What's A Social Life?

This is the question that every law student asks themselves...

Yes, from the first day of law school, it seems like your schedule is always packed with assignments, club meetings, and studying.  It is important to keep on top of your school work and obligations, but you cannot function on all of this alone.  Every person, even a law school girl, needs to come up for a breath of fresh air from time to time.  Social interaction and free time is just as important as studying--even the ABA agrees with us.

Make Breaks Productive

When you do decide to take a break from your studies, make it as useful as possible.  If you are feeling extremely stressed, choose an activity that will actually relax you.  Do not pick something that will cause other issues to weigh on your mind, this will make you even more stressed.  You should also pick one day a week where you push law school out of your mind and fill your day with fun activities.

"Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy."

Elle Woods was correct on this point.  A run around the block, a quick workout video, or a SoulCycle class with a friend can make a strong positive impact on you and your body.  Working out can actually give you a boost of energy, and it can help you power through reading a tough case.  It also helps you keep a healthy lifestyle during a time where it does not seem that you have the time.  Law schools are notorious for their free food to attract students to attending events.  Usually this food is not the healthiest (cookies, pizza, donuts, etc.).  Making exercise part of your weekly routine can help balance this out and keep you awake and alert.

A Clean Home is a Happy Home

I know, I know, this is such a cliche.  And cleaning your room/apartment/house sounds like the the last thing you want to do when you get home after class.  However, it is very true.  Clutter in real life equals clutter in your brain.  I feel guilty even putting this suggestion up here because I don't always follow my own advice on this.  I can say that when all my dishes are clean and put away, my laundry is done, and my carpet is vacuumed I feel physically better.  One of my favorite things to do while doing the housekeeping is blasting my favorite music and singing along.  It makes chores seem less endless, and you can even bust out into your most embarrasing dance moves.

Read a Book for Pleasure

Looking at more words on a page may sound like the last thing you want to do after reading hundreds of pages of legal jargon, but allowing your brain to stretch creativity can actually help with problem solving.  If you don't want it to be a solitary activity, you can make a small book club among friends with no deadlines, pressure, or expectations.  The creative part of your brain can actually kick in when writing your law exams--you may see something that other students don't, or come up with another solution that your classmates may not consider.  Even rereading an old favorite can help, making your mind more perceptive.
 

"He drinks a whiskey drink / He drinks a vodka drink / He drinks a lager drink / He drinks a cider drink."

Tubthumping may have enjoyed staying out all night partying, but they did not need to get up the next day to finish a twenty-something page brief.  Drinking to cope is never the answer, and pushing yourself past your limits can lead to some really regrettable consequences.

Everybody Loves Game Night

Being social does not mean that you have to be the life of the party.  Sometimes the best thing to do is have a low-key game night where everyone brings their favorite snack or splurges for some take-out.  For this activity, it is best not to let your competitive side get the best of you.  Pull out a game that doesn't have high stakes.  Cards Against Humaniy, Uno, Clue, and Scrabble are some of my favorites.  They are not complicated games, everyone knows the rules, and you can basically start and stop the game whenever you want.

Avoid Staring at Another Screen

Netflix and Chill is never the best choice.  You are already straining your eyes so much during the week, that staring at another screen is just going to deteriorate your vision even more.  I know, sometimes you feel like you need to watch a mindless episode before bed, but the light from the screen will actually keep you up and make you have less fitful sleep.  If you want to do something that does not require too much thinking, have your friends come over for a casual night in for just talking and laying out on the couch.

You Don't Need to Impress Anyone

Do not let yourself feel pressured to go out just because everyone else appears to be doing it.  This is the along the lines of the "if everyone jumps off a cliff..." argument.  If you are in the mood to go home and use your freetime to take a nap, go for it.  If you just want to play fetch with your dog, you do you.  If running around the house with a cat toy tied to a string sounds like your idea of a good time, then that is what you should do.  The only person that you need to impress is yourself and future employers.

Love and luck to all,