25 Tips For Staying Sane During Law School
25 Tips For Staying Sane During Law School
Law school is stressful, and thats by design: the rigors of earning your
law degree are similar to the rigors youll endure as a budding legal
professional, where only the strong survive. And although law school
can be difficult, that doesnt mean you have to become insane on the
way to graduation. There are several ways to cope, prevent stress, and
stop the insanity before it starts. Weve outlined 25 tips that can help
you stay sane and happy, and even live like a normal person now and
then.
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Hug a puppy
Get some perspective and release endorphins by taking a minute to
hug a puppy when youre at your most stressed. At George Mason
University School of Law, 15 homeless puppies were enlisted in the
fight against exam stress, and made students feel like they could get
to be human again. The Yale Law Library has added a therapy dog,
Monty, as well, and theWashington Post reports that he helps to break
the pressure on campus.
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as The Girls Guide to Law Schoolsays, figure out whats set in stone,
and whats malleable.
10. Have an outlet
When law school is consuming your life, its easy to forget that youre a
real person with interests other than legal briefings. But you
actually are a real person with needs, and an outlet is a great way to
meet them. Do something fun for yourself, like going to the gym on a
regular basis, or taking the time to go to the movies on occasion. Its
essential that you indulge yourself from time to time so that you dont
burn out.
11. Recognize and minimize procrastination
If youre feeling stuck and lonely during long nights of studying, it
might feel like a good idea to log on to Facebook and spend a few
hours connecting with your friends and family that you never seem to
have time for anymore. But the more time you spend putting off
studying, the less time you have to actually participate in real life.
Buckle down when its time to do the work, and enjoy the fruits of your
labor when its appropriate.
12. Avoid coping through chemistry
Drugs, alcohol, and overloading on caffeine can make a small stress
problem even bigger. Dont be a drunken lawyer and give the Bar a
reason to refuse your application. Learn to cope through healthy
outlets, and use, but dont abuse, alcohol as an occasional way to
relieve stress.
13. Dont be afraid to rely on the study skills you already know
Plenty of people will tell you that law must be studied in a way thats
radically different from anything else, and you have to do things
completely different from the methods youre used to. But Ilya Somin
of The Volokh Conspiracy does not agree, remarking that if it works for
you, you can certainly study the same way you got through your work
as an undergrad or graduate student. You may need to make minor
modifications, but its certainly possible to go with what you know and
avoid the stressful process of learning a brand new way to learn.
14.Break large projects down into small tasks
Make humongous efforts feel like less work by taking them one small
step at a time. Identify tasks within large projects, breaking things into
subtopics and assigning smaller time blocks so that you can focus on
manageable pieces. This will help you keep things organized, and give
you motivation to keep going as you accomplish small goals along the
way.
which you just cant get anything done. Take short breaks, do mindful
breathing, and allow information to sink in while you rest.
21. Treat law school like a job
If you let law school become your life, you truly will go insane. Set
limits much like you would with a job. Plan to work on law school
studies during certain hours, and then actually put in the time, but
when its over, you really do have to put the books down and stop
studying. If possible, study away from home, and when you get home,
leave your books in the bag.
22. Remember that its only temporary
If youre a first-year law student, its easy to feel the strain and feel
that the reality youre in will continue for years two and three as well.
But UCLA law students Sylvie Levine and David Burke point out that
things get more relaxed as you go. The second year becomes a little
more relaxed than the first, particularly with fewer classes to attend.
The third year is the most relaxed, as most students have already
secured jobs, and with their eyes on the prize, are just hoping to get
things done without screwing up enough to lose their jobs. All of this is
to say that law school is a downhill battle, one that may be tough in
the beginning, but gets easier as you go.
23. Maintain relationships in law school
As law school wears on, its easy to crawl into your own hole and
buckle down with work, but maintaining relationships with your
classmates and professors is important. Use the people you know in
school for both positive reinforcement and references. You should also
continue to build your network, as youll certainly find opportunities to
call on them during your job search and career as a lawyer.
24. Know your deadlines
Always know when your assignments are due. This is a simple task that
will save you time and allow you to better juggle your schedule.
Whether they are papers, projects, or assignments as a summer
associate, always find out the date and time an assignment is due, and
dont be afraid to ask for clarification if you need it.
25. Have friends outside of law school
Although law school relationships are important, you should also make
a point to maintain your friendships outside of law school as well. While
youre freaking out about exams, your law school friends cant really
help you: theyre dealing with the same issues. But people in the real
world can bring you out of your dark hole when your law school friends
fail to do so.