Managing Stress and Anxiety During Bar Prep

Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

Anxiety happens when you think you

have to figure out everything all at once. 

Breathe.  You’re strong.  You got this.

Take it day by day. 

~ Karen Salmansohn ~

Whether you are sitting for the bar exam for the first time or you are a repeater, the bar exam is incredibly stressful. Everyone feels overwhelmed or inadequate at some point during their preparation. Managing stress and anxiety during bar prep is an important skill and here a few ways to do that successfully:

Take Breaks!

Breaks are imperative for maintaining a positive outlook. Life does not stop when you are studying for the bar exam. Ferris Bueller explained “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Enjoy some time out in the sun. Take a nap. If you love to cook – make yourself a wonderful snack or meal.

“Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well.”  ~ Louisa May Alcott ~

Learn the word “No”!

Now is the time you need to prioritize your time. Don’t say “yes” when you need to say “no”. This allows you to stay focused and successfully conquer your day. This is an act of self-control and self-preservation. This is a learned trait and one that will help you even after studying for the bar exam.

Stop comparing yourself to others!

Just because your friend is scoring higher on the multiple choice or did better than you on an essay – THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE GOING TO FAIL THE BAR! Make all your mistakes now, learn from those mistakes and try not to make the same mistakes again. Remember, the only scores that matter are the ones at the end of July.

Study Smart!

Do not just focus on your problem areas. Reinforce your strengths too. If you are struggling on one aspect of the bar exam, don’t lose sight of the big picture. Get exposure to MBEs, essays, short answer questions, performance tests, whatever the components of your specific bar exam.  Do not just do multiple choice! Do not just do essays! If you are not happy with your performance, tomorrow is a new day!

Take care of yourself!

Eat well. Sleep well. Move your body. Food is your fuel. Lack of sleep impairs your ability to focus and learn efficiently and compensating with too much caffeine can be detrimental. Stretching, walking, or engaging in some form of exercise helps reduce stress and anxiety. Ultimately, be good to yourself. You ARE smart, hard working and are definitely going to rock this exam!  Keep up the hard work!