You know that feeling when you just can’t go on anymore?
When the thought of studying just makes you want to run away screaming?
When just looking at your study materials makes you break out in a cold sweat?
That is probably burn out.
As defined by Wikipedia, “Burnout is a psychological term that refers to long-term exhaustion and diminished interest in work.”
Now, I am no psychologist, but I have some specific ideas about how to avoid burnout when studying for the bar exam. I used these myself when I took the bar exam, and they worked for me. I hope they work for you.
In my opinion, there are six key ways to avoid burn out:
1. Study during a predetermined block of time
2. Avoid distractions.
3. Constantly test yourself.
4. Take real breaks
5. Have fun when not studying.
6. Avoid obsessing.
Study during a predetermined block of time
One problem that leads to burnout is the feeling that you could be doing more. This applies in all areas of life. So we need to make sure that we have some ways to cut this feeling off.
If you commit to studying during a set period of hours, then you can be more productive during those hours.
In an ideal world, you would study during the hours when the bar exam is administered (roughly 8am to 5pm). This way, you train your mind and body to care about the bar exam during those hours. Of course, some people work or have other commitments, and so will need to study during other periods of the day.
With many bar exam programs now featuring on-demand lectures, there is a temptation to study at all hours of the day and night. This convenience may seem like a great benefit, but it can easily lead to burnout.
If you allow yourself to watch lectures late at night, or do practice questions at midnight, you keep your body under stress all day long.
Avoid distractions
If you are going to limit yourself to a bounded period of time to study, you need to focus during those limited hours.
If you are distracted during that time, then you will not be making the best use of that time.
Eliminate all distractions over which you have control.
Put your phone on silent or leave it somewhere you cannot get to it without having to make an effort (e.g., keep it in your car when you go into the library to study).
Do not use social media while studying. (If you can’t control yourself, use one of these programs to automatically disable your ability to go to certain sites.)
You only have limited mental energy each day. Don’t waste it on distractions.
Constantly test yourself
Learning should be active.
The best way to learn a concept is not to watch a torts lecture for the third time, but to apply the concept you do not understand.
Write a practice essay. Take some targeted MBE questions and review the answer explanations until you understand them.
Passively reading through outlines does not get you very far. In fact, it can be so boring, that you will be compelled to check Twitter or text someone about how bored you are.
One good form of active learning is retrieval practice. You can learn more about retrieval practice by reading this post. Give it a try.
Take real breaks
I knew some people who never took a real lunch break when they studied for the bar exam. They would review an outline or do flashcards while they ate.
Please, don’t do this.
If you have been studying in a focused way prior to your lunch break, then your brain deserves a break. Go outside, each lunch on the grass, eat lunch with friends.
The student lounge at my law school had a pool table. When I took my bar exam study lunch break, I often played pool with classmates.
Studies show that your brain needs these rest breaks (especially naps) to solidify learned information.
Have fun when not studying
This is not a new concept.
I know it is easy to worry about the bar exam. I’ve done it myself. And, I was motivated to write my book, Bar Exam Mind, to help people get over bar exam worry and anxiety.
A good way to avoid the worry is to let yourself have fun when you are not studying.
Exercise, hang out with friends (and don’t whine about the bar exam), spend time with family, read a novel or two, see a movie . . . whatever, just make sure you have fun.
Avoid obsessing
This is similar to “have fun when not studying,” but is broader.
In addition to not obsessing while you are not studying, avoid obsessing while you are studying.
This is especially the case when you first begin your studies. You will get things wrong. You will make mistakes, whether it be with the MBE or with bar exam essays.
So what?
Just keep up with your focused studying, avoid burn out, and everything will work out.
You will know enough and you will pass the bar.
P.S. -- Want a FREE copy of my Bar Exam Mind audiobook?
You can get a free copy of my audiobook when you sign up for a free trial at Audible. Get the details by clicking here.
