Tori is a NINJA CPA Blogger.

Hi NINJAs

I hope everyone had a pleasant holiday season. I know for me it was a mixed bag. I received bad news about FAR during the early December score release.

This was compounded by the fact that I lost my AUD credit. So where does that leave me?

I am currently back in the saddle studying for FAR. This means that my prep has begun again, from scratch. I do not officially use a review course, so I am back to listening to NINJA Audio, and reading/writing/re reading/re writing my NINJA notes.

I haven't received my NTS yet, however, I plan to schedule for approximately the third week in January. I was hoping to be further along in my prep. However, like many other candidates, I'm sure, the holidays have slowed my progress.

I do not have crazy family obligations, however spending quality time with my husband and dogs is important to me, and to them. Now that it is the new year, I am behind in my prep, and am back with my nose to the grind stone.

Fortunately, my firm gave us time off for New Year's Eve and New Year's day. That means I had 2 more days to really power through the material. One strategy I have found particularly helpful to keep my focus is to work out. I am into road cycling, and have come to know that just an hour on my bike in the morning before I settle in helps me to be quite productive for the rest of the day.

Maybe it is something to do with stretching my legs and getting my heart rate up. Maybe it is my pre treat to myself, something like “Go ride bike now, get some fresh air, and sun on my face, then repay for the activity with hours in a quiet room, just me, my electronic version of the FAR Wiley book and the test bank.”

What ever it is, it works for me. I can spend hours studying after going out and exercising.

What helps you get through a day of marathon studying? I would love to see some of your strategies in the comment section.

Tori