Today is my first day of BarBri class.  For the next 10 weeks, I will be on a regimented schedule of going to class and studying as I prepare for the Arizona Bar Exam.  Thankfully, I am a person who thrives in structure, so being on a strict schedule should work well for me.  I have been thinking about what guidelines will apply to my life during Bar prep.

1. 

   Stick to the BarBri schedule – go to class every day and study for a total of 8 hours a day, 7 days a week.  It’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.

2. Use study techniques that work for me: class, outlines, and flash cards.
3. Everyone is banned from the house unless they have an invitation.
4. Do 30 minutes of walking, jogging, swimming, biking, or yoga every day.
5. Eat a balanced diet – lots of fresh fruit, veggies, and protein; minimal sugar; & plenty of water.
6. Get at least 7 hours of sleep every night.
7. Avoid people and places that bring excessive drama to my life.
8. No TV except for my weekly indulgences of House and Deadliest Catch.
9. When I’m studying, I cannot have my cell phone where I can see or hear it.
10. When I’m outlining on the computer, stay off of email, Facebook, and Twitter.
11. If I realize that I’m just staring at my books without doing any productive work, STOP and take a break.
12. The default response to any invitation to social events until the Bar is “No;” however there must be the occasional fun event to maintain my sanity.

I’ve spent the last few days getting the house in order so that I will have as few distractions as possible while I’m studying.  I have also been reading Chad Noreuil’s The Arizona Bar Exam: Pass It Now.  I’m grateful that my family and friends are being supportive of me and my process.  One of my friends has already put me on notice that if I’m too non-responsive to the point that he worries that I’m getting unbalanced, that he’ll stage a raid.  I doubt that will be necessary but it’s good to know that people care about me enough that they would be willing to do that.

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• Exam Study Tips That Will Help You Become a Better Test Taker (mygreatreviewsite.wordpress.com)