It’s the morning of the bar exam. You’ve studied for hundreds of hours, reviewed your outlines, taken practice tests and poured everything into this moment. Now it’s game time.
The question is: How do you set yourself up for success before you even walk into the testing center?
Here are five ways to take control of your morning and give yourself the best possible start to your bar exam day.
Get in the right mindset.
Start your morning with a few quiet minutes of intentional visualization. Picture yourself walking into the exam room calmly and confidently. See yourself reading each question carefully, recalling the rules you’ve learned and answering with clarity and focus. Even just five minutes of this kind of mental rehearsal can help you feel more grounded and in control before you begin the exam.
Engage in positive self-talk.
You may feel nervous or even doubt yourself — but that doesn’t mean you’re unprepared. Remind yourself that you’ve worked incredibly hard for this and have learned a lot in the weeks leading up to the exam. You’ve shown up day after day and put in the hours. Tell yourself you are ready.
Eat a real breakfast.
Don’t skip breakfast — your brain needs fuel. Eat something light but substantial, like eggs and toast, oatmeal with fruit or a smoothie with protein. Avoid anything that could make you feel jittery or too full. If you normally drink coffee, drink it — but don’t overdo it, especially if your nerves are already high. Keep your routine as normal as possible.
Do not study the morning of the exam.
You’ve already put in the work. Trying to study on the morning of the exam will likely just make you more anxious and scatter your focus. Your job now is to conserve your mental energy for the real thing. Instead of studying, listen to calming music, stretch, do some light reading or take a short walk — whatever helps you feel centered.
Stick to your plan.
Today is not the day to experiment. Wear comfortable clothes you’ve worn before. Make sure to dress in layers in case the exam room is chilly. Bring snacks you know won’t upset your stomach. Leave early for the exam so you’re not stressed about traffic. Also, double check to make sure you have everything you need to sit for the exam. The fewer surprises you face on exam day, the more you can focus on the exam itself.
The bar exam isn’t just a test of what you know — it’s a test of how you manage your mindset, your time and your energy under pressure.
Starting your morning with intention can make a difference. You’ve done the hard part already. Now it is time to show up and trust yourself.
