Tips for Focusing During Uncertainty

Tips for Focusing During Uncertainty

It can be really hard to study when the world seems to be falling apart. There are so many things that may seem so much more important than studying right now. How will I find an articling job? When will exams actually sit? The list goes on and on.

As I am finishing up my LL.M classes this week and moving straight into exam study, I sympathise with all the NCA and Bar students who are trying to navigate our new quarantine-world, and all the uncertainty that comes with it, while remaining productive and focused. I’m fortunate enough to know for certain that my exams are happening in a few weeks so I have the added benefit of firm timelines to work to.

But even if you don’t know if or exactly when your exams will sit, there are things you can do to make focusing and staying productive a little bit easier…

Adjust Your Timelines

For many of us, things are moving a bit slower these days. If you were planning on writing the May NCA exams and/or summer Bar exams, you may be feeling frustrated by their recent rescheduling. However, the added study time can be a huge benefit and will also give you extra downtime. Feel free to ease-up your study timelines accordingly. There’s no point rushing through studying at the same high-pressure rate you may have been maintaining before.

That said, I still suggest having a study schedule and goals to help you stay on track. But you shouldn’t feel guilty about stretching them out and taking things at a more relaxed pace. As I said in my past post entitled Feeling Stuck, But Staying Strong getting use to studying in this new environment can take time, but maintaining a routine and sense of structure in your life is key to your well being!

Balance is Key

While you are re-adjusting your study time-lines away, I’d also suggest setting dedicate “study hours” and “non-study hours” to help you maintain a work-study-life balance. These need not be the same hours every day, of course, but you should develop some kind of weekly routine to help you develop that key sense of structure.

Also ensure you make time to take breaks, get up and stretch, or exercise. We are all spending a lot of time indoors these days so it’s more important than ever to make sure you are remaining physically active between studying. For instance, I have been using YouTube and apps like Daily Burn to find free work-outs that I can do in the comfort of my own apartment.

Have a Happy Study Space

The way your study space is set-up is key—whether there’s a pandemic going on or not! If you can, dedicate a space for studying and set it up with everything you need. This should be your study oasis where you can go to focus-up. Ideally it’s a quite space with lots of natural light that you keep tidy and well-organized; but even if that’s not possible right now because you are sharing your home with an influx of people, do your best to zone off at least a small corner where you can keep all your study materials organized.

If noise is an issue, pop in some earbuds (or sound-cancelling headphones if you have them!) and play some study tunes to drown out any distractions. I’m currently rotating between a few different playlists and albums on Spotify and Apple Music that I find help me focus:

For the most part, avoid studying in bed or laying on the couch in front of the TV. Not only can it be hard to focus and feel productive in such spaces, but you should reserve these spaces for strictly “fun” and “relaxing” activities. Keep work and fun separate!

Connect with Others

I always recommend having a study-buddy or study group; I’ve found collaboration to be a key element of success at every stage of my legal studies. It’s even more important now as connecting with friends and colleagues to discuss exams and do practice questions together can provide much needed social integration and help you feel less alone during this stressful time!

______

Happy Studying!

-Tiffany

Tiffany is an LLM candidate at NYU Law. and a regular blogger for NCA Tutor™.