If there is one thing I have learned indirectly from law school is how to cope mentally with the demands of schooling and eventually the profession. 2023 was a difficult year for me. I was challenged both in my studies and in my personal life. It was a life changing year that led me to grow more in a single year than probably the preceding 28 years before that.
This led to some moments where I found myself somber and at times feeling down. Managing the stress of law school and life at the same time is a monumental hurdle. I have the utmost respect for other part time students who not only deal with full time/part time work,, but also kids and family. You really never understand the toll it can take on one's mental health until you're deep in the trenches of law school trying your best to pass courses.
I came to realize that the moments I felt tired and mildly depressed was due in part to law school. After 2023 I told myself that I would make healthier changes in my personal life to cope with the demands and grind of law school. I decided to quit watching the news, eat healthier, run every week, and also workout. I also made changes in my personal life and decided to distance myself from people who were affecting me negatively.
I think it is important to surround yourself with family and friends that support your law school career and understand the demands of such a pursuit. I think studying for hours on end is half the game when it comes to succeeding in law school. I think one also needs to mentally and physically prepare themselves to realize their full potential. I one day hope to pass on the knowledge of what I have learned to others in the future.
I am intrigued by how often people cite their decision to "quit watching the news" as a way to improve mental health. On one hand, I get it. Cable news and social media outlets like X and Facebook are a cesspool of misinformation. Watching or reading those outlets would damage anyone's mental health.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this is a generational thing, but isn't it our responsibility as citizens to stay informed and participate in democracy? This is even more true for lawyers and law students whose work depends on the laws and regulations elected and appointed officials promulgate. Staying informed requires finding reliable news sources and obtaining and processing information in a rational way (even if no one around is seems capable of rational thought). Many newspapers are still worth reading, so long as you understand they may have a philosophical bias.
For example, there is some great reporting in papers like the Washington Post so long as you understand that their editorial policy is on the progressive side of things. The quality may be due to the fact that it is one of the few papers with ample funds to hire top journalists - thanks to being owned by one of the world's wealthiest people.
PBS News Hour is also a deeper dive into the news of the day without the hype you find on CNN, Fox, and MSNBC. And don't forget the BBC and Al Jazeera. Each has a different perspective, but useful information can be learned from these outlets.
So maybe the answer to improving mental health isn't to stop watching the news. The answer may be to be more selective in the news you watch. If I have to watch another "talking heads" panel on cable news of the same "experts" saying the same things over and over, I might lose my sanity as well.
I totally understand both sides of the coin for the "quit watching the news" issue.
ReplyDeleteYes, Prof. Bassett is correct in that it good to stay informed as citizens of our nation BUT in this day and age of 24 hour news cycles (thanks Ted Turner!) you would be hard pressed to NOT see what is going on in the world. The news is everywhere, in our side ads, in social media, in public areas plastered on billboards, newspaper stands with loud headlines, etc.
That being said I find that one of the leading causes of despair with regard to the news is being confronted on a day to day basis of all the wrong going on in the world and then feeling absolutely powerless to do anything about it. Like what am I, a lowly citizen (besides voting) supposed to do about the issues in the Middle East, the Ukraine, the Supreme Court going off the rails, Corporations running rough shod over our rights and a Senate/Congress that couldn't agree on Pizza toppings let alone policy issues?
It is this absolute feeling of powerlessness that leads to despair and when you compound that on top of things going wrong in your personal life it is bound to take a huge toll on you mental health and your physical health. All my life I've had perfect BP (even during my two pregnancies) but between law school and the state of the world I'm adding yet another pill to my morning routine, started meditating, and have upped my physical fitness.
All this to say, you are not alone and sometimes it's good to step away from the madness to keep some perspective and to concentrate on the things you CAN do to make your life and those lives around you better.
I completely resonate with your experience. Law school is incredibly demanding, and balancing it with personal life challenges can be overwhelming. Your journey through 2023, with its ups and downs, highlights the importance of mental and physical well-being in this profession. It's inspiring to see how you've made positive changes, like quitting the news, eating healthier, and exercising, to cope better. Surrounding yourself with supportive family and friends is crucial, and your insight about preparing mentally and physically for the rigors of law school is spot on. The upside of the struggle allows us to connect with and lean on others in law school as they are better equip to understand what we are going through and also assist us along the way. It has been a humbling and uplifting experience.
ReplyDeleteHi Kyle, I really appreciate the honesty and authenticity of what someone can go through balancing law school and life. I am a part time student who works full time during the day, so I understand the feeling of not having time for yourself. I believe everyone handles the stress of law school differently, but what I have done is prioritize myself. I know how important studying and doing well in classes is, but my friends, family, etc. is just what I believe matters more. Law school is a means to an end, but it does consume my life.
ReplyDeleteI think the first step to overcoming mental health issues is understanding yourself and your mind, and what you require on an individual level. I love how listed specific things that helped your mind, such as no longer watching the news, changing your diet, exercising, and being weary of the influences in your personal life. In theory, it sounds easy to incorporate positive influences for the body and mind, but it's a lot harder to incorporate. Inspiring post!
ReplyDeleteI definitely understand how difficult it is to adapt to the stress and demanding nature of law school. I had a hard time my first semester because I would act like I was fine and the pressure wasn't eating at me. When in reality, it was all I could think about. I also decided to make healthier changes in my life. Running definitely helps because if you are ever studying and start feeling frustrated, you can get up and start running which for me takes my mind off my readings or studying (for the moment). Another thing that really helped me last semester was my gym membership. I got a membership at a gym where you workout in a sauna. I cannot speak enough about how much my mental state has changed for the better since adding a sauna into my routine. Apparently sauna's are known for lowering your cortisol hormone to decrease your stress levels. Like you, I also made time to spend with friends and family which helped prevent me from studying for hours on end. I personally don't watch the news but I found a podcast that keeps me informed on issues in the news. She is an attorney who summarizes what is going on and makes it easy to understand the legal aspects of current issues. I think it is important to stay informed but I understand that watching the news can be mentally draining. You are definitely not alone with learning to balance law school and your personal life!
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