Time: The Elusive Resource

Finding time to pursue additional certifications can be one of the biggest challenges for busy professionals. However, with strategic planning and disciplined execution, it's possible to carve out the necessary time for study and preparation. Here are some effective strategies:

Block Time: Schedule and Protect Your Study Hours

1. Schedule Time in Your Calendar: Be intentional about setting aside study time in your calendar and treat these blocks as non-negotiable appointments.

Sharon's Tip 1: I would go to work on the weekends, leaving the kids with my husband.

Sharon's Tip 2: Take time on your lunch break to study. Back in the early days of my career, I would take my lunch, textbook—yes, it was a textbook back then—and highlighter, and sit outside on the loading bay stairs.

Sharon's Tip 3: Schedule time before or after the kids go to bed. On maternity leave, I would take advantage of nursing time. I would nurse the baby in one arm and have a textbook open on the other.

This may seem overwhelming, but it's only temporary. A well-structured study guide, as mentioned in an upcoming tip, will help you manage your time and stay on track. Remember, it's not forever. The time you put in will help move your career forward.

2. Set an Exam Date: Choose a date for your exam and work backwards to create a study schedule. This will give you a clear timeline and help maintain focus.

3. Outline Your Study Plan: Break down what you need to learn or the modules you need to complete for each study session.

Use Available Resources: For instance, Microsoft Learn modules provide approximate completion times, which can help you organize your study schedule.

Personalize Your Study Guide

1. Create Detailed Study Guides: I would copy the exam objectives into a spreadsheet and use the columns to indicate if the objective was complete. This included being able to perform the objective.

Sharon's Tip: If the objective was "create a storage account in Azure," I would ensure I knew how to do that, including understanding the various options and performing the task using both the Azure Portal and PowerShell.

2. Add Notes and Links: Another column in the spreadsheet would be dedicated to additional notes and useful links.

Evolution to OneNote: These basic spreadsheets became the foundation of the OneNote study guides I now create and share. You can find those (https://github.com/bennettsharon ).

Be Disciplined About Your Time

1. Avoid Timewasters: Reduce or eliminate time spent on distractions like your phone, tablet, or TV. These can be major time suckers.

Sharon's Tip: "My biggest piece of advice for finding time is to stop looking at screens."

By being diligent and protective of your study time, you can make steady progress toward your certification goals. Time management is crucial, and these strategies can help you find and maximize the hours needed for your professional development.