Ever since I took the bar exam back in July, to some extent or the other, I’ve been dealing with what’s known as the post-bar exam blues. And I’m not alone – a quick Google search (or a scroll through my Facebook news feed) will show that it’s a common feeling among recent bar examinees.

What exactly is the post-bar exam blues, you may ask? Most people describe it similarly to depression. For me, it has manifested as a general feeling of uneasiness and aimlessness. Most mornings I’ll stay in bed for hours after I wake up, often coupled with a migraine. When I do get up, I’m not really sure what I should be doing. For the first time in 3 years, I don’t have any studying to do, or case briefs to write.

So what gives?

I think the post-bar exam blues comes down to two things. The first is kind of an “expectations vs. reality” thing. Most people expect to be thrilled (or at least relieved) when they walk out of an exam that they’ve devoted their entire life to for the last three months. There’s also a lot of pressure from friends and family to be happy (especially if you, like me, turned into a total garbage person when studying).

But that was not the case for me. At. All.

I felt worse walking out of Day 2 then I did walking in on Day 1. Not only did I not feel confident in my performance, I couldn’t even remember what I wasn’t confident about. So I spent the next several weeks with this general sense of dread – the complete opposite of what I thought I would feel.

The second aspect that I think contributes to the post-bar exam blues is, in all reality, kind of an identity crisis. For three years, our lives revolve around being law students. That’s our whole identity. And then for the three-ish months you’re studying for the bar, that’s your identity – you’re studying for the bar. Once it’s all over…now what? It makes you want to scream “WHO AM I?!?!” into the void.

All of this combined, I think, is where I think the post-bar exam blues come from. No hope. No identity. Nothing to do (academically, anyway). So what can you do?

The best strategy is to do whatever it takes to distract yourself from thinking about the bar exam. Stuck on what to do? Here are a few ideas that serve as a perfect distraction.

1. Go on a trip.

The “post-bar trip” is kind of a right of passage for bar exam takers. Planning travel is truly a great way to take your mind off the exam. It doesn’t have to be anywhere exotic – just get out of your apartment, even if it’s just for a day or two!

I was lucky to be able to go on a four-night cruise to Key West and the Bahamas with my husband, my best law school friend, and her boyfriend (with unlimited open bar, holla), and it was the perfect mental escape. No thinking about civil procedure or secured transactions – just relaxing, taking in the sights, and a few too many frozen beverages.

2. Read a good book (or three).

I spent the few weeks between taking the exam and moving reading as many non-law books I could get my hands on. I’ve always enjoyed reading, and being able to devote time to books that didn’t involve anything remotely related to the law was incredible. So, grab a few books you’ve been dying to read and get crackin’!

3. Spend some quality time with your fur babies (or real babies, if you have them).

Cats, dogs, and babies will not ask you about the bar exam. They will not ask you how it went. They will not ask you when you’ll get results. They’ll just sit there lookin’ cute and cuddly. Cherish it!

4. Re-discover some old hobbies.

Ex-knitter? Former baseball card collector? Amateur wannabe baker? Immerse yourself in all your old hobbies! Chances are they got pushed waaaaaaay to the back during law school and throughout bar prep.

5. Clean your house/apartment/bedroom/yurt.

If you, like me, tend to put cleaning on the bottom of your priority list when you’re stressed (like I said, I turn into a garbage person), take this time to whip your space back into shape. Clean out all the bad vibes (and old stress-snack wrappers) so that you can start the next chapter of your life on the right foot!

6. Celebrate Self Care Sunday (or Monday. or Thursday.).

Preparing for and taking the bar exam takes A LOT out of you. You probably lost sleep, ate far too much takeout, and didn’t drink nearly enough water. Take some time to take care of you – rest, relax, and recharge.

Self-care can mean a lot of different things, so if you’re looking for ideas, check out these 21 free or cheap self-care ideas!

7. Plan for the future.

Finishing the bar exam often represents the end of a pretty large chapter in your life. One of the best ways to take your mind off of it is to just plan for your future – short-term, long-term, what have you. I focused a lot of my energy on my move to Vermont, and let me tell you, it’s really hard to dwell on the bar exam when you’re trying to coordinate a multi-state move.

Additionally, being done with the bar exam means you can start thinking about the other big things in your life – securing that post-grad job, maybe planning your wedding, thinking about starting a family, buying a house – all those things that seemed like a distant possibility are that much more real now. And that may be one of the most exciting things of all!

The post-bar exam blues can be rough. You can feel hopeless, sad, and/or aimless. But if you take the time for yourself and focus on…well, basically anything else, you can kick some serious post-bar exam blues butt. And just know – you’re not alone!

Any other ideas I didn’t mention? Let me know down below!