What an emotional roller coaster bar study can be! It seems like many bar-studiers I am coaching have followed something like this emotional trajectory:
Week 1 and 2: Excited and confident
Week 3: Nervous
Week 4 and 5: Overwhelmed
Week 6, 7, and 8: Exhausted but resigned
Week 9, and 10: ??
So much of our success in life depends on our attitude, and a lot of that comes down to our choices. What an incredible sense of strength and power that is, knowing that our experience is largely up to us!
Remember how (comparatively) easy bar review felt in the first two weeks, because you were so excited and energized for this next great adventure? As we wrap up Week 8 and move into Week 9, I encourage you to decide what kind of energy you want to bring these last two weeks. Maybe this weekend you can reflect on what it will take to reenergize yourself, and finish as strong as you started. Some ideas to get you thinking:
- Find a dedicated study partner who will hold you accountable (meet and study together daily or a few days per week, or even just do nightly Zoom check-ins);
- Buy a set of glitter gel pens in fun colors (bonus: I've found that for me, making notes in various colors of ink helps me remember the material better);
- Find a new study location;
- Study at a coffee shop every morning starting at 8:30 AM. If you have worked hard and accomplished a lot by 10 AM, treat yourself to a daily fancy coffee;
- Buy a four pack of the mini champagne bottles and you and a friend or partner can toast yourselves with a mini bottle of champagne (or sparkling apple juice) each Friday evening between now and the bar exam; or
- Whatever it is that brings you joy!
These are silly little things, but it might just be what gets you excited enough to finish out as strong.
If you feel like your energy and motivation could use a little boost, print the attached calendar, and mark it up. Note the energy you plan to bring each day (for example, "motivated" "excited" "blessed" "privileged" "confident"). Mark the rewards or incentives you have planned to remind yourself of what you're working for (this is an excellent use for those new glitter gel pens!). Stick it on your fridge and ask members of your household (or friends or loved ones) to take turns cheering you on each day.
Most importantly, if you feel down or low, remember that your feelings are natural because bar review is unreasonably difficult. Far too much is being asked of you. If it feels difficult, that's because it is. But, you can do difficult things. Say it out loud: "This is hard, but I can do hard things." Stick a note on your bathroom mirror: “I can do hard things.”
You can do hard things. And you just have to do it for two and a half more weeks. You've got this!
(Lisa DeLaTorre)
