Finding a balance between work and personal life can be tricky, even in the best of times. But if you’re also preparing for the bar exam remotely on top of it all? Well, it’s understandable if it feels impossible.
But the good news is, with some effective time management and smart self-care, it’s all very much doable. Here’s how you balance it all successfully – and remain sane while doing it.
Create a Plan
Studying for the bar exam requires a tremendous amount of work and dedication, so many students feel they have to study every waking hour. But the truth is that you really don’t have to; in fact, you shouldn’t. Spending every free moment you have studying would most definitely lead to burnout, which, in turn, would make your studying sessions less effective.
What you need to do instead is create a plan. Start by mapping out your study goals week by week, then break these down into daily tasks. Next, allocate specific hours for studying, breaks, and leisure activities. This way, you can approach each day with a clear roadmap, making it easier to stay on track and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Identify and Minimize Distractions
Working and/or studying remotely has its perks, but if you’re not careful, it also comes with lots of challenges, namely distractions. And nothing, nothing kills productivity as efficiently as distractions.
To minimize distractions, first figure out what yours are. In other words, what is it that typically pulls your focus away from your work and studies? Is it TV? Reddit and Youtube? Are family members constantly barging in? Whatever it is, it’s essential to find ways to minimize these interruptions. This might mean creating a dedicated study space, using website blockers, or setting boundaries with family and friends during study hours.
Use the Right Study Resources
Using the right study materials can make a dramatic difference. Here, it’s important to opt for quality over quantity, meaning resources that are known to be effective. Online bar prep courses, practice exams, and concise review books are your best friends.
For example, if you’re studying for the Utah bar exam, find a bar-prep course for Utah specifically. These targeted resources are tailored to the state’s specific requirements and can help you focus on what really matters. Remember, it’s not about how much material you cover but how well you understand it.
Prioritize Self-Care
If you’re a busy, hard-working individual, you might think of self-care as some foreign luxury. But the truth is, self-care – proper self-care – is a necessity for everyone, especially those who are balancing work with studies. Why? Taking care of yourself – which goes beyond basic needs – allows you to recharge and stay healthy, focused, and productive.
What makes good self-care? While a long, hot bath and a face mask may be pleasant occasionally, you need activities with more substance on the regular. This means enough quality sleep, a healthy, balanced diet, regular exercise, and some time for relaxing activities, whatever they may be for you (reading, watching TV, hiking, etc.). When your body and mind are well-cared for, you’ll find studying becomes much more effective. Oh, and stay hydrated!
Stay Connected
Preparing for the bar exam can be isolating, especially when you’re doing it remotely. Spending some time with friends and family is important for your social life and resilience. That’s right, having friends can actually help reduce stress, which we all know tends to be high when preparing for demanding exams.
So, make an effort to stay connected with friends, family, as well as fellow bar preppers. You may also want to consider joining study groups or forums to discuss topics and share resources. Do whatever feels most natural to you – as long as you have some meaningful social interactions with others regularly, it’s all good.
Finally, remember to take regular breaks. While it might be tempting to power through long study sessions, remember that taking regular breaks is more beneficial for your health and your focus.