How to prepare physically for law school? Forum

Lighthouse28 · Post by **Lighthouse28** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:14 pm

Sorry if this has been posted before.

I was wondering how to prepare physically for law school. Meaning, how to increase stamina so that I can stay awake longer, study for longer periods of time, etc.

I was able to maintain a 4.0 GPA in grad school, and I was able to get enough sleep, cook proper dinners, watch as much TV as I want, procrastinate, etc. I know law school isn't anything like being a grad student in a humanities field. And I feel I'm not prepared to read and study as much as I will have to in my first year. I'm usually burned out by 10 pm on average. Whether I've been studying throughout the day or watching TV or whatever, 10 pm seems to be the time my body can't take any more of anything, I'm just exhausted at that time.

Aside from the obvious answers of eating healthier (more greens), what can I do to increase my stamina? I try to avoid caffeine (I don't drink coffee at all), because it makes me really jittery, even the tiniest amount. A can of soda will do it for me. And I don't want to start drinking coffee either, I hate the taste of it, and I'm sure the amount of caffeine it contains will mess me up. I was told I'm anemic, so I take an iron pill daily.

So any advice? I've got a few months to prepare, so I'd like to get started! I already hit the gym once in a while, when I have time (working full time right now). But any other tips? I don't want to drink red bull, take drugs, or anything like that.

Sorry if this is an absurd question, but I'm serious, any tips on how to stay awake longer without energy drinks and caffeine would be appreciated. Thank you!

eudaimondaimon · Post by **eudaimondaimon** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:18 pm

I'm not in law school yet, but a daily B-complex vitamin and long-distance cycling has worked to increase my mental stamina and alertness.

bitlrc · Post by **bitlrc** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:19 pm

my body reacts very similarly, i work full time and then by around 1030 i'm completely wiped out. what i've found to be the best cure for this is to make a very steady routine. make sure you're doing the same thing at the same time (to the best of your ability) and your body should get into a rhythm.

it can help mentally too because you've got a set routine and you know you've got XX to do now, followed by XX, followed by XX, so you don't really let yourself slow down. this can keep your mind active and keep you from drifting off.

JTX · Post by **JTX** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:20 pm

crystal meth. but you have to know when to stop.

Jackie O · Post by **Jackie O** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:22 pm

also, work on being smarter to increase your efficiency

JTX · Post by **JTX** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:25 pm

tulip baroo wrote:also, work on being smarter to increase your efficiency

i totally forgot about 'be smarter'. yeah, that'd be above CM on my list. good post Tulip Baroo.

Scurredsitless1 · Post by **Scurredsitless1** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:26 pm

I'm a marathon runner and a big believer regular exercise is the single greatest contributor to my high energy levels. I like distance running because I can get a pretty awesome workout in an hour. Plus it forces me to watch what I eat, I don't want to feel fried chicken squishing around in my stomach on my run.

Running isn't for everyone. Lifting weights, swimming, chopping wood, plyometrics, yoga and hundreds of other options are out there. People that ride bikes are sissys tho (i mean seriously, working out while seated?).

Regular excercise has made me focus better, sleep better, it makes food tastes better, it even makes sex better.

macattaq · Post by **macattaq** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:26 pm

Lighthouse28 wrote:
Sorry if this is an absurd question, but I'm serious, any tips on how to stay awake longer without energy drinks and caffeine would be appreciated. Thank you!

No, but seriously, generally taking good care of your body and getting enough sleep is key. Also, breaking up study sessions into smaller one to two hour chunks with a bit of a break helps. If you want to be able to focus for longer, a lot of that is just practice. If you do something that requires a lot of focus, say a hobby, or whatever, then practice doing it for longer with the same level of concentration and intensity. So, if you only do it for 15 minutes at a time, then try to do it for 20. Once you can do 20, then up it to 30, and so on.

beach_terror · Post by **beach_terror** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:28 pm

If you're going to go the lifting route to try an increase your mental stamina, use it as a good study break. Assuming class ends at 2 on a certain day, do some studying until 4 or 5, hit the gym, then grab dinner, then you should be ready to get back to work after dinner. A lot of people do morning lifts, which usually just decrease my ability to get through the day. I'd recommend late afternoon, if your schedule permits.

eudaimondaimon · Post by **eudaimondaimon** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:30 pm

Scurredsitless1 wrote:People that ride bikes are sissys tho (i mean seriously, working out while seated?).

If you're seated the whole time, you're not really riding.

Kohinoor · Post by **Kohinoor** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:31 pm

A 4.0 in grad school eh?

Jackie O · Post by **Jackie O** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:32 pm

Scurredsitless1 wrote:I'm a marathon runner and a big believer regular exercise is the single greatest contributor to my high energy levels. I like distance running because I can get a pretty awesome workout in an hour. Plus it forces me to watch what I eat, I don't want to feel fried chicken squishing around in my stomach on my run.

Running isn't for everyone. Lifting weights, swimming, chopping wood, plyometrics, yoga and hundreds of other options are out there. People that ride bikes are sissys tho (i mean seriously, working out while seated?).

Regular excercise has made me focus better, sleep better, it makes food tastes better, it even makes sex better.

preparing for law school and increasing sex pleasurability simultaneously - a 0L dream

jtxcounitah wrote:
tulip baroo wrote:also, work on being smarter to increase your efficiency
i totally forgot about 'be smarter'. yeah, that'd be above CM on my list. good post Tulip Baroo.

I would have gone with crystal meth but if the OP can't handle coffee CM may result in convulsions

GATORTIM · Post by **GATORTIM** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 2:32 pm

Uppercut a punkass?

Scurredsitless1 · Post by **Scurredsitless1** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:04 pm

eudaimondaimon wrote:
Scurredsitless1 wrote:People that ride bikes are sissys tho (i mean seriously, working out while seated?).
If you're seated the whole time, you're not really riding.

I kid, I kid. I know a lot of serious athletes that are primarily cyclists.

eudaimondaimon · Post by **eudaimondaimon** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:07 pm

Scurredsitless1 wrote:
eudaimondaimon wrote:
Scurredsitless1 wrote:People that ride bikes are sissys tho (i mean seriously, working out while seated?).
If you're seated the whole time, you're not really riding.

I kid, I kid. I know a lot of serious athletes that are primarily cyclists.

I figured you were kidding, otherwise I'd've used much stronger language.

BigFatPanda · Post by **BigFatPanda** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:11 pm

Physically, run 3-4 miles/day Monday-Thursday, and run 7 miles/day Friday-Sunday. On top of that, working out in the weight room for 1 hour every day Monday through Friday. Builds strength of persistence and stamina.

viking138 · Post by **viking138** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:14 pm

Wake up earlier. Maybe you already do this, but I wake up around 7 or 7:30am every morning and do work until I have class. I feel much more awake and alert all day than I used to when I stayed up late and slept in. I'm also more focused when I do work in the morning. This might just be a personal thing but it's worth a try

270910 · Post by **270910** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:28 pm

For the record, it's pretty widely established that at most grad programs A / A- grades are de facto requirements, and B+ or lower grades tend to stand out as extremely troubling. That is to say, a 4.0 in grad school may require a lot of work, but it's not nearly the blood sport that a semester or two in the law school arena is. Even at the best law schools (that give grades) half the student body usually winds up with below a 3.3 average, and the amount of work it takes to crawl your way to success just isn't comparable to the amount of work it would take to do the same in grad school. Everybody can win in most grad programs while most people must lose in law school.

It's a lot of fun

jks289 · Post by **jks289** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:33 pm

I am someone who needs quality sleep to function. Sleeping less isn't an option, but I plan to sleep "better" if possible. I am planning on adhering to a strict schedule, treating my day like a 9-6 work day and putting in a nice exhausting work out during weekdays so when I crawl into bed, I really sleep.

kilgore_trout · Post by **kilgore_trout** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:33 pm

Lighthouse28 wrote:I was wondering how to prepare physically for law school.

Like this.

TigerBeer · Post by **TigerBeer** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 4:11 pm

Re: How to prepare physically for law school?

Lighthouse28 wrote:(more greens)

leobowski · Post by **leobowski** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 4:32 pm

A few things that have worked for me:

1. Take a nap. This is absolutely key. At least 15 minutes a day, and preferably right after lunch.
2. Lots of Vitamin C, a B-complex, and a fish oil supplement. The C keeps your immune system up, the B reduces stress, and the fish oil literally makes you smarter. No joke.
3. Drink lots of tea. Black in the morning, green in the afternoon, sleepytime at night. It helps to calm me down and keep me going.
4. Also drink lots of water. Dehydration can impair your mental faculties by up to 50%
5. Exercise, exercise, exercise. This will help you stay sane and keep your eye on the prize. If you aren't already on some sort of exercise regimen I'd suggest starting. Hopping on a treadmill for an hour every other day helps me sort through my thoughts. Meditation is also great for this, or any kind of prayer really if you are religious.
6. Consider having a drink every night with dinner. This thins your blood and promotes chillness.

Lighthouse28 · Post by **Lighthouse28** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 4:37 pm

Thanks for all the replies, everyone! I was not expecting so many!

I will try some of the legitimate responses!

Kohinoor,
Yes, but as someone else said, grad school is easier than law school, so it's not as difficult to have a 4.0 gpa.

Gatortim,
I have no idea what "uppercut a punkass" means...

To be honest, I don't understand a lot of the stuff people say on these boards. Is this law school lingo? I wish someone would create a law school lingo dictionary.

Again, thanks for all the responses! I'll give some of them a shot and hopefully something will work

Lebowsi,
I don't drink either. Is there anything I can use as a substitute that will thin the blood and promote chillness? (by "chillness" do you just mean relaxed, etc.? Or is this a temperature thing that is good for the body??)

leobowski · Post by **leobowski** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 4:55 pm

I meant chillness as in relaxation. If you don't drink, don't worry about starting. Good luck btw.

oneforship · Post by **oneforship** » Fri Mar 05, 2010 4:59 pm

Lighthouse28 wrote:Sorry if this has been posted before.
Meaning, how to increase stamina

sorry if this has been said already, but try rubbing one out beforehand.