Christie is a NINJA CPA Blogger.

Life happens. Sometimes the plans to study get pushed back because of a giggling baby or my 6 year old asking if we can go swing outside.

I refuse to let the CPA exam stop my life; I’m the leader of the youth group at church Wednesday nights, I work full time and I have 2 small children that require the attention of their mommy. I am determined to keep doing some of the things I enjoy and still study for the CPA exam.

Can it be done? Of course it can! It is just going to take some major discipline on my part. Many people have said that all activities stop and you don’t get your life back until you are done. I refuse to settle for less, I can have it all!

If I have made the commitment to taking the CPA exam, obviously I don’t take this lightly. As long as I allow myself time, then life and all the extra things I like to do won’t stand in my way.

My lunch break consists of studying; FAR and the topics it covers is constantly in my mind just waiting for the day I go sit for the exam (which is 4 weeks and 5 days away, but who is counting?). I wake up in the morning and all I can remember of my dreams are of FAR some days.

Life is all about balance. It takes great time management, discipline and the support of family and friends to get through this exam; I haven’t even taken it yet and that I understand. We don’t have to give up on life while we study, we can still have fun with our friends and family, having breaks would probably do more good than not. Unless of course you take too many breaks.

I multi-task a lot, as long as it won’t interfere with what I really need to focus on. My daughter wanted time to cuddle with me before bed so I grabbed my nook, pulled up my NINJA Notes and read those while we cuddled. Of course she interrupted me before I could even get started asking why I was studying to be a NINJA, but I got 30 pages read, and she got time with me that she wanted.

I won’t let the CPA exam conquer me and take over my life, I’m going to conquer it and still find time for my family. I cut back on fun hobbies, but I’m not cutting them out completely, I need something to keep me sane!