Students frequently ask CIMA’s Nasheen Wuisman about how to stay focused in the run up to an exam. Here’s her advice.
When an exam approaches it’s extremely common for people to put off studying in favour of, well, anything that doesn’t involve studying.
For many of us, delaying these essential tasks is inevitably followed by negative emotions – guilt, self-doubt, inadequacy and anxiety – creating a cycle that’s often hard to break out from.
So, why do we put things off?
People believe the root cause of procrastination can be laziness or lack of time management skills but that’s simply not true.
The real issue is emotional regulation.
We’re all unique individuals, which means that our emotional triggers vary, too. Anxiety, self- doubt, frustration and confusion are all common triggers — and procrastination often becomes a coping mechanism to avoid these unpleasant feelings.
If you’re a perfectionist, then, you may be especially prone to procrastination. The fear of not being able to complete a task perfectly may drive you to put it off entirely.
To counter negative thoughts, try to focus on completion over perfection and celebrate your micro-moments of achievement. Remember that trying and doing it OK is better than not starting at all. In time, these small steps with result in a steady pace of progress.
When caught in a spiral of procrastination, getting started can feel insurmountable.
Make it easy for yourself to act by planning your week ahead of time — using a diary, allocate date, time and duration to each study session. This will make the journey less daunting and instantly more achievable.
When you stick to a set schedule, you’ll build a solid anti-procrastination habit. If you deviate, it’s ok, stick to the plan for the rest of the week.
Short-term needs
Our brain is wired to prioritise short-term needs ahead of long-term goals; there’s an ongoing fight between your present self and your future self.
The present self prefers instant gratification, not long-term payoff. But by procrastinating, the future self is paying the price.
To pass your CGMA exams tomorrow, your preparation starts today. Set yourself some short- term goals and want to achieve them by. Write these down to remind you of your aspirations and exactly what step you need to take now to achieve them. Visualise how great it is going to feel when you’ve finished your tasks.
Always keep your big picture ‘why’ in mind.
Why are you studying? What is the end goal? How much do you want it? These positive connotations will pave your journey between now and the exam.
Remind yourself of why you want to achieve the CGMA designation. When you get distracted, the ‘why factor’ will motivate you to stay focused on your studies and create a meaningful connection to the tasks you need to carry out.
Overcoming procrastination is possible. By understanding your triggers, building consistent habits, and experiencing the satisfaction of completing tasks, you’ll make solid progress towards your end goal and the professional success you’ve worked so hard for.
- Nasheen Wuisman, Senior Manager of Global Academic Progression at AICPA & CIMA, together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants
