I’m ashamed to admit that I am having a hard time finding the drive to finish this. I have every intention of studying, I enjoy the material…I am just burned out! I have been sitting here all day getting increasingly frustrated with myself because I haven’t completed anything on one of my main study days. Is anyone else hitting this exhaustion/burnout stage?
I am currently at the beginning of book 4 of the Schweser material…any pep talk is appreciated.
Burnout is only a natural part of the process, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
I tend to experience this when i read the same chapter/topic over and over again in a bid to understand every line. But the exam is not really designed for you to remember each line…just understand what that particular LOS is addressing, give yourself a break, watch a 10 minute sitcom or close your eyes for a bit…get back into the the study by starting with practise questions on what you’ve just read, if you find that you understand it, move on. If not, address the specific things you do not understand, don’t attempt to read the entire topic 5 times, this will easily wear you out.
It’s all blood tears and sweat…you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do!
No, it just you, you’re the only one burned out. Just kidding!
Take it easy on yourself! Find something you enjoy, like a food, walking outside, petting a cat, eating chocolate, hugging a teddy, etc, etc. Study for ten minutes then reward yourself with whatever it is that you like. Start small, ramp yourself up… this is a marathon, not a sprint.
Yeah it is exactly the same feeling for me except that I don’t have free time for doing nothing. I feel like not being done for this exam, and it is my second attempt. I have to study in another country (China) after the office hours (6 months internship in Corporate Finance) for the December exam. Never felt that bad honestly, as if I was going to stay a level 1 candidate all my life.
I don’t know if this will help but I use this sometimes. There’s a time management technique called pomodoro (Spanish for tomato, I think) where you:
You say “…increasingly frustrated with myself because I haven’t completed anything on one of my main study days.” What’s the reason behind this? Because you’re not understanding the material? Or you lose concentration/attention? Or too tired after working?
The shame comes from feeling that my shortcomings are due to lack of discipline and willpower–that’s what it comes down to in my opinion.
I put heavy emphasis on weekend studying because I am exhausted/unable to focus after work during the week. I had wanted to try to stay at the office to study, but when I am given an amount of time to either work or study, I prioritize work.
I majored in economics and finance, but because the topics were so spread out, I never really had to study. When I did study, I had to completely shut myself off from everything–so that kind of transition on a weekly basis has begun to take it’s toll.
Thanks for the advice everyone, I am going to try some of the approaches you all mentioned and hopefully today goes better. Yesterday I just could not sit still!
I know exactly where you’re coming from ks. My firm doesn’t really accommodate my studies, and after I finish work i’m usually far too tired and brain dead to do any revision. I then try and push it at the weekends, but its hard to keep that intensity up, especially as you don’t want to completely abandon your social life.
What is working for me is getting up early. I go to bed at 10:00, wake up at 6 and do 1.5-2hrs before work. This really takes the burden off weekends and I’m more productive that early. Find I have to have a bigger breakfast tho!
Hope this helps
Keep at it! We’ve all been there. Just think about how good it will feel getting the e-mail telling you you passed!
I bet the feeling is just priceless!
Burnedout?! You want burnedout? Try studying for CFA with a big family all around you (including 2 teenagers constantly trying your patience), when you’re 3rd trimister pregnant, and you have a part time job that keeps you busy some 3 hours at home and 3 hours outside! I can only put in 2 hours of daily studies after midnight when all have gone to bed, and with half the average concentration. If you don’t have these elements in your life, ks, try to imagine them, and kick your way through. 
If anybody can do it, so can you.
…for you
Hahaha
Thanks Alladin
Nah man, we all feel it. Honestly any time we struggle to meet a goal (ie studying for cfa), if we fall short on it we blame ourselves for no self discipline or will power. It’s human nature! But no, all we can do is try our best and push ourselves as long as possible. Keep pushing, you’re not being lazy you’re just being human.
Take a break!
When you go into the Exam room you need to be fully rested as well as fully prepared.
Thanks for reminding me that this is a normal human response! My schedule is finally cleared for the next month (besides work) so hopefully I can finish up my final readings and start doing the mocks in November.
I am going to try to start getting up earlier–looking forward to climbing over this hump.
It is normal to feel burnout and reading the materials again and again hence force yourself to read and take a break like a day or so. I had to take like 2 weeks off from studying for level III cause I was so sick of it and thankfully I pass.
Dont be too obssessed with studying. Listen to your body and try reasoning with it. Forcing to study when you dont feel like is a wasted time as you dont remember what youve read but youre not enjoying or taking a break.
But is true though you have to sacrifise your social life while doing CFA exams. For level 2 and 3 I didnt see anyone at all starting 3 months before the exam. So the question remains; Is it all worth it? For me it was and nothing ever can beat the feeling of receiving cfa level III exam results.