Although you are excited by the thought of going to law school and starting an impactful career as an attorney, getting yourself to stay focused and motivated for the LSAT can be difficult, especially if you are self-studying. Remember that the LSAT is one of the most important factors law schools consider for admission and scholarships. Here are a few things you can do to give you that extra boost in your LSAT prep, regardless of what reading materials you use.
Motivational Tip #1: Take a break
This sounds counterintuitive, right? It's strange to think the way to get yourself motivated to study for the LSAT is to avoid studying (temporarily). But in a weird way...it's actually true. When is the last time you took a break? If you have been studying for months with no days off, you are begrudgingly putting yourself through hell. It is possible to have a life while also studying for the LSAT.
Of course, studying is important. But if you don't take action (or in this case, inaction) to feel motivated, you will only deplete yourself and get frustrated. Make sure you are setting aside time to recharge your batteries.
Motivational Tip #2: Reward yourself after each LSAT study session
Like I mentioned earlier, just studying for the LSAT all the time is not effective for most people, as it makes them feel less motivated and inspired. You don't need to study for a crazy amount of hours each day. 2-4 hours is enough for most people. Make sure to have a clear endpoint for each study day (Go here to learn more about how to set up a study plan).
Study for a brief time and have a reward at the end to make you feel like you accomplished something. Taking a minute to reward yourself will make each day a little bit more exciting, and the LSAT will seem less like an endless task.
Also, having something to look forward to can give you more of a sense of urgency, which will give you the drive to complete tasks more quickly. For example, suppose you knew that you had all day to study with nothing to look forward to. In that case, it doesn't really make a difference whether you complete your studying by 2pm or 10pm, so you are more likely to procrastinate. On the other hand, if there was an event you really want to go to that starts at 5, you will of course feel more compelled to finish your studying much faster. Motivation does not need to be a mindset that grips you 24/7. You'd be surprised by how far just 2 hours of motivation a day will get you!
Motivational Tip #3. Set micro goals
Thinking you have to learn all the different LSAT concepts can be discouraging, and thinking you need to do hundreds of LSAT problems doesn't sound too fun, which of course saps your motivation. But what if you just need to learn Sequencing games? Or what if you just need to do 10 Logical Reasoning questions? Now it probably doesn't seem so bad.
If you see the LSAT as an insurmountable hill, you won't climb it. This is why people don't run full marathons from day one. They gradually work their way up to it. Optimize your LSAT study plan by taking it day by day and focusing on very specific concepts, one at a time. Setting up achievable goals will help you stay disciplined and motivated. Before you know it, you will have mastered several concepts and your score will improve dramatically.
Motivational Tip #4. Read LSAT success stories
Reminding yourself that other people have gone through your struggles and eventually reached their goal can be a source of inspiration and motivation. You might be turned off by the LSAT because deep down you don't feel like you can beat it. Constantly seeing other people succeed on the LSAT will not only show you it is possible, but you can also reverse-engineer the processes they used to improve.
Motivational Tip #5. Change your perspective on mistakes
After taking a practice test, people are often discouraged and never want to see the LSAT again. They want to see immediate results. But as crazy as it may sound, the fact that you missed a question on a PRACTICE test and not on the real LSAT is a good thing! Don't view mistakes as proof you are a failure or that you are not meant for law school. View mistakes as an opportunity to learn and avoid the same mistake on test day. This may sound strange, but thinking about mistakes from this perspective can actually train you to use mistakes a driver of motivation. In fact, you should be seeking mistakes! Make as many mistakes as you can now, and encounter as many weird questions as you can so that you will be prepared on the actual LSAT. The more you avoid those harder questions, the scarier they will become in your head.
Motivational Tip #6. Change up your routine or environment
Doing the same exact thing over and over again can become dull and boring. If you start to feel your motivation dip, change things up. If you have been studying at home everyday, try going to a nearby café or library. You can even try studying outdoors if the weather is nice! You could also try bringing a study buddy with you. Sometimes, having someone with you who is also working toward something can help you stay focused and inspired, even if they aren't working on the LSAT.
You can also change your study schedule. For example, maybe you are tired of doing blind review. In that case, try out the Prompt Review method. Or maybe you have been studying for 5 hours a day. In that case, try introducing a break in between or reducing your study time for a few days. There are many different ways in which you can change up your routine to help each day seem new and (hopefully) a little more exciting!
Stay Motivated!
Sincerely,
Impetus LSAT
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