9 Minutes, 3 Times a Day, 7 Days a Week: Enhancing Your Study Routine the Dayton Way
As a teacher, I’m always exploring new ways to help my students enhance their study habits and succeed in law school and on the bar exam. Recently, I found inspiration right on campus—a simple yet impactful idea that could make all the difference in your study routine. This approach might resonate a bit more with my students, but the underlying principles are valuable for anyone preparing for the rigors of law school and the bar exam.
Let’s dive into how a small adjustment in your daily routine can lead to significant gains in learning and retention.
When you think of Dayton, Ohio—where I work and live—you might think of the Wright Brothers, the NCAA First Four men's basketball tournament, the birthplace of cash registers and pop-top beverage cans, or even Marion's Piazza, known for its thin-crust, square-cut pizza.
But I want to focus on Dayton's area code: 937.
For locals, the 937 area code is more than just a series of numbers—it’s a symbol of regional identity and pride. Dayton’s area code was established in 1996 when it broke away from Cincinnati’s area code, 513, due to the region’s growing population, increased demand for telephone lines, and the expansion of telecommunications services. In recent years, the area code has become a point of pride, helping to foster a sense of belonging among Daytonians.
Today, I want to propose a new way to think about 937—as an additional study strategy that can complement your existing study routine and give you a powerful edge in law school and bar exam preparation.
Rarely do three digits line up so nicely.
Think about 937 as: 9 Minutes, 3 Times a Day, 7 Days a Week.
As a law student or bar exam taker, you're already dedicating significant time to studying. But what if you could add a little extra to your routine—something manageable on top of what you're already doing yet remarkably effective? That’s where the 937 strategy comes in, providing a focused, additional layer of study time that can make a big difference.
Nine Minutes: Focused, Effective Study Bursts
Preparing for law school or the bar exam is no stranger to long hours and intense study sessions. Your primary study routine—the hours spent poring over casebooks, preparing outlines, and reviewing notes—is essential. But what if you could add just a little bit more to your day to maximize your retention and understanding?
This is where our "9 minutes" come in: Nine minutes is a short, focused burst of study time that you can easily add on top of what you're already doing. It’s not meant to replace your existing study plan but to enhance it. Think of these 9 minutes as a bonus round—time to reinforce a tricky concept, review a particularly challenging case, or run through some quick practice questions. It’s extra time, but not overwhelming.
Three Times a Day: Targeted Repetition
Now, multiply those 9 minutes by three. Three additional sessions spread throughout your day (perhaps in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening) can significantly boost your retention and understanding. Each session should focus on a different subject or specific concept, providing targeted reinforcement where you need it most. For example, your first 9-minute session could be dedicated to reviewing a Criminal Law principle, the second to a Criminal Procedure rule, and the third to a difficult evidentiary privilege.
Again, it's crucial to understand that these sessions are in addition to your regular study time. This is about adding an extra 27 minutes each day—an investment that, when spread throughout your day, feels almost effortless.
Just as I saw on a poster at the campus fitness and recreation center: "30 MINUTES IS ONLY 2% OF YOUR DAY. & YOU GROW EVERY SECOND OF IT." With just an additional 27 minutes, you're making a small but impactful commitment to growth and understanding in your studies.
Seven Days a Week: The Power of Consistent Extra Effort
Consistency is the backbone of successful study habits, especially when preparing for something as challenging as a law school exam or the bar exam. By adding these three extra 9-minute sessions to your routine every day, you’re not just reinforcing your learning—you’re building a powerful habit that will pay off over time. While it may sound like a lot to commit to seven days a week, remember, this is a manageable addition to your day. You’re only adding 27 minutes, and because it's spread out, you barely notice the added effort.
What’s fantastic about this strategy is that it leverages small, incremental gains to produce substantial results. These extra minutes are not meant to replace your core study sessions but to complement them. Over time, this consistent, additional effort leads to significant cumulative increases in your knowledge and retention. It’s about taking advantage of every opportunity to grow, just like that sign at the gym suggested.
Can You Add 27 More Minutes a Day?
This 937 approach stands out as ideal. Nine minutes is just enough time to focus intensely on a specific topic without feeling overwhelmed. Three sessions per day ensure that you revisit material consistently, and seven days a week builds a daily habit that reinforces learning. The numbers line up perfectly, creating a balanced, effective study routine that integrates seamlessly into your existing schedule.
Consider some other area codes where I've lived and how they just don’t measure up:
📞 Dallas (214): A study routine of 2 minutes, once a day, four times a week isn’t going to cut it. That’s barely any study time at all, even if it's on top of a regular study schedule! Such a minimal effort won’t help in focusing on complex legal concepts or preparing for rigorous exams.
📞 Minneapolis (612): That's even worse! Six minutes, once a day, twice a week offers even less structure and consistency. It lacks the regular repetition needed to reinforce learning, making it ineffective for retaining and understanding material over the long term.
📞 Knoxville (865): While 8 minutes might seem like a good start, the frequency and distribution don’t align as effectively as Dayton’s 937. Incorporating six short, focused study sessions a day on top of your regular study schedule could quickly lead to burnout, and only committing to 5 days a week lacks the consistency needed for solid retention and habit-building.
I challenge you to try the 937 study strategy for a week. Not as a replacement for your usual study routine but as an extra boost. Just 9 minutes, 3 times a day, 7 days a week, on top of what you're already doing. Track your progress, see how these additional focused sessions help you understand and retain material better, and notice how you grow with each extra minute of effort.
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