📍 Are you trying to learn a new skill or earn a professional qualification while working a full-time job? Do you often feel torn between office deadlines, family responsibilities, and the dream of advancing your career?
I get it. It’s not easy. But let me tell you this — if you can learn while you earn, it has the power to completely change the direction of your career.
In this episode of The Accountant Show, I want to share with you six powerful steps that will help you balance work and ongoing education, so you can stay focused and grow even while working full-time.
The Real Struggle of Learning While Working
Hello, dear accountants. This is your friend Divyesh Dave, welcoming you back to yet another episode of The Accountant Show. This podcast is part of The Accountant Hub — our community where we help accountants and finance professionals gain clarity, confidence, and practical skills to build a successful career.
Now let’s be honest: balancing work and study is one of the biggest challenges professionals face. I know this first-hand.
When I started preparing for the US CMA while working full-time, managing my family responsibilities, and creating content for this community, it honestly felt overwhelming. You might be going through something similar if you’re studying for CMA, CPA, ACCA, CA, CS — or even just learning a new technical skill.
The big question is: How do you manage it all together?
Here’s what I realised — learning while you earn is not about finding extra hours in the day. It’s about using the time you already have more wisely. Once you learn how to balance, the growth you achieve is incredible.
So let me share with you the six steps that worked for me — and that I believe can work for you too.
Step 1: Recognise the Importance of Learning
The first step is mindset. Continuous education is no longer optional in accounting and finance. New standards, new technologies, new roles — everything is changing. If we don’t keep up, we fall behind.
When I restarted my learning journey, I set clear goals. For example: “In the next 12 months, I will complete CMA Part 1.”
When you know exactly why learning matters to you, you automatically make time for it.
Step 2: Choose One Focus Area
Here’s a mistake I made: I tried to learn QuickBooks, IFRS, and CMA — all at once. And it was overwhelming.
The truth is, you can’t chase everything. You need to pick one course, one certification, or one skill that is most valuable for your career right now.
Once I decided to focus only on CMA, everything became simpler. My energy and attention were no longer divided.
And here’s a tip — share your learning goal with your employer. I did this with my boss, and he was not only supportive but also encouraged me and helped me manage my workload during crucial study periods. Many companies want you to grow, so don’t hesitate to have that conversation.
Step 3: Create a Study Plan (and Get Family Support)
The next step is to create a realistic study plan. Break your course into smaller chunks — weekly or monthly targets. Then stick to it.
What helped me was visualising the emotional reward of passing the exam. I imagined the relief and pride I would feel. That visualisation kept me motivated.
And this part is important: involve your family. I told my family I needed one hour every evening for my studies. With their support, it became so much easier to stay consistent. Without their understanding, I wouldn’t have managed it.
Step 4: Remove Distractions
This is a big one. Let’s be real — our phones and social media are the biggest time thieves. One video turns into ten, and before you know it, an hour is gone.
So I started unfollowing irrelevant accounts, turning off notifications, and replacing random scrolling with meaningful content. Instead of wasting time, I listened to podcasts, read blogs, or followed channels related to accounting and career growth.
That small change saved me hours.
Step 5: Start Small, Stay Consistent
When I first restarted studying, I got too excited. I studied for three to four hours a day in the first week. But by the second week, I was exhausted and barely touched my books.
That’s when I realised: consistency beats intensity.
So I started small — just 30 minutes of deep focus every day. I made notes, revised on weekends, and tested myself with questions. Slowly, I built the habit. And that worked far better than trying to overdo it and then giving up.
Step 6: Use Technology to Learn Smarter
Technology can be your second support if you use it wisely. Tools like ChatGPT, Gemini AI, and NotebookLM can explain complex topics in plain language. Apps like Canva can help you create digital flashcards, and tools like XMind or Notion can help you organise your study notes.
Instead of being a distraction, technology can make learning faster and easier — if you choose the right tools.
Quick Recap
If you are going through this challenge, I totally understand that balancing work and ongoing education isn’t easy, especially if you’ve had a big study gap. But it’s absolutely possible.
Here’s the quick recap:
Recognise the importance of learning
Choose your focus area
Create a study plan and involve your family
Remove distractions
Start small but stay consistent
Use technology to learn smarter
And here’s something I’ve learned — learning becomes much easier when you’re surrounded by people who are also on the same journey. That’s why I built The Accountant Hub — a VIP group on LinkedIn of accountants and finance professionals where we share resources, insights, and encouragement.
👉 You can join us here: YESDD.co/VIP
Are you ready to commit to learning while earning? If you’re reading this on our blog, drop a comment below with the words “I AM LEARNING WHILE EARNING” to show your commitment.
And don’t forget to subscribe to The Accountant Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share this with a friend who’s also trying to balance work and learning.
Keep learning, keep growing, and remember:
Clarity brings confidence, and confidence creates growth.
Divyesh Dave
