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How to tell if you are burning out?
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 4:37 pm
by lawschoolgirl312
I know there's thousands of posts already but I was wondering if someone can tell me what is happenning. I have been scoring in the 170s range, but today I dropped down to a 167. I can feel myself being more tired and I could barely chug through the LG and I usually fly through this part. I want to be cruising in the high 175s before the September test and now I feel like Im just freaking out. What should i do?
Re: How to tell if you are burning out?
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 4:50 pm
by The_Pluviophile
Honestly, the same thing was happening to me about a month before my June LSAT. I had been scoring in the mid 170s, testing in all my free time. Getting that one low score freaked me out, so I started taking more tests, and getting more stressed out, and getting low scores, and... it became a vicious cycle. Thankfully, my thesis chair (who has a JD) told me to calm the hell down and take a break. I did, and my scores went back up. I took another break about a week before my actual LSAT, and I scored better on test day than my pt average.
TL;DR take a break, don't let a few lower than average scores get to you.
Re: How to tell if you are burning out?
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 5:09 pm
by Barack O'Drama
You seem to be exhibiting the signs of burn out. Especially how you mention that you are not usually this way with LGs section.
I'd just take a break, do something non-LSAT related. Perhaps take tonight and the rest of the weekend to enjoy yourself doing nothing LSAT related. I know that is easier said than done, but try something social, it will help to take your mind off of things.
My biggest score increase came after I took an entire Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off. Came back and felt recharged, re-motvied, and rested. Then I did my best on a PT I had ever done!
Re: How to tell if you are burning out?
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 5:17 pm
by gsy987
Contrary to what people in this forum may say from time to time, there is such a thing as life outside of the LSAT.
We're about to have a lovely weekend in the middle of July. Go enjoy it!
Re: How to tell if you are burning out?
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 7:50 pm
by Blueprint Mithun
lawschoolgirl312 wrote:I know there's thousands of posts already but I was wondering if someone can tell me what is happenning. I have been scoring in the 170s range, but today I dropped down to a 167. I can feel myself being more tired and I could barely chug through the LG and I usually fly through this part. I want to be cruising in the high 175s before the September test and now I feel like Im just freaking out. What should i do?
This certainly sounds like burnout. Take the weekend off and take your mind off the test. You're not going to undo your progress by taking a few days' break - in fact, you'll find it easier to focus and learn from your mistakes.
Re: How to tell if you are burning out?
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 7:47 pm
by lawschoolgirl312
but how do you know when you're finally done "burning out" ( in a sense) and can return back to studying refreshed?
Re: How to tell if you are burning out?
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 9:54 pm
by Dcc617
lawschoolgirl312 wrote:but how do you know when you're finally done "burning out" ( in a sense) and can return back to studying refreshed?
When you feel like studying again. It'll happen, but you may need a few days or a week before it does. You won't lose your progress.
Re: How to tell if you are burning out?
Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2016 11:07 pm
by notsolawful
Took 3 weeks off due to waiting for my score. Started meditating and controlling my anxiety. Got -0 on my first LR section back. Was averaging -2 normally. -4 when burnt out.
Re: How to tell if you are burning out?
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2016 9:09 am
by PrezRand
gsy987 wrote:Contrary to what people in this forum may say from time to time, there is such a thing as life outside of the LSAT.
We're about to have a lovely weekend in the middle of July. Go enjoy it!
Re: How to tell if you are burning out?
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2016 1:09 pm
by RamTitan
This forum is all about "PT till you die, etc."; I rarely if ever study more than 2 hours a day (granted I spent a year studying for my first take). Everyone learns differently.