At least once a week, we hear from a potential CSLS student who would like to become a licensed contractor in California, but swears they just “couldn’t find the time to study for the exam.”
On the surface, this seems like a pretty reasonable excuse to put things off. When you dig a bit deeper, though, you find that it’s usually just another way to procrastinate on something that’s important. The fact of the matter is that studying for your California licensed contractors exam probably doesn’t need to take nearly as much time as you think it does.
Also, there are a number of things you can do to make more space in your daily schedule and study for your exam. Here are a few of the easiest:
Make your career a priority. There’s an old saying: “If it’s important enough, you’ll find the time.” That’s certainly true when it comes to becoming a licensed contractor. If your career is a big priority, you’ll be able to find 30 minutes a day to learn a few facts and figures.
Cut back on bad habits. Most of us have bad habits that we could do without. Why not swap one or two of yours (like smoking or watching too much TV) for a studying habit that will help you earn more money and control over your career in the future?
Get friends and family members to help. If you don’t want to miss out on time with your friends and family, get them involved. They may love having the opportunity to quiz you, ask you about your lessons, or show you flashcards. Any of those activities can help you get the knowledge you need.
Use the calendar for motivation. If you’re the kind of person who simply can’t get motivated to study, consider starting a countdown on your calendar or smartphone. When you see that you’re getting closer to reaching your goal of becoming a licensed contractor every day, you might actually get excited to hit the books.
Remember, the best CSLS students are the ones who study just a little bit every day – not the ones who try to cram lots of lessons into a short amount of time.
