• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Bar Exam Toolbox®

Get the tools you need for bar exam success

  • I Failed!
  • Tutoring
  • Courses
    • Writing Help: Essays/PT
    • MBE Help
    • Self-Study Program
    • Options – California
    • Options – UBE
  • Bar Exam 101
  • About
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Login

How To Handle Burnout For The Bar Exam

January 22, 2018 By Jennifer Warren Leave a Comment

How to handle burnout for the barStudying for the bar exam may only last a few weeks, but it can sure send you on a roller coaster of emotions. After surviving three years of law school you may think you’re well prepared for the stress of bar prep, but nothing quite compares to the bar exam. Bar prep will likely subject you to a slew of emotions that will feel particularly intense given the pressure, workload, and shortened time frame. Managing the emotional ups and downs of bar prep in a considerate but efficient manner is essential to staying on track with your studying. To avoid getting derailed during your study sessions, use these strategies to help you handle the various feelings, moods, and mindsets you might encounter as you prepare to take the bar exam:

Fear

Whether it’s at the beginning of bar prep when you’re staring at the huge pile of outlines you need to learn or when you realize that the actual test is only a few days away, it’s common for students to feel apprehension, concern or just plain terror at some point during the bar exam. To overcome your fears about the exam, or at least minimize them, try writing down exactly what you’re scared of and then strategizing ways to deal with that situation should it arise. So, if you’re scared you’ll draw a blank on the essays, you might strategize that you’ll take five deep breaths, re-read the question, and analyze using common sense to see if that triggers your memory of the key rules. If you’re scared that you’ll run out of time on the MBE, you might strategize that you’ll put in extra practice under timed conditions and check your pace every 15 minutes during the exam. And what about the biggest fear of all, not passing the exam? If you play out this scenario, you’ll probably realize that, although it would be a huge disappointment, it won’t be the end of the world. Naming your fears by writing them out and crafting strategies to address those fears will diminish their power and make you feel less intimidated.

Boredom

No one said bar prep would be fun, but you may not have anticipated how difficult it can be to maintain your focus and motivation when the material and activities are so dull. To combat boredom, try to incorporate some creative study strategies into your routine. Mixing up your study locations or studying with a friend on occasion can also break up the monotony of bar prep. While it’s important to embrace a routine and stick to your schedule, studying in a new way or in a new place every now and then can give you a much needed change of pace.

Anxiety

Most students feel anxiety at one point or another during bar prep, if not throughout the whole process. Anxiety is normal given the stakes, but it’s important to control feelings of nervousness so that you can perform your best during the exam. To keep your nerves in check, remind yourself of other challenges you’ve conquered and focus on doing the prep work necessary to pass the exam. It may sound touchy-feely, but repeating positive affirmations or taking a few minutes for some mindfulness exercises can have a big impact on controlling your test-taking anxiety.

Burnout 

If you get to the point where you feel like you can’t even look at another MBE practice question or just the thought of reading through an outline makes you fatigued, you’re probably experiencing some bar prep burnout. With so much material to memorize and so many skills to perfect over a few weeks, it’s not surprising that students can start to feel burnt out before the end of the prep period. Unfortunately, with such a limited time frame for studying, you have to find a way to re-motivate so that you can make the most of the days that remain. The best strategy for handling burnout is prevention. Make sure you’re getting regular sleep, eating well, taking regular breaks, and practicing self-care throughout bar prep so that you don’t run yourself down midway through. If you do feel burnout at some point, give yourself a day off! Sleep in, catch up on your Netflix queue, and forget about the bar exam for a day. A short break and a good night’s sleep should be just enough to recharge and make the final push to exam day.

Disappointment and Frustration

Generally around the time when the mock MBE exam is administered by the commercial bar prep programs, some students will feel disappointed and frustrated that their hard work isn’t paying off in the form of higher scores on practice tests or increased retention of material. Don’t succumb to disappointment and decide to give up. Instead, fight back so that you can break through the plateau and get back to making positive progress. If you’re feeling frustrated, reach out to an academic support advisor at your law school or contact a tutor to help you evaluate your approach and make the most out of the time that remains.

Keeping yourself on an even keel during bar prep is important to maintain your concentration and motivation, but the unique pressures and intensity of the work can make that difficult to achieve. Check in with yourself each day to evaluate your mood and make sure you use positive strategies to control your emotions during bar prep.

Check out these articles for more helpful advice:

  • Make Stress Your Friend During Bar Prep
  • The Power of a Positive Mindset
  • Bar Study Tips: Getting Mentally Ready for the Bar Exam

Ready to pass the bar exam? Get the support and accountability you need with personalized one-on-one bar exam tutoring or one of our economical courses and workshops. We're here to help!


 

About Jennifer Warren

Jennifer received her B.A. in Politics cum laude from New York University and her J.D. with highest distinction from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. She has several years of experience in the areas of juvenile law and civil litigation and is the Academic Achievement Coordinator at Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let us know you are not a spammer! * Time limit is exhausted. Please reload CAPTCHA.

Primary Sidebar

  • Podcast
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

About Us

Want to pass the bar exam? Of course you do! We’re here to help. You’ll find lots of helpful free content at Bar Exam 101, in the Bar Exam Resource Hub, and on the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast. For more hands-on help, take a look at our courses and workshops and bar exam tutoring options. Please get in touch with any questions!

COVID-19 Updates

Please visit the COVID-19 updates page for the latest news on bar exam postponements.

Recent Posts

I Failed the Bar Exam. Should I Wait Until After the Covid-19 Pandemic to Re-Sit?

Should I Wait Until After the Covid-19 Pandemic to Re-Sit if I failed the Bar Exam?

As 2020 closed and perhaps the most bizarre and uncertain bar exam season comes to an end, we are now faced with the reality of bar exam … [Read More...] about Should I Wait Until After the Covid-19 Pandemic to Re-Sit if I failed the Bar Exam?

Podcast Episode 117: Listen and Learn — Due Process and Equal Protection (Con Law)

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In this week's episode, as part of our "Listen and Learn" series, we're talking about an important area … [Read More...] about Podcast Episode 117: Listen and Learn — Due Process and Equal Protection (Con Law)

Podcast Episode 116: California Bar Exam Results Are Out! What’s Next If You Didn’t Pass?

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Results from the latest California bar exam have just come out, and there's not a lot of time to prepare … [Read More...] about Podcast Episode 116: California Bar Exam Results Are Out! What’s Next If You Didn’t Pass?

Podcast Episode 115: Listen and Learn — Dying Declaration vs. Excited Utterance

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! In episode 101 we covered two hearsay exceptions, namely present sense impression and state of mind. … [Read More...] about Podcast Episode 115: Listen and Learn — Dying Declaration vs. Excited Utterance

Diploma Privilege During the COVID-19 Crisis

Diploma Privilege During the COVID-19 Crisis

Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, the bar exam has been in flux. By the time that you are reading this post, many states have already … [Read More...] about Diploma Privilege During the COVID-19 Crisis

Need to Pass the Bar Exam?

Sign up for our free weekly email with useful tips!

Footer

  • Podcast
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • I Failed!
  • Tutoring
  • Courses
  • Bar Exam 101
  • About
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Login
  • Privacy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Refunds
  • Contact

Copyright 2021 Bar Exam Toolbox®™