Don’t Ghost Your Exam Prep: Staying on Track in October
October is the month when exam prep can start to feel a little haunted. Back in September, the December CNS exam still seemed comfortably far away. You told yourself, I’ll start fresh after Labor Day. Now pumpkins are out on porches, your calendar is filling with holiday commitments, and suddenly the exam is less than two months away.
This is the season when many candidates “ghost” their study plans. Life gets busy, confidence dips, or the sheer volume of material feels overwhelming. One week of skipped review turns into two, and before you know it, you’re avoiding your study materials like they’re a haunted house.
But here’s the good news: October is actually the perfect month to recommit to your prep. There’s still plenty of time to pace yourself without cramming, and making small, intentional choices now can save you from a truly terrifying November.
Here are a few strategies to help you stay on track — and avoid ghosting your exam prep this fall.
Face Your Fears
The first step is to admit where you are. Pull out your study schedule (or create one if you haven’t yet) and be honest: what have you covered, and what’s still lurking in the shadows?
Avoiding topics because they feel intimidating only makes them scarier. Just like in horror movies, the monster in the dark is always worse than when you finally turn on the light. If biochemistry, nutrigenomics, or medical nutrition therapy makes your heart race, start there. Tackle the toughest material first thing in the day, when your brain is fresher. Need a refresher on some of the topics you didn’t learn in school? Check out our CNS Exam Prep Mini Bundle here.
Break Down the Beast
The CNS exam covers a lot: core science, nutrition assessment, counseling skills, research interpretation, and more. Thinking about it as one giant entity is overwhelming — like staring at Frankenstein’s monster.
Instead, carve it into smaller parts. Make a list of major topics and assign each one to a specific week in October and November. Within each week, choose subtopics to focus on daily. For example:
Week 1: Macronutrients → Monday: carbohydrate metabolism, Tuesday: protein digestion, Wednesday: fat absorption.
Week 2: Micronutrients → Monday: water-soluble vitamins, Tuesday: fat-soluble vitamins, Wednesday: key minerals.
When you break the beast down into manageable pieces, progress becomes visible. And that visibility builds momentum.
Haunt Your Notes Daily
Spending just 30–45 minutes a day with your materials is far more effective than trying to cram six hours on a Saturday. Think of your notes like ghosts: they get scarier the longer you avoid them, but friendlier when you hang out often.
Use short bursts: review flashcards over coffee, listen to recorded lectures while commuting, or quiz yourself during lunch. Consistency matters more than marathon sessions. The goal is to stay in steady contact with the material so it doesn’t fade into the background.
Test Yourself (Before the Exam Tests You)
Nothing is spookier than realizing you don’t know a concept you thought you had down — on exam day. Avoid that jump scare by building in self-testing now.
Use practice exams, question banks, or even your own flashcards. Don’t just passively reread notes; actively quiz yourself. If you get a question wrong, resist the urge to panic. Instead, write down what you misunderstood and review that concept the next day.
Self-testing not only shows you where the gaps are, it strengthens your memory by forcing recall. It’s the academic version of shining a flashlight into the attic: suddenly, everything looks a little clearer.
For those in Signature Supervision - we got you. We’ll host a live, proctored sample exam in the weeks before the CNS test - so you have the opportunity to see how you’re doing in real time, and adjust your study schedule to align with your test results.
Gather Your Group
Studying alone can feel isolating. Studying with peers can make the process more fun and accountable. Even one check-in partner can keep you from ghosting your plan.
Form a small study group, or set up weekly “accountability calls” with a fellow candidate. You don’t need to review all the same material; simply knowing someone else is showing up can help you stay consistent.
If live study groups aren’t your style, consider asynchronous options like sharing progress updates in a Slack channel or WhatsApp group. A quick “just finished my flashcards!” message can feel surprisingly motivating.
Protect Your Energy
Exam prep can creep into every corner of your life if you let it. But burnout helps no one. You don’t need to sacrifice sleep, movement, or basic self-care to pass. In fact, you’ll retain material better if you’re rested and nourished.
Build rituals around your study time: a specific place, a cup of tea, a five-minute walk afterward. Rituals create predictability and signal to your brain that it’s time to focus. And don’t underestimate breaks — even ten minutes away from your desk can reset your concentration.
Think of yourself as both clinician and client. You’d never tell a client to sacrifice their health to achieve a goal. Offer yourself the same compassion.
Plan for the Unexpected
October is when real life collides with exam prep: sick kids, work deadlines, holiday travel. Waiting for a “perfect week” to study is a recipe for ghosting.
Instead, plan for imperfection. Assume you’ll miss a day here and there, and build in catch-up time. Keep portable study materials — flashcards, summaries, recorded lectures — handy for moments when life throws you curveballs. That way, even if you lose a long block of time, you can still chip away at the material.
Trust the Process
Perhaps the scariest feeling in October is the sense that you’re not ready — that there’s too much left to learn. But remember: no one feels “100% ready.” The goal of October isn’t mastery of every single fact. It’s steady, structured progress that builds confidence heading into November.
If you show up consistently, test yourself regularly, and keep moving forward, you’ll arrive in December prepared enough to pass. Trust that your training, your supervision, and your study plan are carrying you.
Final Thoughts
October doesn’t have to be the month when you ghost your exam prep. It can be the month you recommit, build momentum, and transform overwhelm into confidence.
Face the fears, break down the beast, haunt your notes daily, test yourself, gather your coven, and protect your energy. With steady effort, you’ll enter exam day feeling ready — not haunted.
And if you ever catch yourself slipping into avoidance, remember: the scariest thing you can do isn’t facing the exam material. It’s ignoring it. Turn on the flashlight, open the book, and take one small step forward.
You’ve got this.