Training your brain for the bar exam

The Lawyerist recently published an article comparing studying for the bar to running a marathon. The author offers a good deal of useful advice for those of you studying for the biggest exam of your law school career. See below for a brief summary or check out the full article here.

• Train in Intervals - Runners use short bursts of hard work partnered with rest to reach their goals. You should too. Study hard, but remember to take breaks. If you've worked on a subject you find difficult for a few hours, go out and do something you enjoy for a little bit before you start studying a new topic. Your brain needs some down time to process the information you are forcing into it.
• Have the Right Equipment - Runners have special shoes, clothing, gadgets and more to help them train for peak performance. Take some time before the bar exam to make sure you do too. Ensure that your computer (if you are using it to take the bar exam) is working properly and you've properly loaded the exam software. You'll be happy you did come bar exam time.
• Run Hills - Runners can't just do easy workouts and achieve greatness. They need to incorporate running tough hills into the mix to make sure they can truly perform. When studying for the bar, don't just focus on the easy topics and questions. Challenge yourself. Work through the tough essay and multiple choice questions. If you prepare for the hardest test the bar examiners can throw your way, you know you'll be prepared for the actual exam.
• Rest - Any athlete can tell you that your body needs down time when training for an event. So does your brain. Take a night or afternoon off from time to time and visit with friends, go to the movies, or read a book or magazine unrelated to the law. Rest can make you stronger and help you retain more vital information.
• Don't Try New Things On Exam Day! - Come exam day, do not try new things. Don't try a new route to the exam site, eat a breakfast you don't know if you'll like, or alter your routine in any way. The more routine you can make exam days the better. You will have less to stress about and be able to focus exclusively on your big exam.

Study hard and good luck!