• 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

Warning: Working and Studying Can Cause Sleep Deprivation!

August 22, 2013 By Lee Burgess Leave a Comment

I know this likely isn’t news to most of you, but working while studying for the bar exam can be a challenge. You have to balance work obligations, family workingobligations, and still find time to get in some quality studying. Not easy at all! But one of the first things to go when folks start trying to balance work and study time is sleep. And this can lead to some disastrous results. What kind of disastrous results? 

You can begin to break down physically.

Did you know that sleep is actually important for us to function well physically? Sure, those all-nighters seemed liked a good idea when we were 20 years old, but for most of us sleep deprivation can have short and long term consequences. Still don’t believe me? I have talked to students who have ended up at the doctor’s office because of physical symptoms and the doctor told them that sleep deprivation was causing their body to break down. Yikes, right? Remember, you need a healthy body to be able to take the bar exam. Having trouble sleeping? My friend shares some tips for getting more sleep naturally.

You can begin to break down emotionally.

If you read this blog regularly, you know how passionate I am about the mental and emotional aspect of studying for the bar exam. Turns out if we don’t sleep, we actually get more anxious and have a harder time keeping our emotions in check. And let’s be honest most of us are a little anxious while studying for the exam even in the best of circumstances. We don’t need lack of sleep to feed that anxiety and make it even worse! I have talked to many students who get just five hours of sleep consistently in order to study and then find themselves an emotional wreck, crying or feeling incredible anxiety. That is just not sustainable for most of us. You need to make time for sleep to help keep your emotions in check so you can be the best bar exam studier you can be.

You can lose your ability to learn.

Even if you don’t think physical and emotional health are all that important, what about your ability to learn and retain information? If you don’t sleep, you are going to have a harder time remembering all those rules you stayed up late studying the night before. So in the end, without getting a good night’s sleep you really aren’t even helping yourself prepare for the exam.

For many of us, the reality is it would be nice to have more hours in the day. But since we can’t make more hours appear, we have to prioritize the hours that we do have. Although it may sound simple and effective to just cut back on time for sleeping and taking care of ourselves, in fact, doing so ends up hurting us—physically, emotionally, and even in our ability to learn. Take sleep seriously and build in rest as part of your study plan. You will be thankful that you did!

—

Want more useful bar exam advice? Sign up for our free mailing list now!

Did you find this post helpful? Check out some other great articles:

  • Working AND Studying? Tips for Surviving Bar Exam Prep
  • Five Tips for Studying While Working
  • Working While Studying? “Play” Bar Prep Like You’re Playing Risk
  • How Do You Recommend Studying While Balancing Family Responsibilities? 

Image by teaksato via stock.xchng.


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 Lee Burgess

Lee Burgess, Esq. is the co-founder of the Law School Toolbox, a resource for law students that demystifies the law school experience, and the Bar Exam Toolbox, a resource for students getting ready for the bar exam. Lee has been adjunct faculty at two Bay Area law schools, teaching classes on law school and bar exam preparation. You can find Lee on Twitter at @LeeFBurgess, @lawschooltools, or @barexamtools.

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

Dealing with Exam Day Surprises

Dealing with Exam Day Surprises

Unfortunately, on the bar exam and in life, we cannot account for every possibility. We can do everything we can to prepare for all outcomes but … [Read More...] about Dealing with Exam Day Surprises

Podcast Microphone

Podcast Episode 185: Listen and Learn — Prosecution of a Criminal Trial (Burdens, Presumptions, Sufficiency)

Welcome back to the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast! The topic of today's "Listen and Learn" episode is Criminal Procedure. Specifically, we're talking about … [Read More...] about Podcast Episode 185: Listen and Learn — Prosecution of a Criminal Trial (Burdens, Presumptions, Sufficiency)

Productively Waiting for Bar Scores

Productively Waiting for Bar Scores

Congratulations! The massive bar exam you’ve dedicated your time and energy to is over, and you can finally relax! Well, that is much easier said than … [Read More...] about Productively Waiting for Bar Scores

Studying for the Bar While Applying to Jobs

Studying for the Bar While Applying to Jobs

Applying to jobs during bar prep is normal and sometimes unavoidable. As much as you may want to devote 100% focus to the bar exam, it is a reality … [Read More...] about Studying for the Bar While Applying to Jobs

Supporting your SO While They Study for the Bar

Supporting your SO While They Study for the Bar

So, you have a significant other who is studying for the bar! Perhaps you’re also in law school, before or behind them on their journey. Perhaps … [Read More...] about Supporting your SO While They Study for the Bar

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 2022 Bar Exam Toolbox®™