Look, I can take a break. It’s not like I need to study for 16 straight hours. I can’t even concentrate on the information if I don’t walk away from my outlines every couple of hours. I know exams start tomorrow, but there’s only so much I can do to prepare myself. And I need time to recharge. So I’m blogging, OK? I’m taking a freaking break.
I’m a little harried.
Anyway, I happen to know that I only should be spending eight to ten hours a day preparing for exams. Professor Herb Ramy told me so. (Buy his book if you’re preparing for law school. It’s called Succeeding in Law School. It’s really good.) I’m putting in my eight to ten hours every day (some days more, but don’t tell Professor Ramy). The good news is that after a day or two of review, I feel pretty prepared for my first exam. The bad news is that my exams get harder as the two week testing period goes along.
At any rate, I’m doing the best I can. I have these 40- to 80- page outlines. They’ve got bullet points. And varying font sizes. And bold text and underlining throughout. I put a lot of work into my outlines, and I updated them regularly during the semester. But while they’re pretty comprehensive, I worry that I missed including some important information in them and there’s no way I’m going through the entire year’s notes to review all of the material there’s no way I don’t have time stop PUSHING ME.
A tough thing about preparing for exams is knowing what to do with all the time. I can practice hypos. I can go through some multiple choice examples. I can go through my outlines over and over. I can even make flashcards. Or I can organize my bookshelves. I repotted a couple of my houseplants yesterday. I still have to pack away my winter clothes.
Leave me ALONE. I’m taking a break.
At times like this, it is helpful to repeat: “I am good enough. I am smart enough. And gosh darn it, people like me!”
Take your well-earned break. Chasing perfection in law school is a fool’s errand- better to chase sanity, and actually absorb some material along the way.
Hang in there!
Law school. Otherwise known as that thing that makes you feel guilty every minute you’re awake. And even in your nightmares. Thanks!
You’re taking a break!!! OMG! JK! I think you of all people need to take a break from time to time. Also, isn’t the property final non cumulative?
Yup. Non-cumulative. I’ll be glad when this one is behind me.
I’ll be glad when they’re ALL over lol
Ohmygosh! Don’t burn yourself out over this! It is totally okay to take a break! (In fact, it’s late afternoon and I STILL haven’t even looked at my outlines… something that is, I admit, causing me quite a bit of panic now that I’ve realized it…)
Okay.
You take a break. I need to stop taking breaks.
There’s got to be a compromise between the two.
p.s. One thing I’ve learned in the past two years – it is totally okay to study WHILE drinking wine. Put Pandora on in the background with some opera going, and it’s downright mentally stimulating.
You’ll do fine.
I love your method. Love. It. I spent so much time studying that I’m a bit toasted now. Spent the afternoon cleaning my kitchen. Sigh.