When the going gets tough...

So I just passed my CCNP earlier this week after taking the TSHOOT and now it is off to the CCIE R&S. It is going to be a very tough trek due to being back in school currently so that I can finish my Comp Science degree, full time job, and an amazing wife and daughter (the second full time job, hehe). I say amazing because even with the neglect my wife has been receiving from me, she still surprised me today with the second edition of Routing in the Internet by Christian Huitema (which I hear is an awesome read) to help me with my studies towards the written.

Now with all of that craziness being said, I was wondering how those of you that are out there in a similar situation as I, managed to squeeze that valuable study time in. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

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Turgon

Chipsch wrote: »

So I just passed my CCNP earlier this week after taking the TSHOOT and now it is off to the CCIE R&S. It is going to be a very tough trek due to being back in school currently so that I can finish my Comp Science degree, full time job, and an amazing wife and daughter (the second full time job, hehe). I say amazing because even with the neglect my wife has been receiving from me, she still surprised me today with the second edition of Routing in the Internet by Christian Huitema (which I hear is an awesome read) to help me with my studies towards the written.

Now with all of that craziness being said, I was wondering how those of you that are out there in a similar situation as I, managed to squeeze that valuable study time in. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

As a contractor Im not paid my rates to study on my client's time so theres not a whole lot of studying going on 9 -5. Some evenings Im too tired (and preoccupied) with my work to get any studying done. Other nights Im busy spending time with my wife and son. Some other nights I simply need a complete break to refuel after a tough day with an even tougher one lying ahead and a lot to think about. So it's all rather difficult. I study for spells in the evening when the time opens up and my energy levels are sufficiently intact.

It's an ongoing thing. If I can get hooked up with an employer that is supportive I may get the game time to bring everything together in time for a lab attempt end of this year. I have covered the blueprint the last couple of years by clawing hours to study since my son was born but need substantial time to revise the topics so they are happy and shiney

Sirsamon

Over the last few years , 10

I have studied on and off, for the last 4 years on and off i have done Cisco
CCNA to CCNP.

I have found when i am in study mode, i make every effort to study if i am at work with 30mins or more then i am reading.

I normally clock around 40 50 hours a week after work.

With my CCIE attempt i should be better off and i only have one kid left at home and shes 17

I start the day at 6am with an hour on my exercise bike, then off to work, on my pleasure Suzuki Bandit 1250

work till around 4 - 5 pm , then home.

start study by no later than 6pm, sometimes if i get through the traffic early i will get any labs setup before dinner.

lab or read until around 10 pm 12 pm depending if i am sleepy.

the weekend i get the big hours in between Friday and Sunday night i might have done around 30 hours on and off.

I find now it part of life i don't fight it, sure there are some days i think ahhh i might have a few nights off. I would be lucky if i manage 1

I get bored then start thinking about parts i have to do or want to figure out.

Anyways i think it all boils down to what ever plans and strategy you set your self then STICK to it no matter what.

W ether you get there or not everyone needs to have a dream something to go for.

P.S

I did and always do ask my wife if its OK to disappear until its done, and if she will support me.

The wife and family come first. Good Luck and go for it

Ryan82

Read every free 5 minutes you get. That time on the toilet can be useful!

I try to make it a goal to learn something new every day, preferably from the exam blueprint. I have started going through the Cisco configuration guides and reading and labbing everything listed in the documentation for that topic.

SysAdmin4066

Studying for me is considered part of my job, and I've treated it that way since I started in IT, back in 2000. I am able to study a lot at my current job, so that helps. I usually am able to get at least 2 hours a day, counting lunch hour and about an hour early in the morning before the start of the day, you know coffee time etc.

I also wake up about an hour early on none gym days (I train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and if I woke up any earlier on those days, I would be useless come training time) and get about an hour in. Weekends are the best of course, and I'm off every Friday, so I have pretty long weekends. Fridays are usually all day, 8-10 hours of reading, labbing, etc. Then Saturday is a little lighter, but still involves about 3-5 hours.

Sundays I relax with the fam, no studying typically, maybe an hour either early or late. I work 10 hours a day everyday by the way, with multiple consulting side projects usually going on so it doesnt always work out that way. Hope that helps