Bar exam anxiety is no joke. It doesn’t matter whether you are a first-time bar taker or a repeat taker. Struggling with bar exam anxiety can turn the bar exam period into an emotional roller coaster. I remember coming home some days from my review course just sure I was going to fail. My poor now-husband would say things like “But you were fine this morning, what changed?” What changed? This was the bar exam! Nothing needed to change.
My anxiety, luckily never became so debilitating that I couldn’t study or focus. In fact, working made me feel better, so I actually focused on making the most of my study time. But this may not always be the case for all of us. Anxiety can paralyze us and prevent us from studying productively. It can make it difficult for us to sleep (thus making it hard to focus in the waking hours). It can lead us to feeling generally bad, both physically and mentally. If this sounds like you, know you are not alone. But you do need to take some steps to try to get a handle on your anxiety in order to get back to work and study effectively for the bar exam.
Here are a few posts we recommend you check out for some suggestions on how to cope with your anxiety and stress.
Our experts have some tips on handling anxiety and self-doubt:
- 4 Steps to Conquering Self-Doubt During Bar Exam Study: Lauren Fire, of Mind Over Bar, shares her step-by-step guide to overcoming the doubt that accompanies bar prep.
- Two Simple Non-Woo-Woo Ways to Calm Your Nerves and Boost Your Score on the Bar Exam: Elena DuCharme, an attorney and performance coach, shares with you two strategies to reduce stress and increase your bar exam score.
- Why Your Mindset Matters When It Comes to the Bar Exam: Elena is back and gives you some tips for developing a confident mind-set in the midst of a very anxiety-inducing period.
- Getting Mentally Ready – Let Go, Relax and Get Out of Your Own Way: Kay Heatherly talks about her work, how it could help you with your bar prep, and what you can expect from a session.
- Strategic Tips for Unwinding Stress: Kim Nicol shares with you some tips on how to manage stress during bar exam crunch time.
We also have some suggestions for coping mechanisms to try:
- Call Your Therapist: If things are getting really bad, you may want to call your therapist.
- Help! I Can’t Afford a Therapist – 4 Things to Try: Here are a few lower-cost options that may help you cope with anxiety and fear and get mentally ready for the exam.
- Can Meditation Help You Prepare for the Bar Exam?: Whether you are weeks, months, or years away from taking the bar exam, meditation or mindfulness can be a very helpful tool in conquering anxiety and stress.
- Can Yoga or Walking Help You Pass the Bar Exam?: Simple acts like yoga and walking can actually help you do better on the bar exam.
All of these posts are just a start toward helping you think about what you can do to overcome your anxiety. What have you done to help curtail anxiety while studying for the bar exam? Share your experiences in the comments.
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Did you find this post helpful? Check out some other great articles:
- Taking Care of Yourself
- Getting Mentally Ready for the Bar Exam
- Balancing Life and Bar Prep
- If You’re Having a Freak-Out, We’re Here to Help!
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