your head... Focus on getting through each part without thinking of the rest.

Try my cram course for some extra reinforcement. Knowledge = power!

There are many other ways to reduce CPA Exam anxiety. Feel free to contact me or my staff if you need that extra vote of confidence.

3. Lack of education
Maybe you haven't been studying hard enough due to one of the other four procrastination factors. Maybe you've really been too busy... It doesn't matter why you didn't study. It only matters that you do it from here on out! If you don't know the materials, you won't pass this exam. The CPA Exam isn't one of those tests that allow you to just "wing it." It requires focus, discipline and a thorough knowledge of the topics at hand. Knowing how to study effectively will help you conquer the CPA Exam, and is a great tool to have in general. The SQ3R method is a highly effective way to give your studying an extra boost.
SQ3R stands for Skim, Question, Read, Recall, Review. Let's take it piece by piece:

Skim: When you start a new topic in my book, just skim the chapter or section to get an overall idea of how the topic is presented. Get your mind ready for what lies ahead.

Question: Determine what question or question(s) the chapter or section answers. Try turning the headlines into question form. Having questions to answer gives you a sharper focus on the information being presented. When you have an immediate question to answer, your mind will be searching more actively for that answer.

Read: Read slowly, and don't be afraid to re-read sections and highlight tough passages. As you read, try to find answers to the questions you identified. Read in a quiet place, free of distractions.

Recall: After reading, try to sum up what you just read. Write that summary down in your own words. Don't focus on the details of the topic. Instead, try to summarize the overall principle or key phrases of interest. Concentrate on my mnemonics, and try to find some of your own. After doing this, you should have a list of mnemonics, memory aids, and key phrases you can use to test yourself.

Review: Using the list you made during the Recall step, try making some flash cards. Use the flash cards just after reading, to see how much information is sticking with you. Apply these 5 steps to any areas that are giving you trouble. Repeat the steps as many times as you need to, and avoid getting discouraged or frustrated.

4. Lack of motivation:
See my Squidoo article, "5 Reasons to Become a CPA" for a few of the most popular reasons to become a CPA. Find ways to remind yourself of your particular reason for passing the exam. Is it to increase your earning potential? If so, think of some things you can do with more money and put pictures of those things in places you're likely to see on a daily basis. Are you doing it to gain job security and stability? Then try making some "fake" offer letters with your name on them along with "YOU'VE BEEN PROMOTED" Little motivators like these are one key to maintaining your commitment level.

5. Laziness:
There's a popular school of thought that says that all laziness stems from some type of depression. In reality, the two conditions feed off of each other, creating a sort of catch 22. If you spend a lot of time laying around inside, watching TV and eating snacks, you'll soon find yourself stuck in that rut. You'll end up discouraged about your lack of progress, and you'll turn back to watching TV and eating snacks to forget about your discouragement and shame. But, conversely, if you are proactive about accomplishing your goals, you'll be encouraged by the success you find. This will cause you to keep making progress, until soon, you'll have a long list of triumphs behind you and a bright future ahead. It's all about creating momentum.

Here's a final important tip: Don't beat yourself up for procrastinating. Don't punish yourself for any failure in studying. Punishing yourself will only lead to negative reinforcement, and a bad attitude about the CPA Exam and studying in general. If you fail, or procrastinate, just identify where you went wrong and resolve to do better when you try again. But, be sure to try again right away! If you wait, you'll lose momentum, and you may forget some of the information you have studied so hard to keep.

Procrastination can be conquered if you have a good attitude and positive work habits. Keep this blog post handy, and review it as you continue your studies. You'll be surprised how well these steps work!