We have all heard the phrase, “new year, new me.” If you have time to scroll through social media or check out the latest news article, you are no stranger to articles or posts about goals for the new year. Eat better. Exercise more. Read a new book every week. Maybe these resolutions sound like a little more than you want to undertake at the moment, especially if you are looking to pass the bar exam in 2022. I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to reinvent yourself simply because it is the beginning of the year.

But maybe a “check-in” with yourself is just enough to start the new year off right. Adding “mindfulness” to your daily routine – whether 5 minutes or 30 minutes – is a great way to take time out from the stressful thoughts that accompany being a law student, a bar exam taker, or a young lawyer and to keep yourself refreshed and focused.

A few years ago, around this time of year, I was preparing for the February bar exam. I was in survival mode, focused only on passing this monumental exam. Bar exam preparation was consuming my entire life, including waking up reciting rule statements in my head. (This is not normal, and I do not recommend it.)

While I did not realize it at the time, one of the things that kept me grounded during studying was a “mindfulness technique.” My study partner and I would check in with each other once a day with our “Rose, Thorn, Bud.” We would share one positive moment from our day (our rose), one negative moment from our day (our thorn), and one thing we were looking forward to or an opportunity for growth (our bud). It was really comforting to share our victories and losses during this time.

The beautiful thing about mindfulness is that you don’t necessarily need another person to participate. Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. and founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction technique, defines mindfulness as “awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.”

Our attention is divided many ways – caring for family and friends, studying for the bar, preparing for work. Take time to pay attention to yourself on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally. I have found that when I take a deep breath and remind myself of what I am grateful for, I reduce my stress and have a more positive outlook.

The YLD also understands the importance of mindfulness. Check out this Directed Meditation Session with attorney Roy Wyman brought to you by the NCBA YLD Bar Exam Committee.

There are many mindfulness-related apps available. Find one that works for you and enjoy meditations, music, and mindfulness exercises on the go.

February 9, 2022/by NCBA YLD