Monday, November 17, 2014

So I feel like I have everything adequately set up to study. Securexam, all the files that were provided.
I'm ready to study. But honestly, I haven't gotten around to it, because I've been busy with my girl. And also really didn't feel like it.

Anyways. I'm just going to use this blog to track my progress. I think it should be a very good motivator.

it's currently 1:16 AM. And while most people go to bed at this time, I've created a sleeping pattern that helps me function during this time.

So the plan is to leave to study at 1:25 AM. Then work for how many hours? Well last time I worked for an hour and 15 minutes straight. Okay you may not think it's that long, and... You're probably right! The core 1 exam is 3 hours long, and I think when the time comes, I will definitely be able to sit those 3 hours. Even if I get antsy at home. I'll aim for 2 hours this time. And I will commit to it. NO MATTER WHAT. if i can get past the 2 hour point. that's great. But if I reach 2 hours then props to me. Because I have improved quantitively. Using small goals to reach big goals!

Here are some things I came up with last time:

- eat and drink water so you feel somewhat full

- go to the bathroom before you actually sit down to study for a long period of time. 

- brush your teeth, you don't want to be sneezing during the exam

- turn off any distractions

- keep your room well lit

- try to emulate exam scenarios

- wear clothes you will wear at the exam

So it's 1:21 AM, and I will be studying from 1:25 AM to 3:25 AM for sure!

Yes, GET RID OF DISTRACTIONS you think you might have now because once you COMMIT to that study time, you want to make sure it's easy to commit and not hard.

That being said, I'm going to wash my hair (because I have this feeling it needs to be washed lol) and then I'm going to study hard. I think I can do it. I believe in myself. And I'm smart (Positive affirmations!)

*2 hours later*

So, it was a good study session! Albeit, it didn't last the full 2 hours. FAIL! And that's OKAY! because failure leads to success! So huzzah to failure. Hope we meet again shortly.

I have this thing where I wear rings to remind myself of memory anchors, so I'm doing that. While I was reading a portion of the case, I realized i wanted a memory anchor for reading the case carefully. Normally, I just use my glasses for this. But recently I bought a cool ring in the shape of my glasses. I looked hard and ended up organizing my room and finding money and other various items, but no ring! It's all good. I got my glasses as a substitute. Which I always used before so. Hope it's sufficient.

Anyways, here are some things I noticed. 1 - it was tough! 2 - It's very easy to get side tracked. 3 - I want some juice, my brain gets tired of staring at strange information for minutes upon minutes. lol Feel free to ridicule me internet, but I really don't care. Hence the creation of a public blog!

What else.... Hmmmm... Oh so I have two rings, one of them stands for a constant process I go through:

Read the information carefully to build an understanding, and then type out what's happening and what's happened, then state some criteria related to what should happen at YEAR-END. and then go ahead and classify according to what accounting element you think it should be or what principle it satisfies. So far I've used the revenue recognition principle and classification of a liability. Yes Juice! Let's watch that video *watches*

I've been using ear plugs, they supply you with ear plugs. I may purchase a computer tomorrow or even... right now lol. they also supply you with a calculator and a USB stick.

Okay, ridiculous, but i'm probably going to do it. Bring my pencil, eraser and highlighters in a plastic bag. I cannot believe it. They're not allowing pens to the exam! Mega lame! I'm a fan. SMH (shake my head). They also are NOT allowing weapons of any kind... What the hell!? What am I going to beat someone with if they make too much noise!............... That was a joke, in case you didn't notice.

Okay, I'm pretty damn sure they will allow me to bring in a bottle of water so that's good. I needed one! After 2 hours had passed. You know because I was busy cleaning my room and all, I worked up a good sweat. Warning, this blog will include a large number of jokes. Full disclosure has been provided. HMPF. Okay. I'm going to have a snack, a quick 15 minute nap, and then I'll be back at it again.

*Thoughts while I'm eating my snack* I need to practice with my drivers license sitting at the edge of my desk as odd as that sounds. They require you to have it on your desk as you're writing!

What else? I got my water bottle, I'm going to add some grinded up walnuts and almonds into it, so that I can get some nutrition out of it, SOLUTES! Your body needs those too! But yeah, I will definitely need to eat quite a bit before the exam. I have a large appetite, and I don't enjoy hungry thinking although I can do it.

****So, I decided to buy a new battery for my laptop, rather than buy a new laptop, cuz a laptop is practically a fixed asset a huge purchase! The battery I currently have lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes or so which is not good since the exam is 3 hours long. It's interesting... The laptop batteries that was available for my computer model is 12 cell as opposed to the 6 cell which I currently have, so it will likely pack twice the amount of juice. This is assuming I buy an old one. Because I'm pretty sure my battery now packed 3 hours when I first bought it. However it's old. So a new 12 cell could possibly store even more than 3 hours <-- which would be great! a nice safety buffer. ***** Ultimately, I need 3 hours worth of juice for the exam. I'm going to need to wake up at a reasonable time tomorrow, so i can hit up bestbuy or futureshop or even ubattery <-- an online store i found which might be right beside me so i can buy the damn battery. LINK FOR ME TO BUY BATTERY :) Okay all battery issues aside, onto the normal stuff:

Well, I just wokeup from a nearly let's see 4 AM to 8 PM that's 16 hour sleep? Holy smokes lol. Guess I was tired! Damn, that sucks... What a waste of time... I think! Sleep is essential for a strong memory, and I'm going to try and study for my longest period of time and record. I'm feeling incredibly fresh and ready. My dad just walked in and check on my cleanliness. He said experience will be key to acing this exam, and i believe him!

Now I'm going to grab my clear plastic water bottle. And then I'm going to do some practice core exam case work. Let's see how far I'll get! I think i'll get really far!!! I'll start work at the following time:

9:20 PM (<-- I wanted to say "Setting time limits like this REALLY helps get your butt into gear!")
10:55 PM ( I took a tiny break to say: No watches! So I just took off my watch. Also they said no large jewellery, hmmm I wonder if they'll make me take off my rings! I doubt it. So I'm keeping them on. They're sort of a legal cheat in that if you let the rings stand for something related to solving exam problems, you get to wear them and use them. Meanwhile other candidates may or may not be doing this. Score!)

So I had to go to the bathroom, and I basically supress the urge and everything's A okay!!!

You know for example when you're hungry? And you're like "Dayum!!! I'm hungry!" Then hours pass and you say something like "I forgot I was hungry... I'm not even hungry anymore" lol! So this is my experience supressing the autonomic nervous system. I hope yours will be roughly the same.

Okay! Back to work. I'm done with the accounting issues for this case. I rewarded myself with my bottle of water (with secret lol pieces of almonds grinded up into it). Okay, so I'm not reallycheating here but whatever. I think it's just smart studying to be honest. Your body NEEDS solutes in a solvent like water. It's common sense. This is why people who go running and drink only water can possibly pass out, because they don't have any electrolytes to keep them awake or vitamins and minerals to keep them fed. so DO drink something that has solutes! I'm using diced almonds because almonds give you a small source of potassium which IS an electrolyte, furthermore it has lots of vitamins and minerals like calcium, Iron, magnesium, vitamin-b 6, vitamin e, fiber, antioxidant phytochemicals (phenols, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, and phytosterols), or arginine. (Source of information MIT and google!) Okay!!!! Nuff about almonds back to work!!!!

In the words of Han Solo "Don't get cocky kid!"... Leave it to a fictitious Sci-fi movie to encourage you to study harder. Haaaaaa. Okay, So! I'm onto the tax part. I realized that my study session is really going well. I'm STILL mega worried about the battery life, but i'll have to wait till tomorrow to buy a giant fashionable (Haaaaa) battery to *SPLAT!* (sound effect) on the back of my already so-handsome computer.

OH! i just realized that I actually added cinammon to my drink that I will be drinking during the exam (and during study sessions). But I didn't add my cayenne pepper that I usually add to my snacks. I'm going to start doing that. Why not, my blood needs to boil a little right? No, but honestly, cayenne pepper improves blood circulation and reduces inflammation. Think about when we study our freakin' foreheads get so inflammed and burnt out. Maybe it'll help this condition.

Some tips on maximizing memory according to research I did:

Specifically this is what Dee Sandquist, M.S., R.D. a spokesperson for american association of dietetic, had to say: eat healthy fats, fruits, veges, whole grains, SALMON, WALNUTS, FLAXSEEDS, SPICES (E.G. TUMERIC, GINGER). Also B-VITAMINS <-- complex or eat BEANS, WHOLE GRAIN BREAD/PASTA. GREEN TEA, DEEP COLORED FRUITS/VEGES (E.g. blackberries, beets, radishes, broccoli contain phytronutrients that boost brain health)

According to naturopaths: best supplements are phosphatidylserine (ps) keeps cell membranes intact and enables cell communication preserving memory (suggested daily intake 300 milligrams)

then the best herb for memory is ginko biloba which helps increase blood flow to the brain and acts as an antioxidant (daily dose vary from 120 to 240 mg)

Another great herb is Bacopa Monniera (daily dose 200 to 400 mg), eat fish because it has good levels of beneficial fatty acid DHA. need i repeat "SALMON" lol.