The amount of time that I spent preparing to fail the CPA exam is truly astonishing. Early on in my CPA journey I gave myself months to prepare for each section so that I could "take my time" with the material and be sure to pass. Rather than use this additional study time to actually study, I did things like create new Pinterest boards and search Beyonce hashtags on Instagram. I found myself going from a relaxed, "I have three months" to a panicked "I have three days."