Is anyone else out there struggling with burnout and study fatigue?
A college professor of mine once told me “you know you’re ready to take a test when you’ve studied to the point where you don’t care if you pass or fail.” Believe it or not, that barameter has always served me well. Through college, law school, bar exam (yes, I was once a lawyer), and Level I, I have always relied on that simple bit of advice.
For what it is worth, this is likely the most grueling exam for whic I have ever sat. I’ve spent hours working through the material, and answered countless questions. (I haven’t tracked the hours, but I’d be suprised with they were less than the target 250.) Looking forward, I can likely power through it a bit more this weekend, and ann hour or two a day next week; however, I am quickly reaching the point where, frankly, I don’t care what my score is: I just don’t want to stare at this stuff anymore! Anyone else feel this way yet?
Here’s my point: we can always do “more” but when one reaches the point of severely deminishing returns, its best to go play golf – which is exactly what I intend to do tomorrow!
Yes, Yes, Yes. Getting totally burnt out! I wish the exam were tomorrow, so I could just get it over with at this point! I have plenty of free time before June 2, but it’s a big struggle to put it all towards CFA studying, which is probably what I should be doing? However, I know I am not as well prepared as I could be, but still… Like you say… diminishing returns…
Nevertheless, I’m saving my round of golf for June 1.
Actually, for L1, in the last day or two of study, I just drilled on “beginner” questions from the QBank. It raised my confidence and was very easy to plow through, while I was suffering from the same burn out as well. At L1, I also took the last Friday off, as I intend to do this year again. I’m not trying to blow myself apart in practice leading up to game time. Personally, I don’t have too much longer. Only a few more days of tedious review in my trouble areas, and then winding it down in the last 3 days.
We are in the same boat, Clark. I know there is more I can do, and that I am not as well prepared as I could be. (But, I mean, honestly, on this exam does anyone ever reach that point?) There’s always material to review. Yet, I think that is the point: we are never going to score a 90+, and its very highly unlikely to score 80+. We need only reach that “magic” cutoff, which I believe traditionally hovers somewhere between 65% and 70%. If you feel like you are there, then, most likely, you are.
This is when it is nice to listen to videos if you bought the Schweser package or some other provider that has those lecture videos.
So, your brain doesn’t have to chug problem after problem, and it just sits and listens, and maybe you’ll catch something here or there you weren’t 100% sure on.
It’s like a taking a break… but still being productive…
Wow, L3 doesn’t look so much different than L2. I’m just trying to focus on L2 in 9 days, but this is somewhat encouraging! I mean, an illustration must reflect reality, right?
The best cure for burn out is taking a break. Your brain needs it to absorb everything you’ve been studying and you’ll be a lot more productive when your mind is relaxed and freshed. Take this Sunday and/or Monday off and enjoy Memorial Day weekend. Then get back into it from Monday-Thursday. Take Friday off again and avoid studying Friday and absolutely no studying before your exam on Saturday.
Wake up early Friday, be active throughout the day and spend time with friends or family or treat yourself to a massage. You want to be tired by the end of the day so you can get a good night’s sleep. Then when you wake up, you’ll be refreshed and slay the shit out of that blue dragon.
I work 8 hours a day and study 8 hours a day so 16 hours a day for me for the past 3 months and I AM DEADLY EXHAUSTED, i can’t believe why I chose to take this exam
I actually feel less burnout now than I did a month ago. Getting through the readings, then trying to pull everything together is the most painful part for me. At this point most of it is practice - I’m more excited about plowing through and being DONE than burnout. Feels less like drudgery and more like progress.
I actually feel less burnout now than I did a month ago. Getting through the readings, then trying to pull everything together is the most painful part for me. At this point most of it is practice - I’m more excited about plowing through and being DONE than burnout. Feels less like drudgery and more like progress.
About a month ago I actually stopped studying for a few days. It was only until I looked at one practice question that I didn’t know how to do within three minutes that I felt encouraged to keep going. That was probably my most burnt out stage.
Right now I’m finding that if I go slow and steady I am more satisfied with my study sessions. When I try to cram too much I end up hating it, and forgetting it. Then again, I did start very early; I am merely fine tuning right now.
I think burnout is very common for everyone at this stage though.
