First two weeks after the bar exam: Excited over congratulatory meals even though you haven’t passed yet
In between: Alternating between boredom and nightmares that remind you that you already took the bar exam and it can’t hurt you anymore
Last two weeks before bar results: HELP ME
In your desperation, you seek advice regardless of who it is…
You: “How do I handle the post-exam stress and anxiety of waiting for bar results?”
Your drunk uncle: “Don’t dwell on it… Trust in yourself… Don’t think about your answers…”
You nod politely and close the door behind you.
One problem: Our brains don’t always listen to reason! It’s hard not to think about the most important exam of your career.
In your most private moments, when all is still, you get flashbacks to the exam, relive the things you did wrong, and blow it up to the worst proportions.
The smallest error, realizing that you answered a few MBE questions wrong or made one misstatement in an entire essay, can seem like the difference between passing and failing. (“It WAS spousal testimonial privilege, not marital communications privilege! FUCK”)
You can’t just tell your brain to “stop thinking about it”… It’s inevitable that you’ll think about it. But you can change HOW you think about it and ease the agony a bit.
After screaming into your pillow, try these three ways to reframe your situation to reduce waiting anxiety (more details follow):
- The worst case: What’s the absolute worst that could happen?
- Reducing anticipation: Mentally push back D-Day
- Don’t be miserable in advance