No matter where you are in your law school career, the New Year is a great excuse to spend some time reflecting on the past 12 months. Once you’ve taken stock of the good, the bad, and the ugly, it’s time to make some resolutions for the next year. To help guide you, we’ve put together this list of the top New Year’s resolutions for law students.
- Get Your Beauty Rest
Skimping on sleep doesn’t just make you cranky the next day—it impacts your cognitive functions, decision-making abilities, and so much more. While sacrificing sleep to finish that last case brief might feel like the right move in the short term, too many nights like that will catch up with you. Instead, resolve to prioritize your sleep by rearranging your schedule. - Refine Your Study Schedule
Success in law school requires a plan. However, there’s a good chance that your plan for success will require some tweaks along the way. The New Year is the perfect time to reassess when, where, and how you study. Are you someone who learns better in collaborative settings? Join or create a study group! Do you find yourself getting distracted when you study? Try studying at a different time of day or in a different location. - Outline as You Go
Many law school students learn this the hard way: procrastination doesn’t work in law school. If you want to be prepared for your finals, you’ll need to stay on top of your reading and outlining throughout the semester. Make outlining as you go your New Year’s resolution and put yourself in the best position for exams! - Stay Active
Working out can provide you with mental and physical benefits. If you spent the past year skipping workouts in favor of reading, consider recommitting to staying active. If you’re creative, you might even be able to find a way to combine the two! You might be able to listen to lectures or supplements while working out or bring your reading to the treadmill. - Try Something New
You are only a law student once. Now is the time to try new things, even if they are outside of your comfort zone. Consider joining an extracurricular like moot court. Or taking a class just because it sounds interesting. Or traveling abroad. Doing something different is a great way to grow personally and develop new skills and insight.
Whether you follow our New Year’s resolutions or create your own, make sure you set yourself up for success. The best New Year’s resolutions for law students are those that establish realistic goals and create a plan for achieving them. You’ll thank your past self once the semester is over!
