MIND+BODY
A big concern I had before beginning law school was sacrificing my physical fitness for the legal profession. As I came to reality with the fact that law students spend much of their days sitting in lecture halls, sitting in tutorials, sitting at their desks, sitting on in the car on the way to classes and for some, sitting for long periods of time during travel to and from hometowns on weekends.
Have you noticed the common denominator yet? Yeah, it's sitting. The health impacts of sitting all day are extremely evident and while I could write an entire article about it, I’ll give you the bottom line…it's bad! The issues ranging from chronic health issues, increased diabetes, heart disease, and even some cancers have proven just how bad sitting can be for our health.
So I think my fear of a lack of fitness in law school was pretty fair. In fact, during our orientation one of the associate dean’s made a comment stating that we might not be able to get as much physical activity as we would like in law school and might have to give up a few days at the gym. You can imagine the panic this put me in. From that moment forward, I had made it a priority to ensure I was on top of my work enough that I would not be making these health sacrifices.
My need to go to the gym has definitely benefited me in various ways as I continue to navigate through 1L. First of all, the lingering thought in my mind that occurs on a daily basis is: “what time can I go to the gym today?” has caused me to become extremely organized in scheduling time to complete work, study, cook, and gym in the 24 hours in a day.
In fact, I was able to memorize my class schedule only two days into the semester because of the gym. I would run scenarios through in my mind like: “if I have class from 11–1 but also need to make lunch and finish 2 readings, it’s probably best to gym in the evening”. So because of these constant scenarios running through my mind on a daily basis, I was able to memorize my class and tutorial schedules like the back of my hand. I even went as far as scheduling what times I would read, cook and workout on days when I have hours and hours of class.
So overall lesson #1 is that the gym has helped me get into a law school routine that would not be feasible for me if I didn’t have that 1–2-hour break with some physical activity.
The most important reason I have made working out such an integral component of my life as a law student “and beyond” is the benefit of not only my physical health but my mental health. Law school and in particular 1L is an emotional roller coaster filled with unforgettable experiences that are both cherished and desired to be forgotten, but natural and all part of the journey and rite of passage that comes with being a law student.
With that said, I have found that the best way to manage my stress has been through the gym. Being a law student is vigorous and requires many hours of study that I have found to be very overwhelming as we continue to learn abstract legal principles and guidelines that require a lot of brain power to grasp. I have found that the best way to absorb this information while also giving the mind a chance to reduce its function for an hour or so has been through the gym.
While I spend the majority of my day sitting behind a computer working out my brain, I believe the best way to benefit my cognitive stamina has been to allow the brain to chill for an hour while I lift and push heavy things in a confined space like a caveman. I truly believe I would not be able to cope with the stresses associated with school and life if I did not discover the relief that can be provided by exercise.
Finding an hour or so to stimulate your body physically while positively impacting your health is a very attainable goal that I believe everyone should include in their daily routine. While I am no expert on the science behind working out, I can honestly say that the sense of accomplishment and increased productivity I have found in my life since incorporating a workout plan into my routine has been extremely beneficial.
If you’re reading this and feel motivated to get in the gym but don’t know where to start, it is part of my role here at Law School Life & Beyond to get you started and be your motivation in all aspects of life. Also, remember that working out burns calories and I’ll tell you honestly, it take a lot of guilt out of study snacking knowing I’ve had a great workout that day. Now, where are my baby carrots and hummus?? Thanks for taking the time to read, have a great week and stay Healthy!
