By Ali Bollbach (’14)

Ali Bollbach with her swing dance partner.

Ali Bollbach with her swing dance partner.

With the start of a new semester, law student happiness and overall success depends largely on how well we maximize our downtime. For some of my friends this means a weekend trip to the beach, soaking in a little vitamin D or serving up a round of beach volleyball. For others, it is a quick trip home to reconnect with family and enjoy the wonderful included amenities (home cooked meals and free laundry service).

At first-year orientation, I received some important advice that can often be overlooked by law students: be sure to make time to exercise and unwind. Exercise not only gets the blood flowing (especially in my case) it also helps burn off calories from the one-too-many study-time snack breaks.

During my first year, a few times a week I found myself running the “river” trails around Orange. (I place river in quotation marks because I have yet to see an actual body of water; rather, our rivers are simple concrete canals designed to save the city from a flood should there ever be an uncontrollable downpour). What I really enjoy about running is that you don’t have to be a marathon runner to get a good workout. And the workout can be as long or as short as one desires.  Yet, as much as I enjoy the “view” of the river, running does not give me the downtime I need to quiet my mind. Once I get into a rhythm, I find myself reciting tort elements (duty, breach, causation, damages, duty, breach, causation damages…) or parts of rule statements for my agency class (consent, control, on behalf of…) with each step I take. While this is great for my study habits and provides good exercise, the routine does not give me the “tune out” mental break I need.

One of the great things about going to law school in Orange County is that there are tons of things to do. Check out the great opportunities on Living Social or featured deals on Groupon to find yoga classes, paddleboard lessons, boot camps, or countless other possible activities.

Growing up, I had always been a fan of big band music, so when I found a swing dancing facility that plays big band music on Friday nights, I dropped in for a free beginners lesson and found myself hooked! Swing dancing is a partner dance, so instead of reciting tort elements or rule statements in my head, I now find myself focused on the next spin, dip, or trick being thrown my way.

Although swing dancing might not be your cup of tea, it is an example of what works for me. It is important to search out activities that will allow you to unwind and relax during law school. There will always be more reading and prep work to do, but you will find yourself a little more refreshed and ready to tune back in, if you take some time to unwind and keep moving!

About the Author:

Ali Bollbach ('14)

Ali Bollbach (’14)

Ali Bollbach is a third-year law student and the current Co-Vice President of the Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) at Chapman University School of Law. She went to University of California, Davis for her undergraduate degree. Ali enjoys swing dancing, the rain, and a great cup of tea.

The views expressed in the student blogs are those of the author and not the law school.