Allow the Winter to Slow You Down

By Joshua Brown 

  The old family wisdom says that you should never start experimenting with your cooking on Thanksgiving Day. The stakes are too high; everyone is looking for you to deliver the tried and true recipe. Your half-baked idea for a chocolate-topped macaroni & cheese is simply not appropriate. That doesn’t necessarily mean replicating last year’s dinner plate, but it does mean that everything “new” must be tested, prepared, and refined prior to its debut. When you follow this advice, the distractions fall away in and you are allowed to focus and execute on what you know. 

  Likewise, winter is a time for caution, especially in Cleveland. The roads and sidewalks get slick, the outdoors are cold and harsh. We react to the elements with discernment and intention. We choose boots over shoes, we pick out the warmest of socks, we plan our day around the winter weather. We walk and drive slower so that we don’t fall, knowing that small slips will occur anyway. And because this is a shared experience, we give each other grace knowing that some unlucky snow can throw a wrench in anyone’s day.  

  We may carry these same wisdoms and practices into law school. As we look forward to finals, our stress builds up and we may begin looking around for all the tricks to get the grade we want. Now is not the time to come up with novel ideas and introduce confusion into your routine. You’ve had a few months to do the experimenting, and now it is time to settle on what has proven to work. That will mean different things for different people. For some, that may be devoting more time to solo studying. For others, it may mean reaching out to classmates for more group study time. Find what methods have worked best for you so far and make the most of it.  

  Hopefully, you’ve been able to find the formula that works for you. But if not, you can still rely on the suggestions of those with experience. Consider visiting the Student Success & Academic Support office for effective study strategies. Reach out to mentors and professors as well to get tips on how to approach an exam. 

  It is also time to say ‘no’ to some things and take more careful steps when saying ‘yes.’ You’re more likely to slip when you’re distracted from the road. Take some time to practice intentionality. Assess your current routine and decide whether each commitment serves its desired purpose. Maybe the late night video games are the vital stress relief that helps you decompress at the end of the day, but maybe it’s taking hours from the sleep that you need to feel rested the next day. Each person must weigh the costs and benefits for themselves. Surviving the winter is about avoiding wasteful movements and keeping your balance on the slick surfaces. 

  Then, remember to give grace to your classmates and try to support them where you can. Each person faces their own challenges with their own strengths. It can be expected that somebody is going to step on the wrong patch of ice, and they may fall to the floor. Let’s follow the common courtesy of lifting each other back onto our feet and acknowledge that we’re all in this together. 

Finally, find time to slow down in school and in life. Look out the window when it’s snowing and as the leaves fall. Step outside with purpose and find the beauty in the season. Enjoy little treats of hot chocolate and apple cider. Don’t let the cold keep you downtrodden. There are winding roads to drive down on winter nights.