The bar exam is just around the corner and tensions are high! Where did the bar prep period go?? It feels as though bar prep has dwindled away down to the last few weeks in a matter of seconds! Now you are about to embark on a journey like no other: the bar exam. You have spent countless hours studying and preparing for the hardest exam of your life. I remember how I felt the month before the bar exam… I definitely wasn’t panicking… In all seriousness, the last few weeks of bar prep were very stressful and anxiety-ridden for me. Sometimes I cannot believe I made it through that time in my life! So, in order to make your life better during bar prep, I have curated a list of things to do in the month leading up to the bar exam to help you get through one of the most difficult periods of your life. I hope that this list helps you push through bar prep!
Study
I know what you are thinking… Well duh, that is what you have been doing this entire bar prep period. However, the last month of bar prep will be some of the most important studying you will do! Now is the time to crack down and really hammer out your understanding of certain areas of law. You will need to be really focused during this time so that you can be successful on exam day.
Finish Learning Bar Exam Topics
Once you get to the month before the bar exam, you will want to have basically completed the bulk of your “learning” of the bar exam topics. Meaning, you will want to complete the lectures and reading materials on the different areas of law before you get to this point. That way, you will be able to use your last few weeks of bar prep to focus on perfecting your answers to essay questions, understanding the multiple choice questions, and really fine-tuning your knowledge of the different areas of law.
Plan Out Your Last Month of Studying
When you are in your last month of studying, it can be really easy to experience burnout and feel overwhelmed. Thus, it is important to plan out what your general game plan is for the last month of bar prep. This will help you stay on track and feel more prepared going into the last few weeks of bar prep!
Write Yourself a Game Day Pep Note
A great way to get ready for the bar exam is to write yourself a little pep note that you can read on the day of the exam. This will give you a little break from studying and will also give you a morale boost right before you take the exam. I wrote myself a note for the bar exam, and it helped me push through the nervousness and feel ready to take on the exam.
Order Yourself A Present
Treat yourself! Something that you can do to help motivate yourself and make you feel better post bar exam is a little retail therapy. Get yourself a gift to give yourself after you take the bar exam. This way, you will have something to look forward to after the exam, and it will provide a distraction for you now while you shop for yourself.
Prep Up Some Meals
In your last month of studying, you’ll be seriously focused on the bar exam and less on important things like cooking and cleaning. While it would be nice if everyone got a dedicated maid and chef, most bar-preppers don’t have the luxury of having someone wait on them hand and foot. Instead, you should do some meal-prepping prior to the month of the bar exam. This way, you are not stressed out by the menial tasks of everyday life and instead can focus all of your energy on studying.
Get Your Mind and Body Ready
The last month of bar prep feels like the last leg of a long journey. You will likely feel exhausted, stressed, and ready to put the bar exam behind you! Thus, you need to get yourself ready in both mind and body. During this time, it is important to get the proper amount of sleep and rest. You will also want to exercise and eat right so that you feel energized to push through your last month of studying. If you take the time to care for yourself now, you will thank yourself later on exam day.
Pamper Yourself
You are likely very stressed right now from the relentless hours of studying. One of the best ways to relieve stress is to pamper yourself with some self-care. There are numerous ways that you can relax and treat yourself. You can dedicate some time to doing facials and getting your nails done, or you could treat yourself to a massage! Now is a great time to give yourself a little break before the last couple of weeks. This way you will feel refreshed and ready to take on the bar exam!
Sit Your Loved Ones Down
You are about to enter the toughest part of bar prep. While you are going to be focused on serious studying, your loved ones’ lives will continue around you. Unfortunately, this means they will still want to spend time with you and see you like usual. While they likely have the best intentions, you need to dedicate your time and energy to studying. Thus, it is important to set some boundaries during the study period. You will want to explain to your loved ones that you appreciate all of the love and support, but your main focus has to be studying for the bar exam. While it is okay to still spend time with your friends and family if you are able to, you should set some ground rules so that you can maximize your bar prep time and be successful!
Get Ready to Rock the Bar’s Socks Off
The bar exam is going to be here before you know it! Everything you have done thus far has led up to this important event, the bar exam. This last month will be tough, and you may get overwhelmed at times. However, during this crunch time you will start to really feel ready to take on the bar exam. You will push through the hard times and keep going. Soon you will feel prepared and ready to successfully pass the bar exam! Best of luck!
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