Right now, you’re probably head down and buried deep in your courses, question banks, video lectures, or whatever resources you’ve chosen to prepare for the bar exam. Naturally, you may be feeling burnout and bar prep fatigue. Preparing for the bar exam can be stressful and takes a lot of hard work, so take a moment to treat yourself. Here are a few ways to reward yourself as the bar exam approaches.
1. Take a Hard-Earned Break
Honestly, you can start there. Just take a break. You’ve been studying hard for weeks now, and it’s time to pump the breaks. The human mind isn’t built to focus on any one thing nonstop, round-the-clock. Not to mention the research studies that outline the benefits of taking a break. Many of us think that the best break you can give yourself is a vacation, but sometimes, you just need to shut off the laptop. That alone can reduce stress and anxiety by allowing your mind to rest.
2. Indulge in a Hobby You Enjoy
We all need fun pastimes. The world is serious enough, so it helps to have a hobby that mentally and emotionally takes you away from the chaos. Suggesting that the bar exam is chaotic may seem like an exaggeration, but it’s not too far fetched. Many law students feel this way. So whether it is camping, hiking, yoga, reading, writing, music, or dancing, taking time to do the things you love outside of your primary calling or profession can be therapeutic. Take a moment to treat yourself and indulge.
3 Spend Quality Time With Loved Ones
What’s a more worthwhile way to treat yourself than by spending time with the people you love most? Some people in our lives keep us grounded, and their very presence gives us peace. If you’ve tuned out everyone in your corner to stay laser-focused on bar prep, now is the time to take a moment to reopen those doors and let them back in. Whether it’s your spouse, significant other, children, family members, or friends, spending some quality time with them now could be just the treat you need to take your mind off bar-prep stress.
Sure, the bar exam requires intense focus, but there is such a thing as diminishing returns. You don’t want to study nonstop until the point of burnout. That’s why it’s critical to protect your headspace even as you prepare for the bar, especially after being at it for several weeks. So, we hope you’ll take a moment to treat yourself in at least some small way.
We wish you the best of luck in your upcoming bar exam!
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