Mental Health and the Bar: How Choosing the Right Study Space Can Positively Impact Your Mental Health

Welcome to Part 2 of my Mental Health and the Bar series. Today we will discuss an extremely important aspect of the bar prep process that can have a major impact on your mental health – your study space. When I think of being mentally ready for the bar, I’ll be the first to admit that a good study space isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. During law school I typically opted for traditional study spaces like the law school library or a closed off study room. Now, although these are two very viable study space selections, if you’re predisposed to any mental health issues, studying in such a concentrated, closed-off environment may not be the best choice.

Furthermore, even if you’re not predisposed to any mental health issues, choosing the wrong study environment can lead to the onset of mental health issues which could negatively impact your bar prep study and, ultimately, impact your bar exam score. So how do you go about choosing the right study space? Choosing a blue or green study space, a space with low pollution levels or an overall non-toxic study environment can positively impact your mental health.

A bit lost? No worries, I will flesh this out below.

A Blue or Green Study Space Can Positively Impact Your Mental Health

Have you been facing high levels of stress during bar prep? Have you tried switching up your location and studying by the sea or in a park? Studies show that blue spaces like the sea can help to lower stress levels, whereas high exposure to green spaces can help to decrease depression, anxiety and stress. When I first learned about these studies I immediately thought – this makes perfect sense. Immersing myself in nature has always had a calming impact on me, but, this was not an option I even considered during bar prep. During such a stressful study period, it’s easy to get caught up in a routine that’s convenient and familiar. Therefore, if you’ve always studied in a library or a coffee shop, it would almost be second nature to select a similar setting as you prepare for the bar. However, in all of this, we must always remember the ultimate goal of bar exam success. A goal that won’t be attainable if we are stressed out and depressed. So, if you’re experiencing anxiety, depression or just overall stress, how about shaking some things up? If you have access to a beach how about setting up a study space at that location or at a nearby park? Exposing yourself to these environments at least one day throughout your study week could make the difference in calming your nerves.

A Low Polluted Study Space Can Positively Impact Your Mental Health

Yes, you read that correctly. The actual air that you breathe can impact your mental health. Scientists have found that higher levels of pollutants in the air resulted in higher levels of psychological distress in humans living within these environments. So what does this mean for you? I know you can do very little to control the air around you, especially in the short term. But, if you’re facing any form of psychological distress, and you live in a highly polluted city, it may be worth it to temporarily relocate to a less polluted area during your bar prep study. I do recognize that this option could be costly if you don’t have family or friends willing to facilitate this process, however, it may absolutely be worth the positive benefits.

In the alternative, if relocating would be too difficult, purchasing an air purifier may do the trick. A good air purifier will help to cleanse the immediate air around you and create possibly the next best thing to actual fresh air.

Check the air quality of your city and determine whether it may be worth it to give any of the above options a try.

A Non-toxic Study Environment Can Positively Impact Your Mental Health

Bar prep is already a stressful process in and of itself, therefore, it will be very important to avoid toxic situations within the study environment you select. A toxic study environment can lead to mental health issues such as insomnia, which is caused by negative rumination, the constant replaying in your mind of negative scenarios that took place throughout the day. Toxic situations such as incivility from other students to just plain chatter around you regarding the exam may be impacting your mental health. Therefore, recognizing this early on and relocating to an environment that does not include these factors may benefit you overall.

As you consider the right study environment, try to ensure that it is one filled with positive influences and not situations that could result in losing sleep. Lack of sleep results in lack of focus which could be detrimental for your bar prep score. So if you’re currently studying in a toxic workspace get out and relocate to an environment absent the negative influences discussed above.

Hopefully these tips can be a source of guidance as you select the study space that’s right for you!