First, congratulations are in order. After coming down from the highs of graduation, realizing you’ve completed law school, and celebrations with friends and family, you got into study mode and completed week one of bar prep. This is not an easy or small thing. Week one is overwhelming. So, what are the top three things you should you do before beginning week two, when you and your course really dive into the study?
- Take a step back and do something to destress. Do something fun this weekend, or just relax. Your commercial bar preparation course amps up, and the stress amps up every day you get closer to this exam. So, take a breather. You want to go into week two feelings as best as you can mentally and physically for the most productive study.
- Assess your study location. Wherever you’re studying, did you like it? Do you find it an effective place to study? Is it quiet enough, or are there a lot of distractors? If you find that your study space was not working for you – change it up in week two. You want to be somewhere that promotes your learning, not somewhere that creates an unproductive day for you.
- Sit down with your schedule for week two and map out your week. This is one of the most important things you can do. Sometimes just rolling with what your commercial bar preparation course tells you to do day-by-day creates stress and anxiety. Sitting down before the week starts and making your own personalized schedule reduces those unwanted feelings. Did something you were doing not work for you in week one? Do not include it in week two. Create a plan of attack that works best for you and create structure for yourself.
When going into week two, remember that all things take time, and this includes learning and feeling comfortable with this material. It’s going to get harder before it gets easier. However, the hardest times often lead to the best moments of your life. This will do just that.
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