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'Tis the season to remember others, yet for law students at this time of year, 'tis the season of all-nighters. In the midst of exam preparation, try to remember yourself. If you give yourself a little extra attention, perhaps with a full body massage, a visit to a hot tub, or even a good bike ride up Mt. Tabor, the energy and peace of mind you will gain from these moments of rejuvenation will more than make up for the time they take away from your studying. Chances are, some exercise and/or deep relaxation will probably even give you more energy for studying than you would have had without the benefit of the stress relief.
I remember my first exam day when I was a first-year student. I was living with six others at the Farm, a big old house 20 minutes by foot from the law school. When I came upstairs early that morning, one of my housemates, a seasoned third-year, had left me a note on the stove. It read:
Remember:
Relax
Think
Breathe
Have Fun
Kick Ass
Peace
MGO
After reading Griff's note, I instantly felt better about Newell's Contracts exam. It was too late now to worry about what I hadn't studied, and time was short, so I headed out the door and down the path into Tryon Creek.
As I hiked the trail, breathing in the fresh air, I repeated Griff's advice over and over again in my mind: Relax, Think, Breathe, Have Fun, Kick Ass. It became my mantra. Relax, Think, Breathe, Have Fun, Kick Ass. I became more confident each time I repeated the words and, by the time I reached campus 20 minutes later, I was almost looking forward to taking the damn test.
That positive thinking paid off. I did kick ass on that exam; in fact, it remains my best grade yet in law school, by far. And though I haven't quite been able to duplicate that sense of spirit which those words first sparked, I always remember the mantra as exams approach: Relax, Think, Breathe, Have Fun, Kick Ass.
Advice doesn't get much better than that.