• 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
    • Options – FYLSE (Baby Bar)
  • Bar Exam 101
  • About
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Login

Self-Care is the Best Care: 10 Ways to Take Care of Yourself During Bar Prep

May 6, 2019 By Christen Morgan Leave a Comment

Self-Care is the Best Care: 10 Ways to Take Care of Yourself During Bar PrepIf you’re scrolling through Instagram or pretty much any social media outlet, you’re likely guaranteed to come upon some variation of self-care activity being promoted by the bevy of social media influencers hired to promote the latest self-care craze. Whether it be taking an exotic vacation to clear your mind and decompress, attending a baby goat yoga class, downloading an app to speak with your own personal therapist in the palm of your hand or my personal favorite, trying out the latest K-Beauty product, the opportunities for self-care are endless, and I love every minute of it! Self-care was essentially the millennial mantra of 2018 and I eagerly hope that this craze will bleed into 2019 and become a permanent lifestyle facet for all generations alike.

So what do you do when you’ve perfected your favorite self-care routine, but you’re unable to squeeze it into your bar prep study schedule? In the alternative, what do you do when you have no idea what self-care is but your bar prep mentor tells you this thing should be an essential part of your preparation? In theory, the answer is pretty simple, you adjust your self-care routine to meet the demands of your bar prep schedule or you Google the definition of self-care and piece together a practical routine that works for your hectic lifestyle. However, in reality, this answer is easier said than done considering that during bar prep, a 24-hour period feels like an hour and 30 minutes at best. Furthermore, if we’re keeping it all the way real, a self-care trip to ride elephants in Thailand or a weekly massage appointment, is not typically within the average bar prep budget. But no need to worry because I’ve already done the heavy lifting for you. Below I’ve pinpointed 10 self-care activities that are efficient, uplifting and necessary for the soul, but most importantly, cheap! 

1. Positive Affirmations

One easy self-care task to squeeze into your bar prep schedule is utilizing positive affirmations. Positive affirmations are an essential step to attracting good fortune into your life, so why not give yourself some love and begin attracting bar prep success into your future? At the start of your bar prep journey I recommend writing down some things that you would like to see actualized throughout your preparation process. Write down as many as you can think of on sticky paper or small flashcards. Once you have these affirmations gathered, place them strategically throughout your home. Place them on the bathroom mirror, the kitchen fridge, your bedroom wall etc. I recommend placing these affirmations pretty much on any area that you frequent throughout your home. These affirmations could provide the simple nudge you may need in a moment of doubt and they will most definitely keep your mind at ease during this difficult process.

2. Drink More Tea and Less Coffee

Coffee causes anxiety and can negatively impact your health in many ways. During bar prep, you need not have any additional stressful sources contributing negativity to your aura. Therefore, one difficult but beneficial way to self-care, is to drink more tea and less coffee. Tea can help to reduce anxiety and if you’re worried about losing energy, give green tea or ginseng tea a try. Both teas can help you to remain alert and to ease your stress levels.

3. Meditation

If you have no time in your schedule for an hour long yoga class, how about giving meditation a try? There are many meditation apps that offer guided meditation sessions for 10 minutes or under.

4. Trouble sleeping?

Sleep is perhaps the most essential part of any self-care routine. If you have difficulty sleeping during the intensity of bar prep, how about listening to an ASMR bedtime story to distract your mind? Spotify has quite the collection of these stories, and I can speak from personal experience that they will knock you out in a heartbeat.

5. Engage in one Extended Self-care Activity Weekly that Re-energizes You

Although you may not be able to complete a detailed self-care routine on a regular basis during bar prep, I recommend having a cheat day in which you engage in one extended self-care activity that re-energizes you and enriches your soul. It doesn’t have to be anything difficult. In fact, something as simple as spending time with a loved one, getting a much needed mani/pedi, completing a hobby that gives you joy or attending a therapy session may do the trick.

6. Watch TV

At the start of bar prep, throw together a list of shows that require no brain cells to enjoy. After a difficult day of work indulge in one of these shows as a much needed stress reliever.

7. Read a Chapter

I recommend selecting a book for leisure at the start of bar prep and reading it incrementally throughout your preparation. Need suggestions? Give these two a try.

  • Emotional First Aid
  • Heart Talk

8. Self-care Checklist

Create a self-care checklist and challenge yourself to complete at least 3 action items daily. Then express gratitude for the items you completed.

9. Study Outside

Switch up your study surroundings and opt to complete some of your bar preparation outside. Immersing yourself in literal nature can do wonders for your focus and mindset.

10. Clean your Surroundings and Declutter your Mind

At the start of bar prep, I recommend doing a deep cleaning of your surroundings. Pay particular attention to the areas that you will spend most of your study time in. Realistically, I know this may be difficult to keep up as your study sessions intensify, but I think there is some benefit in at least doing a weekly scrub to refresh your study areas.

What’s your favorite self-care routine? Let me know and I can add it to a future posting. Good luck!


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 Christen Morgan

Christen Morgan graduated magna cum laude from the University of Tampa where she received her B.S. in Criminology. She earned her J.D. from Emory Law School where she competed and served as an executive board member for the Emory Law Moot Court Society. Christen also served as a student representative for LexisNexis and also as a mentor for several 1L students offering them advice and a variety of resources to help them through their law school journey.

Christen previously practiced as a Foreclosure Attorney for a Real Estate law firm but has since then transitioned into a Real Estate Specialist role at a wireless infrastructure company.

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!

Recent Posts

7 Time Management Tips For Bar Studiers

7 Time Management Tips For Bar Studiers

There isn’t a more intense experience for a lawyer than studying for the bar. While there are no magic ways to make it easy per se, there are ways to … [Read More...] about 7 Time Management Tips For Bar Studiers

Podcast Microphone

Podcast Episode 204: Listen and Learn — Scope of Discovery and the Work-Product Privilege

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today, as part of our "Listen and Learn" series, we're discussing Civil Procedure, and specifically, the … [Read More...] about Podcast Episode 204: Listen and Learn — Scope of Discovery and the Work-Product Privilege

Bar Study Tips for Students with ADHD

Bar Study Tips for Students with ADHD

Mastery of the bar exam material within a tight timeframe is a challenge. Sitting for hours on end, doing the work, and staying focused through it all … [Read More...] about Bar Study Tips for Students with ADHD

Podcast Microphone

Podcast Episode 203: Listen and Learn — Motions for Summary Judgment (Civ Pro)

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! Today we discuss the procedure for filing a motion for summary judgment, which is how many cases are … [Read More...] about Podcast Episode 203: Listen and Learn — Motions for Summary Judgment (Civ Pro)

Considerations When Taking Bar Exam Advice

Considerations When Taking Bar Exam Advice

We have all sought advice from time to time especially in law school. The bar exam can be somewhat of uncharted territory. When you feel directionless … [Read More...] about Considerations When Taking Bar Exam Advice

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 2023 Bar Exam Toolbox®™