Reflections on 2 years of studying

My LSAT journey is going on two years now.

I've never been a drug advocate and never will have to be after this - this test has served me ego death and I am better off for it.

I steadily improved from low to mid 160s to low 170s throughout May this year, then felt like I lost all of that progress when I scored way below my improvement in June, my third time testing (despite feeling like I did well - later realized that was cope because I did have a lot of questions I spent too much time on and was stuck between two answers on).

I completely spiraled. I had too many personal and familial conflicts occurring at the same time as this repeated failure. I felt so numb to everything and felt like trying more at this test wouldn't be worth the time, money or effort.

With the advice of my husband and fellow successful LSAT warriors, I decided I needed to focus on my health more than studying. I needed to refine my strategies. I knew how to answer these questions. I just couldn't perform when it's timed and back to back and I can't sit at a question for ten minutes.

Since focusing on my physical and mental health consistently every day, I've been super consistent in my scores for the first time in this whole process and feel more confident getting to the right answer.

Even then, I still feel like this PT from yesterday is not a reliable data point because this test has repeatedly evaded me when it matters. And also because it's an older one. I'm trying to shut down this thinking and stay level-headed. Thinking I will do a PT from the 140s next week.

Regardless, I think I'm finally internalizing that your mentality matters way more than your skills at a certain level.

• meditation to stay calm and present

• eliminating ruthlessly - do not entertain or try to explain bad answer choices to fit the stimulus, get rid of them

• skip and return to questions at the end when your mind starts to run circles around itself - do not entertain the spiral

• remove the importance of the task from doing the task (falls under meditation)

Going to focus more on improving my RC over the next few weeks.

This whole journey is not what I asked for, nor wanted, but I've come to understand it's what I needed. And it's not over yet.

Onwards! Let's crush October once and for all.