There are many challenges and frustrations to overcome when studying for your exams and believe me I’ve been through them myself.

It can be immensely tough to study when it’s warm outside or your favourite TV show is on (like Game of Thrones for me) and this is not to mention the time constraints placed on us from busy days at work and the demands and desire to spend time with friends and family.

Therefore, the temptation to procrastinate and feel sorry for yourself is far easier and longer lasting than will power alone to get you hitting the books.

However, there are a number of ways to help ease the pain and I have outlined them below….

Tip 1 – Have the end in mind

Think to yourself what is the main benefit that you want to receive from your studies?

Picture it in your mind, and write down what you ultimately want to achieve and how you will feel once you get there.

This will be particularly useful when you feel like missing a study session or quitting altogether as you’ll be reminded of the no.1 reason as to why you started in the first place.

Remember, when you have passed all your exams, you too can feel that electric buzz of knowing that once you’re done, you’re done

Tip 2 – Pick a treat

Plan ahead and organise a big treat for yourself that you can look forward to once your studies are over – it could be a dream holiday, a night out on the town or even your favourite meal that you hardly ever have.

The point is, you want to reward yourself for the hard work you’re about to put in.

Tip 3 – Be consistent

By this I mean making studying a habit rather than a chore you try to put off.

By studying regularly, in small chunks, (say an hour or two a day) you’ll find this much more manageable and be filled with far less dread than having to face several hours of study all in one go (say once or twice a week).

Also, if you do happen to miss a study session, you’ll have less to catch up on and feel less stressed and pressurised.

Tip 4 – Seek advice

One of the main benefits of being affiliated to a professional body is that there are plenty of successful students willing to pass on their tips and advice for passing the exams and dealing with the stresses and strains of work, study and life balance.

So please do take advantage of this by engaging within the CIMA community and looking out for the common traits of successful students. This will show you that passing the exams can be done and will give you an insight into the methods of study that work.

Tip 5 – Remember you’re allowed to have a life

Yes, you have my permission to go to the cinema on Friday night or to the football on a Saturday afternoon! Although your CIMA exams require a lot of hard work and dedication, this doesn’t mean that you have to put your life on hold for weeks, months or even years.

Just make sure that you plan your studies around fun stuff that you like to do and that way you won’t feel like you are missing out on the fun things you do in your spare time. This is why I’ve highlighted the importance of having a study schedule or study plan in a previous article.

Call to action:

Okay, so I want you to take the following actions to help boost your motivation to get through these exams:

1. Write down the main benefit you are looking forward to receiving from your studies and keep it somewhere you can look at regularly

2. Pick your treat as your reward for finishing your studies

3. Let me know what your answers to 1) and 2) are in the comments section below

Cheers!