There truly wasn’t a better feeling than walking out of my last final, knowing that I had a long break ahead of me. At the same time, I was left with many questions: What’s next? How long should I rest? When do I need to start preparing for next semester?

The honest answer? I have no idea. But I do have a few tips that I relied on over winter break to help me feel refreshed and prepared for spring semester of 1L. Hopefully, these suggestions are helpful as you navigate your own law school journey.

FAMILY & FRIENDS

Your loved ones play an immense role in law school as they are typically the people who endure the phone calls, emergency dinners, frantic text messages, etc. Taking time over winter break to reconnect with your support system is incredibly important. I took this advice to heart and drove straight from my last final to spend the weekend with my family. Pictured below is all of us at a holiday pop-up event — something that felt incredibly meaningful after a long semester.

HOBBIES

During the semester, it can feel like there is little time for hobbies. Winter break is the perfect opportunity to rediscover the things you enjoy doing outside of law school! Some hobbies I enjoyed over break included playing video games, reading some of my favorite books (I don’t recommend anything law-related) and baking. I would encourage you to pick one small thing to do every day on break whether it’s going on a walk or doodling for a few minutes, something to make you feel relaxed and grounded!

REST

This is a big one! Feeling exhausted after finals is normal and not a sign of failure. It’s proof that you showed up and gave it your best effort, which is truly something to celebrate. Rest looks different for everyone, but I focused on doing activities that pushed me physically rather than mentally. One of my favorites was hiking in the Palo Duro Canyon in Texas with my partner and his family. Being outside is the easiest way for me to quiet my mind, and I highly recommend finding any outdoor activity that helps you reset!

REFLECTION

Reflecting on the fall semester can be helpful, but it’s important not to dwell on what went wrong. Instead, try picking one or two things that worked well and one or two things that you would do differently next time. This will help you reflect on study habits and time management rather than reliving finals week. 

Lastly, give yourself some grace as you start a new semester. You just accomplished something huge by getting through one of the most difficult parts of law school!

I hope these tips help you, and good luck on the coming semester! Rock Chalk!

– Allison Applequist is a 1L KU Law Student Ambassador from Hays, Kansas