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I'm guessing it will be vastly different for each person, but let's say you plan to study for a 4 hour block. Are you able to study for the entire period without taking any breaks? Do you take a 10 minute walk at hour 2? Do you stop and clear your head every 30 minutes or so?

Just curious.

Personally, I find myself zoning out after about an hour or so usually. I'll walk around for a few minutes, get on gchat/TLS/something, or look at some funny pictures. And after 5-10 minutes, it's back to the grind.

When studying civ pro, I could go two hours without a break. When studying crim, I couldn't go more than ten minutes without (same for property).

Short answer - no, not unless I was under the gun for some reason.

When outlining - really the only time I ever sat on my ass studying for more than 3-4 hours at a time other than maybe doing the readings in advance of class - I would have the TV on in the background. It's probably different for everyone, but I had to have something I could avert my mind to, and I found it made me able to study longer to have the constant TV presense, which I could sort of tune in and out of as I went, keeping me from wanting to blow my head off. Internet also serves that function.

Also, I am a firm believer in napping when your body says to nap. So long as I wasn't reading for class that was occuring later that day, if my eyes get heavy, I'd doze out. You won't absorb stuff if not able to focus, and naps really are rejuvinating. But for me, a "nap" was like 45 minutes to several hours. I didn't do the 15 minute nap, as it just wasn't enough and I'd be pissed off from not actually falling asleep deeply.

I try to take a look around/close my eyes every 20 minutes so my eyes relax, and maybe a little checking Facebook or something. Not too long or I forget what I was doing.

Every 45 minutes or so I'll take a quick break (1 - 2 minutes). I'll typically use the bathroom or get a glass of water or some coffee or something.

Every 30 minutes or so I take a 5-10 minute break (usually why I like studying at home opposed to the law library). I study best when I take small breaks in between, so I ensure I take some unless I am in a rush (ex. plans later that night and need to get the reading done quickly).

What the hell is this? Just take breaks when you need one. Balance the time you spend on breaks against the time it takes to finish stuff.

Every 5 to 6 minutes. It helps me avoid burnout

Grizz wrote:What the hell is this? Just take breaks when you need one. Balance the time you spend on breaks against the time it takes to finish stuff.

Post was made out of curiosity, not to create a study schedule. No need to be a jerk.

I take breaks when I need them.

I would get up about once an hour to get a cup of water, go to the bathroom, or just take a real quick walk. After too much reading, it becomes just a wall of text on the page, and my mind just felt tired. Just a minute or 2 can refresh your brain and get you back in the game.

SilverE2 wrote:Every 45 minutes or so I'll take a quick break (1 - 2 minutes). I'll typically use the bathroom or get a glass of water or some coffee or something.

+1

For LSAT, I did some research on studying for extended lengths of time. Here is what I learned:

1. Sit for no longer than twenty minutes without standing and stretching lower back, shoulders, neck, hamstrings. If typing or writing, fingers and wrists, too.

2. Look at a book or computer screen no longer than twenty minutes without doing a "CAO 20-20-20:" every twenty minutes, refocus your eyes on something at least twenty feet away for twenty seconds.

3. Study for no longer than two hours without a ten minute break and a drink of water.

4. Study for no longer than four hours without taking a fifty minute break (not including previous ten minute break) that includes a healthy snack and drink.

5. Study no more than eight hours in a twelve hour window.

6. Study no more than twelve hours per day.

7. Sleep no less than eight hours per night.

8. Make sure you are eating properly and aren't dehydrated.

9. Use eye drops as needed during extended study sessions.

This is based on memory but I'm pretty sure the numbers are correct. It's based on a few different articles I read. Someone who studies like this will retain more information and be less likely to burnout or become ill than someone studies for longer duration or a higher total of hours.

fathergoose wrote:Every 5 to 6 minutes. It helps me avoid burnout

this. i spend 4 hours in the library doing 1 hour of work. what the hell else am i going to do with my time.