How To Stay Motivated

Key Points:

• Be organized

• Be kind to yourself

Studying for the CPA Exam is tough. There’s no two ways about it. It takes time, energy, dedication, and consistency. Motivation can be hard to come by at times. But here are things you can do to keep your motivation alive.

1. Create a Study Schedule: A solid study plan will prepare you for the CPA Exam and save you time and energy that would be spent wondering what to study everyday. Figure it out at the start, Write it all down. And then don’t worry about it again.

2. Find Your Why: Why do you want to be a CPA? Remembering why you’re even doing this in the first place is a great way to stay motivated. Is it to get a job? Is it to make your parents proud? To provide for your children? Whatever it is, make sure to keep it in mind when things get tough.

3. Manifest it. Picture your success everyday. Imagine how that will feel when you finally achieve your goal and all the hard work pays off. Imagine that and strive for it. Keep the burning desire alive. Doing this will help minimize a sense of hopelessness.

4. Break things down. The CPA Exam covers a lot of material. It can be very overwhelming to look at everything you still have to do. So don’t do that. Break your course down to manageable pieces. Remember, it’s 1 module at a time. 1 day at a time. Slowly but surely. You don’t need to finish everything all at once. Just focus on the next step.

5. Motivational videos. As corny as it sounds, if you are looking for a burst of motivation just get on youtube and search some motivation up. Maybe all you need is a David Goggins clip to get you going. 

6. Reward yourself. You’re only going to lose motivation if you never get any positive feedback for all your hard work. Make sure to reward yourself regularly for all the great work you are putting in. Do that and motivation will be less likely to wane.

7. Stay positive. Be kind to yourself and acknowledge that studying for the CPA Exam is hard. Focus on your strengths and progress, rather than dwelling on setbacks or mistakes. Practice self-compassion by treating yourself with understanding and forgiveness, especially during moments of frustration or self-doubt.

Bonus Tips:

• Stay healthy. Eat well and exercise

• Get a study Buddy

Staying motivated while studying for the CPA Exam requires a combination of goal setting, discipline, self-care, and support.