Self-study
Hi All, I started studying for the LSAT about 3 weeks ago, currently planning on applying for law school sometime around November, so I have 9-10 months to study. The issue is that I'm also working 40+ hours a week. Does anyone have any advice on how to schedule studying without burning out? I got 7sage with the intention of having a more structured study plan, as opposed to studying on my own. Any advice is hugely helpful! Thanks!
CarlosHernandez03’s study group
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Take some time to do things you love and remember why you're doing it. For me, I've got my faith in Jesus Christ, a beautiful wife and a newborn daugther that we're raising together, and a great community at church I meet with all the time each week consistently. This may look different for you, it literally could be hanging out with your friends one evening each week, and I couldn't really explain exactly why this works, but it's led for me to not burn out.
Right before I finished my undergrad two years ago, I started studying and was studying on and off for about a year and change burning out every 2-3 months because I didn't have those core things in my life that reminded me this test was never meant to consume my life, it's simply a means to an end or goal. Whatever you can find your life to do that for you, you'll succeed. Make sure to take care of yourself, get some sleep, pour into yourself so that you can be able to invest in yourself with studying, and most of all: keep the ball rolling. The test, doesn't define who you are.
Best of luck. If I can be of any other help if needed, feel free to reach out.
So I’m in a similar boat. I’ve been studying for about 4 months, while working 2 jobs. My best and most recent PT score was a 154, which I think is okay without being great. I’ve found that the things that made a difference for me were relying on my Google Calendar heavily (so every weekend I look ahead at the coming and week and try to schedule out my study sessions), creating a plan of my own (which is built from the 7Sage curriculum), and like lots of people have said in the comments, giving myself some grace and being open to the possibility that the LSAT is at least interesting.
I’ve also created a study log on Google Sheets just to keep track of my weekly hours, my confidence levels, and patterns of study, in order to try and produce some data regarding what drills or how many hours a week will improve my score.
Also, take some time for yourself. I try to read a chapter of a book every day, and am making more of an active effort to work out daily. I also really value time with my friends and family, since that takes my mind off the LSAT.
Maybe these tips will work for you! I think the most important thing to mention about these tips however, is that they are built from past experience and other people’s tips, but include some of my own flair when they are put into practice.
Hey Carlos! Same boat here for me. Regarding timing of when you study and how much you study that is so dependent on your goals/life circumstances I will refrain from giving any advice there. What I will say is that 90 minutes of concentrated time is better than 3 hours of distracted study say at work or something like that. The other thing that has been essential for me is forcing myself to take the weekend off. Studying for this test is a massive mental workout and giving my brain recovery time on the weekends has been huge. And as another commenter mentioned focus on sleep. Limit alcohol and caffeine, eat relatively healthy if you can, sleep at consistent times, screens off an hour before bed. All that standard sleep advice has been crucial for me. Best of luck!
Hello, Carlos. I work around 40 hours a week too and have been studying since November of last year. What I do is a wake up at around 5 am every morning and get a solid two hours of study. Every day. Mind you, I don't have kids, pets, family responsibilities or a long commute to work. However, as some other commenters have alluded to, consistency (and concentration) are key to tackle the somewhat abstract and complex nature of this test. But this can be learned and you have time. For me, it isn't realistic to study after a full day of work because I am exhausted by the end of it and nothing will stick; however, this might not be the case for you if you are a night owl. Also, eat well and rest. Sleep is vital. If you decide to dedicate some time to study in the morning, please make sure it isn't at the expense of sleeping less. Best of luck!
hi there!
for one, commit to one good hour of studying a day. you'll often see people online who tell you to take 3+ hours a day to study; these schedules are formulated for people who are either 1. still in school/part time employment, e.g. more time on their hands) 2. have only 3-4 months to study and get their lsat score (you have 9!) in my opinion, regardless of your time availability, one good hour a day is more conducive to a good score than 3 mid hours. i personally studied about 1 hour a day for 6 months and in jan got a 166 off (152 diag), retaking in april!
i've heard of many people who study in the morning before work but i'm personally not a morning person. i tend to study after dinner and a walk when i feel a little less dead from work. if you don't mind mornings/find you're most mentally recharged in the morning rather than later in the day then knock yourself out. overall block out some time that you're consistent with
finally, give yourself grace lol. if you have a shitty day take it easy. if oyu're concerned abt slacking off, AT LEAST engage with the lsat once a day, so like one single question a day. that way on bad days you're still doing something. alternatively, convince yourself this test is easy and you actually love the material. your brain is very plastic and your neurochemistry is easy to fool. every topic you get on rc from now on is super fun and right up your alley. that's more of a general tip tho and how i find myself looking forward to lsat time
good luck! if my advice was helpful i wrote up a huge doc of my tips for all my friends taking the lsat, dm me for it if you'd like :D
Hi! I’m also working 40+ hours and have been trying to figure out my schedule as well. One thing I do want to note is to give yourself some grace. Not only are you working, but you also have a life outside of work and the LSAT. You don’t need to study multiple hours a day. My therapist told me, “Even if you study for thirty minutes, you’re more productive now than you were thirty minutes ago.” Take your time to grasp everything, but at your pace. I wish you the best of luck!