Tips to Beating the Bar Exam Prep Blues
The blues are like the waves of the sea. You can't really beat them; you just have to roll with them.
That's the secret, the soul source of how to deal with those dog days. Like B.B. King and all the blues men said, you have to play through the hard times.
That includes those soul-sucking bar exam blues. From prep time to the end time, just roll with them. Here are some tips to help you get there.
Turn on the Music
Socrates may have inspired the pedagogical method for teaching the law, but his student Plato knew about the value of music. He said it "gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."
Not that the blues are a cure-all, but Tommy Castro & the Painkillers have a remedy: "Blues All Around Me." (Don't take "Painkillers" literally, please.)
Floss Your Teeth
Dentists don't usually give psychological advice, but Psychology Today says flossing your teeth can help you beat the blues. It's not the magazine's best advice, but here it is: "There are clear and consistent relationships between tooth loss and depression."
That's because it's hard to flash a toothy grin when your teeth are missing. Just kidding, but seriously: it's about looking good to feel good.
Get Some Exercise
Speaking of looking good, exercise can do a lot to help in that department. It's also good for improving your overall attitude. Exercise gets the endorphins going, raises your mood, and helps you feel better about your physical self.
And you don't have to run miles to get there. Trying walking to the corner store instead of driving. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. If you're in the middle of a practice exam, drop and give the imaginary proctor 20.
Use Your Imagination
If the blues keep coming at you, be creative in your bar exam preparation. Count down the days to the exam on your calendar with happy faces, plan a post-exam visit to a comedy show, etc.
Creative writing, by the way, is another way to get the blues out. James W. Pennebaker, Ph.D., a professor of psychology, says to write down your thoughts 15 minutes a day.
Of course, you will be doing more than that during practice exams. But do some push-ups and tooth flossing in the prep class, and you'll have other people laughing as well.
A final note: listen to your music with earphones on -- especially if you're listening to B.B. King or Tommy Castro. Not everybody appreciates the blues.
Related Resources:
- Prepping for the Bar Exam Performance Test: How to Beat the Clock (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- Bar Exam Study 101: Study Tips for Passing the Bar (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)
- Thomas Jefferson School of Law Loses ABA Approval (FindLaw's Greedy Associates)