While in law school, it is easy for students to forget about other priorities. This happened to me during my first semester, when my courses consumed all of my time.

My daily routine consisted of reading, studying and attending classes. As far as outside interests were concerned, I had none. There was no time, it seemed.

Moreover, I did not recognize the person I was becoming. The way I approached situations began to change because law school trained me to think in a more analytical and intellectual fashion. People I have known for years sometimes were concerned by the change as well. I was often told, "Rachael, stop using your lawyer tricks with me." My response was, "There are no tricks."

Law school extends beyond academics. Although all careers demand intelligence, a lawyer's success is dependent also on her or his analytical abilities. Arguably, if law students do not learn how to "think like a lawyer," it is very likely that their research will be incomplete, their writing ineffective and their trial presentation unpersuasive.

I knew it was important to allow these new abilities to blossom during my time in law school. However, there was no way to prevent these new reasoning skills from extending beyond the classroom. Thinking like a lawyer became engrained in me, and now it is not something that I can turn on and off at whim.

I began to realize that during this process, I was neglecting other important areas of my life. I was not taking any time to relax, and my productivity was beginning to suffer. By the second semester of my first year, I decided to do something relaxing for myself once a week. My guilty pleasure was to watch the television show "American Idol." The show became something to look forward to, and made the weeks go by faster.

In my second year, I remembered how much better I felt having taken some time out of my rigorous schedule to do something I enjoyed. I learned that it was both useful and necessary to maintain interests apart from law school, and I decided to reinvest my time in other areas.

Prior to law school, health and fitness were a very important part of my life. Thanks to preparing for the LSAT, the law-school application process, and my first year of law school, I was not nearly as careful about my health as I had been previously. I went from being a fit and avid exerciser to an overweight and out-of-shape person, and it was time to fix the problem.

I decided to incorporate fitness back into my life. I joined a gym and hired a personal trainer. My fitness level has improved dramatically, and I have lost about 40 pounds. Going back to the gym changed more than my waistline, however, as it became an outlet for coping with stress. I learned how to leave much of what was bothering me at the gym. In the process, I have gained more energy and a renewed sense of confidence and control over my life.

Knowing that it would take time away from my studies, adding a workout regime to my already impossible schedule originally seemed like a bad idea. However, it turned out to be one of my better decisions. Devoting some time to something that was important to me made me feel better about myself, and that made me a better student. Even though I spent slightly less time studying, I was more productive. I was able to focus more on my studies, and by the following semester, I noticed a major improvement in my work.

I have learned that despite the demands of law school, it is incredibly important to reserve some time for yourself. Law students should pursue their outside passions. My passion has been the gym. I would recommend exercise to anyone, law student or not. It improves your health, boosts your confidence, and increases your energy. If that is not a formula for success, I am not sure what is. Nevertheless, I realize that the gym is not for everyone.

Regardless of whether they are fitness enthusiasts, my humble advice is that while law students should do the assigned reading, attend classes, and prepare for exams, they should also not allow law school to consume who they are. Law students should find what else interests them and remember to take some time to enjoy these pursuits without feeling guilty for having done so.

A third-year student at the University at Buffalo Law School, Rachael Vitti is a graduate of the City University of New York's John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She can be reached at ravitti@buffalo.edu.