Not to be lazy and too terribly cliché (too late, I can actually hear my editors cursing me as I type this), but as they say, music tames the savage beast, and I've been feeling the need for some musical taming lately. Law school may be almost over for me, but I struggle every day not to lose myself in it. That's part of why I write Save Yourself, to remind myself there's more to the world than any one thing, no matter how important that one thing might be.

With break (1) coming up next week, I thought it would be a good idea to look into some day trips and weekend trips here in Michigan (2). Even if you already have plans for this break, sometimes what you really need to do to save yourself during the semester is get away for a day or two and remember all the things you loved to do before law school. Here are three options, varying in price, time, and distance, but all offering a lot of fun.

The weather outside is, well, better than some of the storms crossing the country. Still, the temperatures are cold; bone-aching cold; fingers-and-toes-numbing cold; the kind of cold which leaves me envious of those of you who at the end of a long day can curl up in front of a fireplace with a good book.

One of the reasons I love writing "Save Yourself" is because it gives me a reason to explore Ann Arbor and find events I might not have heard about without doing the research. Unfortunately, I've been pretty sick these past few weeks, and I haven't been able to spend time around town.

Instead, I've been holed up in my apartment (or, as I now like to call it, the den of death), sleeping a lot and watching far too much television.

Welcome and welcome back, as appropriate, to another year at Michigan Law. For those of you who aren't already familiar with "Save Yourself," it's basically a reminder that life is bigger than law school and you shouldn't ignore all the things you loved to do before you were a law student. Your time here will pass quickly, and though I know well the pressures of grades, resume building and job hunting, especially in this economy, I highly recommend that you spend some time outside Hutchins exploring the Ann Arbor area and living a well-rounded life.

The economy is depressing and the stress of finals growing every day. You need a break that won't break your budget. Save Yourself presents a selection of free activities to get you through the end of the semester.

It is still winter in Michigan, though the sun has come back and the temperatures are warmer. (Warmer but not warm. I am looking at you, people who are wearing shorts in 40 degree weather.) The cold in the air still bites into skin, especially when the sun goes down, but cabin fever is setting in and the sunlight is tempting. The semester is well under way, and the work is piling on as we head toward finals. Illness and stress run rampant through the law quad. It's time to get away.

Winter has fully set in, and maybe you, too, have forgotten what the ground looks like without a covering of snow. This time of year, in the afterholiday slump of back to school and nasty weather and illness, it can be difficult to dredge up the desire to go outside and deal with the snow and ice and wind. Curling up in front of a fire with a good book doesn't have the same appeal when the books on hand are casebooks and hornbooks and study guides. Instead, try one of these books instead.

It's that time of year again when everyone starts to stay inside, in part to hit the books with finals looming and in part because the weather is getting nasty, cold and gray. Still, too much of anything isn't good for you, and too much time spent locked in the underground law library or cloistered in your own home can make the time spent studying counterproductive.

The weather is getting colder, the sky grayer, and the days shorter. The semester is more than halfway over, and classes are picking up speed in the rush to finals. It's the perfect time to think about classes outside of the law school, ways to tap into other parts of your brain. Sure, you're busy. Don't forget all the advice you've been given: a balanced life is a good life; be a well-rounded person, and try new activities to keep yourself happy. In other words, here are ways to take mini-classes and save yourself from being only a law student.