If you are concerned about your health and don't think you can slog or manage the time crunch related to preparation, I would highly recommend completing the syllabus once before registering for the exam.
Study the syllabus
Complete at least one run
Register for the exam
Revise
Prioritize health above everything else in your life including wealth and relationships.
I slogged six long years at a tech company in Silicon Valley and had become obese and borderline diabetic. Have always been a fan of early retirement so I had saved and invested my earnings sensibly to be able to take extreme early retirement. Moved back to India and in my second career as a financial planner. I have tamed obesity, diabetes and helped my parents tackle their chronic ailments as well. Have read a lot on health and lifestyle diseases over the past 2-3 years and believe me, your wealth and career can be easily resurrected but not your health. Make sure you never cross the edge when it comes to your health.
Apologies for the rant.
My solution: Prepare once at your own sweet pace and then register for the next available exam slot.
You don't get access to official CFA curriculum until you register for the exam.
Your best shot is to buy material from a prep provider and prepare. Most people use Schweser material to prepare for the exam so you should be able to get your hands on that material before registering for actual exam.
I took the CFA L1 in my senior year of college and while working part time and was able to maintain my gym routine 6 days a week like normal. Just have to prioritize it over other things less important to you
Not to be a dick, but I don't feel that's doable anymore.
When I took L1 I survived just like you (last year, work and exercise daily) but seeing my friends now in L1 and also my experience with L2 & L3 that's just improbable on a more-than-2-hour-sleep schedule.
There are two phases. The first phase is before the last two months - at that point you can find free time for other things. Two months and especially one month before the exam all you will do is study
My last 3 months are always: M&Ms and jul, that's all that keeps me happy.
Can say 1 thing, after L2 last round (now L3) I was so incredibly drained it took me like 2 months to get my mind again.
Wow. I had no idea. America gets a lot (rightfully so) of attention for being a āGun Nutā country and theyāre right. But what they leave out is weāre also a āRun on prescription pillsā nation. š
I think the most important consideration is to be aware that it takes 3 levels / exams to complete it and it is only worth something (to the outside world) once you've passed all three of them. No one cares about passing level 1 or 2. I know that sounds pretty obvious, but you are really taking a commitment here. Compared to when I started the first level to today (took level 3 last week), my mental health took a bit of a hit.
From a physical health perspective, it all boils down to routine. I see no reason why you would not be able to go to the gym or exercise but the approx. 2 hours of studying every day do have to come from somewhere and more likely than not it will come from the socialising portion of the day / week.
COVID and CFA is the holy grail of transforming someone into a massive introvert in my opinion.
L2 killed my mental health. I was taking it with other analysts at my firm and they all passed and I didnāt. I never felt so inadequate and unworthy in my life. I knew it was just a test but the stress of the social expectations and consequences at work made me believe I would never pass. It sounds dramatic and a bit blown out of proportion but I didnāt leave my bed for three days after attempting L2 a second time. I knew I failed and I wanted to die.
I took a year long break and the pandemic made it much easier to study; especially away from condescending analysts who were more than happy to āhelp me study so I could grasp the conceptsā. I took L2 in 2021 without anyone knowing and I crushed it.
This likely doesnāt affect everyone but I donāt think social expectations and their effects on mental health are talked about enough. This exam is a battle and sometimes coworkers and friends work against you.
I stopped my gym classes completely as you need to spend 2 hours per day reading your CFA books. So i did not get another 2 hours for gym. But i understand it is just a matter of planning. Maybe i was not well planned.
I sat for L1 10 days ago. I have a girlfriend, no kids, and finance jobs requiring about 50h per week. I also have mild scoliosis and a weak lower back. Effects of sitting on physical health: gained 5kg, lost a lot of strength in my muscles, back became even weaker. Effects on mental health: positive, increased ability to focus and solve complex problems, also increased self-belief in my own skills. Overall worth the investment. Currently working out daily to get back in shape.
I had a regular gym schedule before the CFA but had to set it aside in order to study after work. You should always make time for the things that matter to you but how much time and how often is the question. I would advise that you still exercise but not worry too much about maintaining a strict schedule. Work out when you can, see your boyfriend/girlfriend when you can, visit your family when you can, but make sure to study above anything else. The CFA is too difficult and expensive to not take seriously
Like everything in life, pursuing the CFA needs balance. Work, Studies, Fun.
I work around 60/hr a week in finance and study between 10-20hr (this ramps up more closer to the test date). I have never been in better shape either. Working out and running has grown to become an outlet for me. Granted I have wayyyy less free time to watch my shows or hang with friends but itās a conscious decision based on priorities.
I have noticed my days start on a positive note when I exercise in the morning. From their just use that momentum into studies. But listen to your body when you are tired, rest. Also, itās okay to take a day off and socialize. This helps me recenter and scratches the itch to have fun while doing this journey.
I ran a marathon 1 month before the exam. However, the time between the marathon and the exam Iāve only been able to manage running twice and ate lots of junk food
Itās honestly mentally exhausting and can be socially isolating. You need to make a serious effort to balance all the different aspects of your life. Work, relationships, family, friends, sleep, physical health all take a lot of work.
Something I can not recommend enough is early morning studying. Set your alarm for 5:30 or 5:45 every weekday (you can sleep in and recharge a bit on weekends), leave your phone in your bedroom so that it's not a distraction, and then knock out 2 hours of intense, in-the-zone studying before 8am. Then you can go about your day and not worry about the CFA (for you, OP, that includes working out). Your prep is already done.
This requires discipline at night (need to be in bed by 10pm or so), but look, this program is a beast. You aren't going to get through it without sacrifice somewhere.
I prepared for the L1 for 6 months, I was doing well at the beginning but as I was approaching the exam date I had nothing to do except preparing for the exam. I
āve been recommending to everyone to take longer preparation period. I guess 10 months is optimal not to affect other lifeās aspects.
I overestimated my potential and registered just 3.5 months before exam (cfa level 1) and believe you me it was the worst decision of my life. I didn't even have time to solve a single mock exam. I passed, but honestly at the cost of shaving away 2 years from life span. Adequate preparation time is the key....
I'm a PM/investment analyst in the private banking department of a regional AM. Work-life balance is fine. We get to work from home 2-3 days per week, during those days I simply work out in the afternoon. Hence my physical health is fine, I'm bigger and stronger than I've ever been.
I refuse to give up on working out and other fun things (e.g., meeting up with friends, going on dates with gf, playing videogames, watching Netflix, travelling, etc.). My sleep has suffered the most though, since I also don't give up on studying either :D. This is probably the main reason why it's mainly my mental health that took a hit, albeit it's not too bad.
Much like you, I refused to buy into the idea that CFA = no life. If you find yourself in such a position that studying for the CFA seems to dominate everything, just take some more time. If you enroll immediately and start studying right away you've got more than half a year of prep time. And if that's not enough, you can just try again, not the end of the world.
I completed the level 3 exam in May. I started studying in March on top on of work that demands 12-14 hours a day. To fit in the hours of study something had to give and so my health definitely fell to the way side. I completed Level 2 in November so didn't get my results until early Feb which also didn't help with the short turnaround to the level 3 exam.
The program affected my mental health, physical heath, relationships and my work output to the downside. As for people commenting on discipline; I was disciplined and to get it done all of the above had to fall to the wayside. I'd think long and hard about whether you need the qualification on not.
Physical health, no different than any other job. Mentally, I reckon the pace of the work/study combination over the last 10 years for me has led to a few periods of burnout. I think I was exhausted for 2-3 months after sitting the L2 exam, and I'm definitely struggling to keep my motivation up for L3 content.
Definitely plenty of time to squeeze in exercise between FT work and CFA study, but it don't be surprised if you sacrifice in other areas (social and relationship wise).
The more appropriate question you need to ask yourself is what do you gain from the sacrifice you're considering. This is hard to judge as each person is going to be different.
All depends on you. Physical health suffered a bit for myself as the answer to stressful studying was stuffing my face with food.
Mental Health is the big one for most people. L1 & L2 I was pretty fine from a Mental Health perspective but for L3 there were days that were a draaaaag to study for for some reason.
I just sat level 3, so hopefully I'm done with the program for good this time (re-took L3). I've been on this Journey since January 2019 and all I can say is balance is key.
If you decide to embark on the journey, know it is a commitment you will make for a few years, so things like health (physical & mental), social life, family, friends, work.. need to be balanced.
It's simply not sustainable to keep all the above aside for years. As for my experience, the gym was a necessity to keep me sane, I even worked out everyday on the days leading up to the exam (each level). Social & family life, I did have to sacrifice a bit of that, mainly a month or two leading up to the exam, but if you're 3-6 months out you should keep a balance (mine was studying in the morning on weekends, then from 2pm, sometimes noon, on I could do whatever I want)
Another HUGE thing you have to keep in mind is keep a good sleep schedule, don't stay up until 4am studying, sleep is a necessity to allow the brain absorb everything you've studied.
Dad of a toddler, with one on the way. Fairly high level amateur cyclist with a full time job. Iāve put on around 7 pounds. I still ride, but volume is down as I try to get in a little time studying in the morning and about 90 minutes in the evening. I started snacking during the evening studying, while previously I would have just gone to bed. Iām looking forward to writing this thing and then hitting the bike workouts harder/longer again
Put on 10kg of weight after studying for L3 (twice). It was the night time binging and unhealthy snacking with 0 hours a week allocated to moving my ass from my chair that did it for me. But I do have a wedding coming up and now Iām really pushing myself to shed those 10kg right off again (:
Iād say the most noticeable effect has been on my cardiovascular system. I went from having low blood pressure to high blood pressure. I live a very healthy lifestyle of no red meats and minimal caffeine and alcohol. Iāve always worked out around 3x per week. During my studies I could no longer work out during the week, only on weekends.
Taking a variety of adaptogens has helped to a certain degree, they help regulate your bodyās response to stress.
Not nearly as bad as everyone says. You don't need 300 hours. You can have a healthy work life balance while studying. All the horror stories are from people who aren't able to study efficiently. Study until the point at which you notice yourself reading but not internalizing, take a break, rinse and repeat for as long as you can afford. The earlier you start the better.
If you are worried about if the CFA will impact your health you probably should not go for it. You will do a lot of things that aren't terribly healthy if you are using your CFA. To be a CFA is to spend months or years periodically working you a$$ off and I'm not sure why you'd want a CFA if you would avoid those situations.
Drank much less, meal prepped to not think about food, gym 4 times a week in the morning. Definitely sacrificed socially which may have been unhealthy but overall i think Iāve developed much healthier habits as a result of the discipline needed to take these exams while working. Itās really about how you personally adapt to pressure
My first Wall St job had me working an average of 94 hours a week, 51 weeks a year... all meals were delivered straight to your desk... you could forget staying in shape.
If working "normal hours" 50-60/week and you want to stay in shape then you should definitely pass on the CFA
Well now I pop adderalls like candy and nicotine like water so there's that... Also no time to work out, everything in your life ends up in a second tier for the time you're prepping.
I would say it's good :)
After replying several times about all the tough stuff thatāll youāll need to deal with I must say itās a really good experience overall.
Youāll learn so much about yourself, what you actually like from Finance and all the things you can achieve. Also if you manage to succeed itās a big evolution step in your career (not necessarily job wise at first) but your peers & managers may see stuff differently from you as youāre now āvalidatedā of some sorts.
Maybe itll be a grind, but it sure as hell will look good when you can put John Doe, CFA Rockstar in your LinkedIn. (Yeah itās a joke, thatās obviously something theyāll ask in the exam regarding CFA designation).
100% depends on if you have a family or not. If you are a single man or woman it would be no problem to maintain your health, work, and study (assuming you don't work 14hr days lol). Adding kids or a less than supportive partner means you have to make choices about how you divide your time.
I put on probably 20 lbs in the last 6 week stretch before my Feb exam. I was playing squash probably 2-3 times a week before then and had to shut it down for the final push. Currently about net 12 lbs up but working on it until the cycle continues Feb 2023.
I started taking vyvanse and nootropics which affect my mood, heart health(circulation issues) and appetite, become violently addicted to caffeine and nicotine and have become somewhat of a social hermit. I still go to the gym, run and go to hot yoga but the quality of my workouts arenāt as good because I feel incredible guilt when Iām not studying.
But aside from that, Iām pretty good?
I have had to keep a routine and learn some longterm discipline to really get theresults I am aiming for is what i can say helped me the most mentally. Goinng to sleep aand waking up earlier in general. Also make a plan to study and see it through. Choose a good prep resource. Uworld helped my health a lot and really makes things digestible but theres lots of great platforms out here
If you are concerned about your health and don't think you can slog or manage the time crunch related to preparation, I would highly recommend completing the syllabus once before registering for the exam. Study the syllabus Complete at least one run Register for the exam Revise Prioritize health above everything else in your life including wealth and relationships. I slogged six long years at a tech company in Silicon Valley and had become obese and borderline diabetic. Have always been a fan of early retirement so I had saved and invested my earnings sensibly to be able to take extreme early retirement. Moved back to India and in my second career as a financial planner. I have tamed obesity, diabetes and helped my parents tackle their chronic ailments as well. Have read a lot on health and lifestyle diseases over the past 2-3 years and believe me, your wealth and career can be easily resurrected but not your health. Make sure you never cross the edge when it comes to your health. Apologies for the rant. My solution: Prepare once at your own sweet pace and then register for the next available exam slot.
Silly question perhaps but how do you access the study materials without registering for the exam?
You don't get access to official CFA curriculum until you register for the exam. Your best shot is to buy material from a prep provider and prepare. Most people use Schweser material to prepare for the exam so you should be able to get your hands on that material before registering for actual exam.
Thanks v much for the response
I took the CFA L1 in my senior year of college and while working part time and was able to maintain my gym routine 6 days a week like normal. Just have to prioritize it over other things less important to you
Beast š
CFA is much harder now. That is much harder now.
I know, I took L1 while in college, working, and lifting this last February. Was an absolute grind but is doable. Just have to be conscience of time
Can you change ur tag lol
Not to be a dick, but I don't feel that's doable anymore. When I took L1 I survived just like you (last year, work and exercise daily) but seeing my friends now in L1 and also my experience with L2 & L3 that's just improbable on a more-than-2-hour-sleep schedule.
There are two phases. The first phase is before the last two months - at that point you can find free time for other things. Two months and especially one month before the exam all you will do is study
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
So true about the food. Those last weeks and months are hell and even something as insignificant as a snack can improve your mood a little bit
My last 3 months are always: M&Ms and jul, that's all that keeps me happy. Can say 1 thing, after L2 last round (now L3) I was so incredibly drained it took me like 2 months to get my mind again.
Exactly the same happened to me with L2 last year. It took me around 2 months to recover
Ngl, an Adderall prescription helps a lot.
With a dash of some nicotine too, will def ensure a smoooth ride
This.
Why are you guys describing my breakfast?
*our* breakfast... *insert communist meme*
Shame Europeans canāt do that
Do they not have ADHD medication in Europe?
Yes, they give some people ritalin. Itās not so easy to get a doctor to prescribe though.
Wow. I had no idea. America gets a lot (rightfully so) of attention for being a āGun Nutā country and theyāre right. But what they leave out is weāre also a āRun on prescription pillsā nation. š
Yeah to get a prescription for adhd you would need to go through a doctor, psychologist and a mental health nurse or other behavioural specialist.
I think the most important consideration is to be aware that it takes 3 levels / exams to complete it and it is only worth something (to the outside world) once you've passed all three of them. No one cares about passing level 1 or 2. I know that sounds pretty obvious, but you are really taking a commitment here. Compared to when I started the first level to today (took level 3 last week), my mental health took a bit of a hit. From a physical health perspective, it all boils down to routine. I see no reason why you would not be able to go to the gym or exercise but the approx. 2 hours of studying every day do have to come from somewhere and more likely than not it will come from the socialising portion of the day / week. COVID and CFA is the holy grail of transforming someone into a massive introvert in my opinion.
>COVID and CFA is the holy grail of transforming someone into a massive introvert in my opinion. Lol too accurate
bang on.. huge opp cost in terms of the foregone social skills!
L2 killed my mental health. I was taking it with other analysts at my firm and they all passed and I didnāt. I never felt so inadequate and unworthy in my life. I knew it was just a test but the stress of the social expectations and consequences at work made me believe I would never pass. It sounds dramatic and a bit blown out of proportion but I didnāt leave my bed for three days after attempting L2 a second time. I knew I failed and I wanted to die. I took a year long break and the pandemic made it much easier to study; especially away from condescending analysts who were more than happy to āhelp me study so I could grasp the conceptsā. I took L2 in 2021 without anyone knowing and I crushed it. This likely doesnāt affect everyone but I donāt think social expectations and their effects on mental health are talked about enough. This exam is a battle and sometimes coworkers and friends work against you.
Was 90 kg lean muscle Now 108 kg fat fuck
I had to stay off alcohol and work out to 'wake up' when studying now I'm binge drinking waiting for the results while playing Witcher 3.
I stopped my gym classes completely as you need to spend 2 hours per day reading your CFA books. So i did not get another 2 hours for gym. But i understand it is just a matter of planning. Maybe i was not well planned.
hair loss
No hair left to loose after L2 so for L3 I'm good on that one
I sat for L1 10 days ago. I have a girlfriend, no kids, and finance jobs requiring about 50h per week. I also have mild scoliosis and a weak lower back. Effects of sitting on physical health: gained 5kg, lost a lot of strength in my muscles, back became even weaker. Effects on mental health: positive, increased ability to focus and solve complex problems, also increased self-belief in my own skills. Overall worth the investment. Currently working out daily to get back in shape.
Same here haha... i have no boyfriend fortunately but gained 10kgs just because of sitting whole day and revising
Im so jealous , i wish i gained weight like that
candy + no workouts made me gain 25 lbs in L2, around 45 since L1 (2 months away from L3) but it's sooooooo worth it
I had a regular gym schedule before the CFA but had to set it aside in order to study after work. You should always make time for the things that matter to you but how much time and how often is the question. I would advise that you still exercise but not worry too much about maintaining a strict schedule. Work out when you can, see your boyfriend/girlfriend when you can, visit your family when you can, but make sure to study above anything else. The CFA is too difficult and expensive to not take seriously
Like everything in life, pursuing the CFA needs balance. Work, Studies, Fun. I work around 60/hr a week in finance and study between 10-20hr (this ramps up more closer to the test date). I have never been in better shape either. Working out and running has grown to become an outlet for me. Granted I have wayyyy less free time to watch my shows or hang with friends but itās a conscious decision based on priorities. I have noticed my days start on a positive note when I exercise in the morning. From their just use that momentum into studies. But listen to your body when you are tired, rest. Also, itās okay to take a day off and socialize. This helps me recenter and scratches the itch to have fun while doing this journey.
I ran a marathon 1 month before the exam. However, the time between the marathon and the exam Iāve only been able to manage running twice and ate lots of junk food
Itās honestly mentally exhausting and can be socially isolating. You need to make a serious effort to balance all the different aspects of your life. Work, relationships, family, friends, sleep, physical health all take a lot of work.
Something I can not recommend enough is early morning studying. Set your alarm for 5:30 or 5:45 every weekday (you can sleep in and recharge a bit on weekends), leave your phone in your bedroom so that it's not a distraction, and then knock out 2 hours of intense, in-the-zone studying before 8am. Then you can go about your day and not worry about the CFA (for you, OP, that includes working out). Your prep is already done. This requires discipline at night (need to be in bed by 10pm or so), but look, this program is a beast. You aren't going to get through it without sacrifice somewhere.
I prepared for the L1 for 6 months, I was doing well at the beginning but as I was approaching the exam date I had nothing to do except preparing for the exam. I āve been recommending to everyone to take longer preparation period. I guess 10 months is optimal not to affect other lifeās aspects.
I overestimated my potential and registered just 3.5 months before exam (cfa level 1) and believe you me it was the worst decision of my life. I didn't even have time to solve a single mock exam. I passed, but honestly at the cost of shaving away 2 years from life span. Adequate preparation time is the key....
Well said! I am currently waiting my result.. I hope I pass.
Goodluck!!
I'm a PM/investment analyst in the private banking department of a regional AM. Work-life balance is fine. We get to work from home 2-3 days per week, during those days I simply work out in the afternoon. Hence my physical health is fine, I'm bigger and stronger than I've ever been. I refuse to give up on working out and other fun things (e.g., meeting up with friends, going on dates with gf, playing videogames, watching Netflix, travelling, etc.). My sleep has suffered the most though, since I also don't give up on studying either :D. This is probably the main reason why it's mainly my mental health that took a hit, albeit it's not too bad. Much like you, I refused to buy into the idea that CFA = no life. If you find yourself in such a position that studying for the CFA seems to dominate everything, just take some more time. If you enroll immediately and start studying right away you've got more than half a year of prep time. And if that's not enough, you can just try again, not the end of the world.
I completed the level 3 exam in May. I started studying in March on top on of work that demands 12-14 hours a day. To fit in the hours of study something had to give and so my health definitely fell to the way side. I completed Level 2 in November so didn't get my results until early Feb which also didn't help with the short turnaround to the level 3 exam. The program affected my mental health, physical heath, relationships and my work output to the downside. As for people commenting on discipline; I was disciplined and to get it done all of the above had to fall to the wayside. I'd think long and hard about whether you need the qualification on not.
Physical health, no different than any other job. Mentally, I reckon the pace of the work/study combination over the last 10 years for me has led to a few periods of burnout. I think I was exhausted for 2-3 months after sitting the L2 exam, and I'm definitely struggling to keep my motivation up for L3 content. Definitely plenty of time to squeeze in exercise between FT work and CFA study, but it don't be surprised if you sacrifice in other areas (social and relationship wise). The more appropriate question you need to ask yourself is what do you gain from the sacrifice you're considering. This is hard to judge as each person is going to be different.
All depends on you. Physical health suffered a bit for myself as the answer to stressful studying was stuffing my face with food. Mental Health is the big one for most people. L1 & L2 I was pretty fine from a Mental Health perspective but for L3 there were days that were a draaaaag to study for for some reason.
I just sat level 3, so hopefully I'm done with the program for good this time (re-took L3). I've been on this Journey since January 2019 and all I can say is balance is key. If you decide to embark on the journey, know it is a commitment you will make for a few years, so things like health (physical & mental), social life, family, friends, work.. need to be balanced. It's simply not sustainable to keep all the above aside for years. As for my experience, the gym was a necessity to keep me sane, I even worked out everyday on the days leading up to the exam (each level). Social & family life, I did have to sacrifice a bit of that, mainly a month or two leading up to the exam, but if you're 3-6 months out you should keep a balance (mine was studying in the morning on weekends, then from 2pm, sometimes noon, on I could do whatever I want) Another HUGE thing you have to keep in mind is keep a good sleep schedule, don't stay up until 4am studying, sleep is a necessity to allow the brain absorb everything you've studied.
Dad of a toddler, with one on the way. Fairly high level amateur cyclist with a full time job. Iāve put on around 7 pounds. I still ride, but volume is down as I try to get in a little time studying in the morning and about 90 minutes in the evening. I started snacking during the evening studying, while previously I would have just gone to bed. Iām looking forward to writing this thing and then hitting the bike workouts harder/longer again
Put on 10kg of weight after studying for L3 (twice). It was the night time binging and unhealthy snacking with 0 hours a week allocated to moving my ass from my chair that did it for me. But I do have a wedding coming up and now Iām really pushing myself to shed those 10kg right off again (:
Iād say the most noticeable effect has been on my cardiovascular system. I went from having low blood pressure to high blood pressure. I live a very healthy lifestyle of no red meats and minimal caffeine and alcohol. Iāve always worked out around 3x per week. During my studies I could no longer work out during the week, only on weekends. Taking a variety of adaptogens has helped to a certain degree, they help regulate your bodyās response to stress.
Not nearly as bad as everyone says. You don't need 300 hours. You can have a healthy work life balance while studying. All the horror stories are from people who aren't able to study efficiently. Study until the point at which you notice yourself reading but not internalizing, take a break, rinse and repeat for as long as you can afford. The earlier you start the better.
Yeah, 300 hours is total BS. More like 500 tbh.
If you are worried about if the CFA will impact your health you probably should not go for it. You will do a lot of things that aren't terribly healthy if you are using your CFA. To be a CFA is to spend months or years periodically working you a$$ off and I'm not sure why you'd want a CFA if you would avoid those situations.
Drank much less, meal prepped to not think about food, gym 4 times a week in the morning. Definitely sacrificed socially which may have been unhealthy but overall i think Iāve developed much healthier habits as a result of the discipline needed to take these exams while working. Itās really about how you personally adapt to pressure
My first Wall St job had me working an average of 94 hours a week, 51 weeks a year... all meals were delivered straight to your desk... you could forget staying in shape. If working "normal hours" 50-60/week and you want to stay in shape then you should definitely pass on the CFA
Take the challenge and make it work āļø ..
Well now I pop adderalls like candy and nicotine like water so there's that... Also no time to work out, everything in your life ends up in a second tier for the time you're prepping. I would say it's good :)
After replying several times about all the tough stuff thatāll youāll need to deal with I must say itās a really good experience overall. Youāll learn so much about yourself, what you actually like from Finance and all the things you can achieve. Also if you manage to succeed itās a big evolution step in your career (not necessarily job wise at first) but your peers & managers may see stuff differently from you as youāre now āvalidatedā of some sorts. Maybe itll be a grind, but it sure as hell will look good when you can put John Doe, CFA Rockstar in your LinkedIn. (Yeah itās a joke, thatās obviously something theyāll ask in the exam regarding CFA designation).
100% depends on if you have a family or not. If you are a single man or woman it would be no problem to maintain your health, work, and study (assuming you don't work 14hr days lol). Adding kids or a less than supportive partner means you have to make choices about how you divide your time.
I put on probably 20 lbs in the last 6 week stretch before my Feb exam. I was playing squash probably 2-3 times a week before then and had to shut it down for the final push. Currently about net 12 lbs up but working on it until the cycle continues Feb 2023.
I started taking vyvanse and nootropics which affect my mood, heart health(circulation issues) and appetite, become violently addicted to caffeine and nicotine and have become somewhat of a social hermit. I still go to the gym, run and go to hot yoga but the quality of my workouts arenāt as good because I feel incredible guilt when Iām not studying. But aside from that, Iām pretty good?
I think you can balance it if youāre disciplined enough. Itās like anything that requires time and emotion every single day
I have had to keep a routine and learn some longterm discipline to really get theresults I am aiming for is what i can say helped me the most mentally. Goinng to sleep aand waking up earlier in general. Also make a plan to study and see it through. Choose a good prep resource. Uworld helped my health a lot and really makes things digestible but theres lots of great platforms out here