If you’ve been trying to brief the same case for an hour and it still reads like gibberish—take that as a sign. You probably don’t need another shot of espresso. You probably need a break.
Like an actual break. Not “I’ll scroll TikTok while panicking about what I should be doing” kind of break. I mean go for a walk. Lay on the floor. Text someone who reminds you that you’re not just a floating brain in a hoodie.
Here’s the thing: Harvard (yes, that Harvard) did a whole write-up about how real, structured cognitive rest is the secret to better memory, focus, and problem-solving. They call it “intelligent rest.” Which basically means stepping away on purpose—not as a last resort when you’ve already hit burnout.
Here’s the link if you want the science behind it.
And yeah, I know finals are stressful. It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind the second you close your laptop. But you’re not going to perform better by cramming until your vision blurs. Rest isn’t lazy. It’s strategy.
Here are a few things that actually help when your brain is fried:
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Take a walk around the block (or at least to your mailbox)
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Text a friend who won’t ask about your outline
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Stretch for five minutes, even if it's just aggressively flopping
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Put on music that isn’t lo-fi beats and pretend you’re not in law school for a minute
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Lay down. No, really. Horizontal helps.
You are not a machine. You are a tired human doing your best. And even if it doesn’t feel like it—you’re allowed to rest. Finals will still be there when you get back. So will your outline. But you’ll come back better equipped to handle it all if you step away for a bit.
Now go breathe. Hydrate. Cry in the shower if you need to. You’re doing fine.