Self-study
😖 Frustrated
Has anyone else experienced a sudden “brain fog” wall while starting serious LSAT prep?
I attempted a PT today and had to stop halfway through because it genuinely felt like my brain stopped processing information correctly. I wasn’t panicking outwardly, but I suddenly couldn’t sustain focus, couldn’t fully comprehend passages, and for the first time ever, I couldn’t even finish all the LR questions in a section. I was reading words, but nothing felt like it was actually sticking cognitively.
For context, I’m coming off an extremely intense semester (finals, leadership transitions, travel, etc.), so I’m wondering if this is some combination of burnout/anxiety/cognitive overload, but it honestly scared me because I’m used to functioning at a very high academic level.
If anyone has experienced this during prep:
How did you reset?
Did you take time off or push through?
How did you rebuild focus/stamina?
Did it end up being temporary?
Would really appreciate any advice because right now I feel mentally fragmented and pretty overwhelmed.
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7 comments
Occasionally, I feel this way when I start a practice exam or timed section. Has never been a permanent problem - usually, I find that the "fog" stems from residual stress from other aspects of my life (personal/professional) that makes it hard to devote all my mental energy to the exam.
I find it helpful to address whatever issues are clouding my mind - whether it's tasks from work, texts I haven't replied to, or whatever - when it happens. Even if it means I have to study when I'm more tired, I think it's better to be fully present than waste an hour with unproductive test prep.
Agree with people saying "push through." Take a break for an hour and just try again. You'll get into the flow once you're present.
im experiencing that now and i think it means that i need to read more often (even audiobooks), i had a good reading routine but the minute i get out of that kind of traiing my brain starts to fry
I like to remind myself that I am not a machine. There's a hidden trend I see around me when it comes to mental / academic performance: it's all about willpower. Which works up to a point and you've just reached that point. I can keep running with a cramp, but if I ignore that cramp, it will escalate.
First, I'd try to diagnose the reason of the brain fog: are you sleeping and eating well? Is your routine predictable? How's the stress in others areas of life? What's changed now compared to before? Is this brain fog persistent, even when everything else is "okay" or "better"? What's your baseline compared to now? Brain fog can be caused by many things and understanding the root will facilitate the process of recovery. For example, brain fog can be caused by:
Hormonal shifts.
Sleep deprivation / wonky sleep schedule.
Underlying physical health conditions.
Anxiety / depression.
Burnout (which is its own diagnosis).
Chronic stress.
I'd recommend some mindfulness-- notice how your mind and body feels. You mention you weren't panicking outwardly, but were you panicking inwardly? Sometimes noticing we're not performing to our best can increase anxiety, which ironically lowers performance.
Learning to rest is an amazing skill to have in life. It's more than just pausing! It's to really surrender the work. If you plan to rest, I'd highly suggest filling the days with activities you love, make you feel peace, and joy. The LSAT will be waiting when you come back.
I wish I could help with advice but I am right there with you. I have come off the back of several good drills scores and now been smashed with consecutive 30% - 40% scores for full sections. Doesn’t help much but you’re not alone.
It might be worth taking some time off and taking a break? I'm not the one to say but if you're coming off an intense semester, it might be worth taking some time off. Look after yourself, give yourself time to recover, spend time with friends/family, etc.
I had a similar thing where I graduated then immediately started studying for LSAT but I didn't make much progress in the first 4-5 months because I was feeling burntout. I took a month off to look after myself and recover from everything. Then I joined 7sage and started really test prepping. It's been great ever since.
There's so much you can do and sometimes you need to step back and take care of yourself first. Body and mind come first. What you're experiencing sounds like an initial burnout to me, but if you take the time to focus on recovery first, I'm sure the PT Brain Fog will go away.
It just sounds like you need some rest!
It's temporary. Just push through, you'll be fine. This test is easier than it seems, and you're probably overthinking it. Just read the words, understand them, and answer the questions. The first time this happened to me, I felt like I literally forgot how to read mid-PT. I felt like I completely bombed it and was prepared for the worst, but it turned out to be my personal best score at the time. You'd be surprised.
During an actual exam you would have to push through. Personally I try to come up with something like a silly reminder or a short breathing excise to calm down so I don't panic. Personally if it gets too bad I have taken breaks even a week or 2 off. Also for rebuilding focus go semi-slow. Don't jump back full send immediately. Your brain might go into shock and freeze up again. Overall it is temporary but you have to be aware of it so you can figure out the best way to push through it for you. My recs: take a breath maybe do some yoga/stretch, drink some water, try reading the question outloud and reflect and keep it going.