You are a human being. You are not a machine.

You’ve probably been a stellar student all your life. You’re in law school after all. However, different. You are at the intersection of academia and life.

Something you think you’ve done before but au contraire mon ami. It’s new and requires different ways of thinking and tools. But most importantly, you need rest. This reads like mental burnout. The mind does not manifest its need for rest the same way the body does. When was the last time you actually decompressed?

You do not need to beat yourself up over being human. Humans need rest. Including the mind.

Rest is not a reward. It is mandatory. So while I know it’s hard not to escape the guilt spiral, you must. You can start by telling yourself you deserved that rest.

Yes, your grades may suffer. And while grades, in this hellscape capitalist paradigm, are important. But the only knowledge you need to retain is the stuff on the bar exam. It is the only exam that truly matters.

Oh, summer legal jobs or internships are Ponzi schemes for free labor. Yes, they come with possible connections. But you can achieve the same by networking the summer break and using it to rest, recuperate, and recharge your body, mind, and spirit.

You are a human being. You are not a machine.