Don’t Let the Earphone Moments Kill Your Momentum: Bar Prep Edition

During a recent Peloton ride, my right-ear headphone fell out. I could have stopped, gotten off the bike, picked it up, and put it back over my ear. But I didn’t. I kept pedaling, even if it meant missing finishing up the rest of the without enjoyable music, because stopping would have broken my rhythm and made it harder to regain momentum.

This small moment made me think about bar prep: How easily minor disruptions can derail a session if we let them, and how building the discipline to keep going can make all the difference.

What Are Momentum Killers?

Momentum killers are distractions or habits that interrupt your flow, drain your energy, and make it harder to stay consistent with bar prep. They include:

• Checking your phone for a “quick” notification that becomes a scroll session.

• Getting up for a snack and losing track of time.

• Skipping a study block because you “don’t feel ready.”

• Obsessing over a missed question instead of moving on.

• Waiting for the “perfect moment” to start studying.

  
  

While each feels small, they compound, eating away at your consistency and confidence during bar prep.

Why I Didn’t Stop: Keeping the Ride Going

When my earphone fell, I knew stopping would hurt more than it helped. Once stopped, it's so much harder to start up again. Similarly, in bar prep, you will have “earphone moments” — a practice score that rattles you, a bad essay day, or a noisy environment. It may not be ideal, but often, it is better to keep going, even imperfectly, than to lose your rhythm. Momentum is built through consistent action, not perfect conditions.

Common Momentum Killers in Bar Prep

Below are some of the most common momentum killers you may encounter during bar prep, with practical explanations to help you recognize and address them effectively:

⚠️ Perfectionism: Waiting for the perfect moment or perfect energy before starting can lead to endless delays. You might think you need a clean desk, the right coffee, or a specific mood before beginning, but bar prep is about showing up regardless of conditions.

⚠️ Multitasking: Splitting your focus by checking texts, emails, or social media while studying reduces the quality of your sessions and makes it harder to retain information. True focus means giving your study block your full attention.

⚠️ Skipping Breaks: Pushing too hard without scheduled breaks can lead to burnout, mental fatigue, and resentment towards studying, ironically slowing you down in the long run. Intentional breaks refresh your mind and maintain momentum.

⚠️ Comparing to Others: Feeling behind because you measure yourself against classmates or others on social media can undermine your confidence and distract you from your personal progress. Your journey and pace are what matter most.

⚠️ Procrastination Traps: Telling yourself you will start after lunch, after a nap, or once you feel motivated often becomes a cycle of delays. Consistency comes from taking action even when you don’t feel like it, building discipline through repetition.

How to Overcome Momentum Killers

Here are practical strategies to help you protect your momentum and navigate the disruptions that will inevitably arise during bar prep:

✅ Keep Pedaling: Continue with your plan, even if conditions aren’t perfect. This means showing up daily, sticking to your schedule even on tough days, and understanding that imperfect action is better than no action.

✅ Start with a 30-Minute Block: Commit to an initial 30-minute focused block to start your study session. This timeframe is long enough to build momentum while being manageable, and it often leads to longer, more productive study blocks once you get into the flow, helping you ease into deeper study while avoiding procrastination traps.

✅ Plan Ahead: Have a clear schedule to avoid daily decision fatigue. Planning your study blocks in advance reduces the mental energy required to decide what to do each day and keeps you accountable.

✅ Celebrate Small Wins: Track progress to see that small, consistent efforts add up. Mark off completed practice questions or study sessions, and acknowledge your progress to keep motivation high.

✅ Reduce Distractions: Place your phone in another room and use focus timers. Creating a distraction-free environment protects your focused study time, making your sessions more effective and efficient.

Your Ride, Your Bar Prep

Momentum matters. It’s what gets you to the end of the ride and across the finish line of the bar exam. When small disruptions happen, acknowledge them, but keep moving. Consistency, not perfection, will carry you through bar prep.

Stay on the ride, and keep pedaling.