How do you take time out to study for a professional exam especially when you are working full time, have social committments, have to cook/clean sometimes, and like to spend time with the family as well?
I have an exam coming up in a few weeks and no matter how hard I try, I dun get time to study.please share any tips and tricks that can be helpful.. I have been planning to go to the library on the weekends but everytime I plan to go, something comes up.. how do you manage?
Re: studying while working full time?
no one? 
Re: studying while working full time?
I do not have to cook , clean or take care of kids but I cannot motivate myself to study for that exam. I do not seem to gain the benefits I was hoping to get out of passing this freaking exam.
There has to be some instant gratification or charm of working for it. No?
Re: studying while working full time?
Use your spare times:
Study early morning. Do reading while commuting to work. Discuss important points with a fellow student.
Re: studying while working full time?
Mirch..ok I really dun cook, my husband is very supportive when it comes to household work n cooking so probably I shouldn't even mention that as my excuse.. incentives are huge..not only I get a promotion but I will be one of the very few in the area to accomplish that... since I work in the field, I am usually exchausted by the end of the day and just can't concentrate and can't say no for weekend activities :-(
Mostar.. No one around me is taking this exam or at least I dunno of anyone.. I really wish there was a study group or some company to study together :-( and I drive to work (only 10 mins commute) so that isn't an option either.
What else... pleaseee?
in fact I should have been studying right now instead of browsing GS!!!
Re: studying while working full time?
I can think of a couple of tips from personal experience:
- schedule your studying during a relatively free time or downtime... e.g. late evenings, early mornings, weekends, commute times etc.
- you'll need to prioritize and give up on some aspect of socializing / leisure activities.
- Getting out of home helps many people as well... since being at home can often be distracting as you keep wanting to take care of things that can wait.
- Working as a group also helps... if you know you have to prepare for a group discussion and you need to make it to the meetings at certain times etc.
It's all about being dedicated and finding a balance... many would say it requires "sacrifice" but I tend to disagree... if you want something bad enough, then you shouldn't think of things you're giving up as a sacrifice... you're just prioritizing according to your short and long term goals. I've seen many inspirational examples of dedication and prioritization... some of which leave me dumbfounded. Most recently, a grad student who just finished her thesis under my supervision... she worked full-time, had a 1 year old baby, completed 3 to 4 courses every semester, managed to get on the Dean's List, and finished her Master's degree in 1 year and 8 months time! I called her super-woman! :-)
Re: studying while working full time?
Find someone online then. Are you taking an accountancy exam?
Re: studying while working full time?
GTG: What do you work with? Just curious :)
Re: studying while working full time?
Currently I am a public health inspector and taking the test to become Registered Enviornmental Health Specialist!!
LC.. good advice but like I said before no study groups around.. but yeah I guess I am one of those people who will have to leave the home to concentrate.. I have so many distractions at home!
the fact that the pasing rate for first timers (29%) scares me so much that I get no motivation to study :-(
Re: studying while working full time?
How do you take time out to study for a professional exam especially when you are working full time, have social committments, have to cook/clean sometimes, and like to spend time with the family as well?
I have an exam coming up in a few weeks and no matter how hard I try, I dun get time to study.please share any tips and tricks that can be helpful.. I have been planning to go to the library on the weekends but everytime I plan to go, something comes up.. how do you manage?
Its all about time management & my suggestion is to make schedule for yourself and stick to it.
Re: studying while working full time?
try leaving for work 1/2 hour early and study there.....or leave work 1/2 late and study.....works for me.....
Re: studying while working full time?
shamraz.. yep I did that today.. I made a schedule for myself in terms of how much I need to study in a day.. will try to stick to it no matter what!
us1415..I tried doing that but in the evening I used to be so tired that it wasn't a productive studying and in the morning, well I get there at 7:00 anyway since I work overtime to leave early on some days for family obligations..
Today I left everything at home and just went to the library to study.. took a few breaks here and there but I accomplished a lot.. will do that again tomorrow inshaAllah.. i think this is it.. I just need to leave home to concentrate!
Re: studying while working full time?
^library is the best place for me! no distractions, quiet, other ppl studying too,,, perfect!
otherwise i think the schedule idea works well too, ive done that before but often what happens is that i dont strictly follow it :(
Re: studying while working full time?
.
Re: studying while working full time?
Your plan sounds good :)
I know its offtopic, but what does a health inspector do?
Re: studying while working full time?
As a public health inspector I inspect restaurants, camps, pools, hot tub and spas, body art establishments, housing complains for mold, indoor air quality, septic systems, etc etc etc... you name it and we do it :-D
yep it's a fun job but exam isn't fun!
Re: studying while working full time?
Glad the getting out of home tip is working... I've seen it working for many. Depending on your study plan, you can vary your spots between libraries, cafes, parks etc. as well.
Re: studying while working full time?
***I always found studying in a library or at home too restrictive ........
A local coffee shop or the park is more conducive............
The most important thing is making a schedule so your aware of the time limit and syllabus to be covered and can break it into study segments.......with enough time to revise.
And instead of scheduling long hours at a stretch break it up into small 30 min to 45 min study times and scatter them throughout your day......that way you don't feel overwhelmed and what you study , you retain. Most importantly ALWAYS make your own notes so at the end of the syllabus you have your own condensed version to skim through of all the important points.
Re: studying while working full time?
As a public health inspector I inspect restaurants, camps, pools, hot tub and spas, body art establishments, housing complains for mold, indoor air quality, septic systems, etc etc etc... you name it and we do it :-D
yep it's a fun job but exam isn't fun!
OMG tht sounds so much fun!! Lucky!
Re: studying while working full time?
yep Lucid that was great.. I spent the weekend in the library, accomplished a lot, but I think I have forgotten all that now :D
Sheyn.. you are so right about the notes, I llove index cards, they were life saving for my undergrad and grad school so LOVE them! I make index cards whenever I can so I can study or peek through them during the not so busy or lunch time at work.. it's helping a lot!
I cant study in coffee shops or parks.. it has to be a pin drop silence for me to concentrate.. yep a loner I am but probably just because that how I have studied all my life so can't do much about it!
yep Sweetmoi.. not everyone finds dead mouse in salad or a bed bug in zip loc bag at their desk when they come to work ;)