Mental Health and Productivity Boost for busy Law Students [Under Quarantine]

While you have a good deal of responsibilities with your law studies and preparations for the bar, don’t be too hard on yourself. You MATTER. Your WELL-BEING comes FIRST.

Please consider the following list and check on yourself and your loved ones in this particular time that everyone is being restrained and recreation is restricted indoors so much so that people turn to the internet to “keep them sane” and to cope. But is it really the answer? Maybe there’s more.

Although this is structured especially for when you’re a law student, (driven, committed, and well, busy studying), some ideas here can be shared to loved ones who are not as busy.

First of all, be grateful. Having gratitude is very important to keep you grounded and faithful.

If you believe in what you pray for, you say Thank You to God as if you have already received it. 

You’ve been working so hard to be right where you are now. Anticipate getting what you pray for with your enduring diligence and tremendous passion.

Manage your thoughts. Having that goal of becoming a lawyer, visualize success and keep that mindset. A mind filled with success driven thoughts is a healthy and happy mind. It keeps you motivated and that is good for increasing productivity.

Take control of what stays in your head. 

You are now mentally set to conquer it all. Now follow it right up with a milestone. 

Perhaps, it is as simple as making your bed to a very polished, hotel-like finish, or making your to-do list for the day, if you have not done so yet, or maybe writing down on your journal.

These are but small things that really count. 

A satisfying feeling of accomplishment is guaranteed thereafter. 

This is setting yourself up for a good, productive day you will thank yourself later for.

Read, not your law books or reviewer (yet). A book/an e-book, or listen to an audio-book or a podcast. 

Reading an actual book or listening to a podcast can be your distraction from social media.

Scrolling through your facebook newsfeed in the morning may be the cause of anxiety, trigger for depression, or crank up a bad mood. So be cautious and keep yourself guarded. 

Consider some of these books you can read on the side:

The Bible

Greek Mythology

Reader’s Digest

Psychology Today

The Economist

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Listening to music is also a good alternative if you are not an Oscar Wilde loving or you do not own any book other than your law books. Let the music heal your soul.

SELF CARE and “ME TIME”

While everything else in here is also about self-care, emphasis is given to the following for their tremendous effect on our mental and over all health. 

1. Eat balanced meals to fuel your mind and body for what you have planned to accomplish for the day. It is also very important to not skip meals.

Swap the chips and candies to these healthier alternatives for snacks.

Nuts (Cashew nuts, Almonds, etc.)

Dark chocolate

Fresh fruits

Yogurt

2. Exercise. 

It improves your mood and gets your blood flowing. Good blood circulation makes the brain happy and boosts your energy.

You can do it anytime of the day really.

However, you do not turn to exercise as a quick fix for the heavy meal you just had. When you workout, incorporate measurements in it. Time is measurement, and so is intensity. It does not have to be for two hours, and low impact exercises is still better than none.  It’s up to you to make your exercise count.

3. Meditate/ practice yoga.

If you are not into any of the two, it is worth trying really. Alternatively, you can get about the same benefits by getting some fresh air and taking intentional, deep breaths. Deeply breathing is not only calming, it also taps into your nervous system to relieve stress and anxiety. Cultivate a good amount of positivity and harmony from within.

RELATIONSHIPS

Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you. Get connected with the people who matter most to you, if they happen to be elsewhere. 

Make the effort to reach out. You have your alliance of support with these people in your life, so check on them too, and offer emotional and mental support to them. Maybe they need a good talk or kind words from someone, every now and then. Be happy to give them a moment of your time, it will be good for you too. 

SELF- LOVE

Pamper yourself and give yourself nice things. 

More sleep; little naps; a nice bath, or a hot shower with music playing in the background; scented candles or humidifier with essential oil; exchanging relaxing massages with your partner or a family member; playing board games or card games, or pinoy henyo; window shopping online is fine too, if you’re not impulsive to ‘add to cart’ and can patiently wait for the delivery. Otherwise, just look around and ‘add them to list’ for now. Lastly, Netflix and chill.

COMMUNITY

Give back to the community in your own little ways. Offering to help and reaching out to others to lend a helping hand, creates a support network and a great opportunity to to turn acquaintances into friendships.

Build connections with people who are in the same situation as you and support one another and encourage each other.

FINALLY,

Be weird. Dance Like No one is watching. Sing your heart out in the shower. Have a good laugh over funny shows and movies. Keep calm and don’t stress over anything. 

DO MORE OF WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY.

xoxo

Pinay Jurist