Self-study
Hello everyone!
I've recently started studying (about 2 weeks now) for the LSAT. I'm hoping to take it early next year so I wanted to get a head start during the summer.
I've been studying for about 2 to 4 hours a day with the comprehensive foundations lessons, but I've been falling behind recently. It's been difficult to keep up the consistent motivation because I found it to be quite a lot - already burnt out possibly (I hope not).
Are there any tips to maintain a good, motivated study schedule that can persist not only through the summer but throughout the academic year as well?
Thanks everyone!
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7 comments
For me, three things worked to stay motivated and study well while beginning my studying during a busy academic time (and then studying for close to a year): tracking success by hitting the goal time for that day/week (not by question success/failure), making studying LSAT something cozy (I ate strawberries and drank hot cocoa for the first 3 months at least), and deciding that LSAT questions are fun.
Basing it on time means you won't get discouraged by any initial failures/perceived lack of progress, making it cozy helps to prevent you from associating the LSAT with inhospitable/anxiety inducing conditions that could cause you to avoid studying or performing poorly on test day, and deciding it's fun means you'll look insane to your friends because you reach for your study materials whenever you can! :)
If you feel burnt out, take a week or two off and try to remember what initially motivated you to want to take the LSAT and reach your goals—once you feel that you're itching to study again, get back into it!
Yeah as @Catpop and others said below, don't be afraid to take a day or two off a week or turn your brain off from the LSAT like it doesn't exist. After your second day your brain sort of kicks in and naturally reminds you that you have something purposeful and important to do. You'll come back sharper, more rested, and motivated.
But NEVER blend your rest with your study. If you are "resting" while studying you'll have neither rest nor will you properly study.
Couple of things
first: It is pretty normal to have trouble maintaining a consistent schedule when you first start because you are developing a new habit and developing new habits take some time to get used to. The key is to maintain the habit consistently within a month or so you won't need motivation to study it will become second nature like brushing your teeth.
Second: The foundational lessons are super boring, they are like university lectures they are low stakes and you are just sitting there (hopefully taking notes). Once you are done with the lessons and the drilling starts you will find it much easier to study because it will be necessarily engaging.
All that is to say be consistent and you find it is not that hard to study after a while.
I would say give yourself a prize at the end of the study session. It might be watching your favorite series/movies or reading a book - something that makes you enjoy your time. You can start a new hobby or play some video games, but only after finishing your study session
Maybe I'm wrong but I think four hours a day for 7+ month is probably unsunstainable. I would start with 2 hours a day. Slow and steady is the best pace for LSAT learning
Just remember to take it one question at a time. You dont need to worry about tmrws studying, just focus on what is in your control rn
fear factor keeps me going tbh, haha.
Jokes aside its important to take one day off a week and every few months I gave myself 4 days off