New year, new YOU, right?
If you didn’t reach your target LSAT score this year, 2024 brings more chances to crush the exam. However, LSAT success doesn’t happen overnight, and falling into the same habits from 2023 likely won’t bring about new results.
To help motivate you, we’ve come up with three New Year’s resolutions for college students (and nontrads!) that will make your studying a little easier. The best part is, you only have to keep these resolutions until you take the LSAT (unless you find they vastly improved your life).
Do New Year’s Resolutions [Really] Work?
The answer to this question, like most questions you’ll come across as a lawyer, is it depends.
Many people make New Year’s resolutions intending to start fresh and improve various aspects of their lives. On January 1, we hit a hard “Reset” on life. However, studies have shown that only about 9% of those who make resolutions actually achieve them.
It all comes down to your individual commitment and effort towards achieving your goals—barring any factors outside of your control, of course. While it may seem tempting to set grandiose resolutions for the new year, it’s important to be realistic and set achievable goals.
Celebrating your victories—big and small—keeps you motivated and more likely to stick with your New Year’s resolutions.
What are some attainable goals you can set for yourself to achieve LSAT success in the new year? Let’s dive in!
1. Stay Consistent
One of the most important things you can do at the beginning of your LSAT prep is to create and stick to a consistent LSAT study plan. This not only helps build discipline but also ensures that you are consistently engaging with the material at a schedule that works with the rest of your commitments.
The average LSAT student preps for about 2-3 months, sometimes longer or shorter. Your study plan should include time to learn the ins and outs of the LSAT itself, take full-length practice exams, and review your practice thoroughly to learn from your mistakes.
Hold yourself accountable and take the guesswork out of creating a balanced and effective LSAT study schedule by using our free customizable LSAT study planner tool.
2. Read More
Reading is an essential part of the LSAT (I mean, there’s a whole section devoted to critical reading skills). You will be asked to read passages and understand the points (i.e. arguments) presented to you.
The material in the Reading Comprehension Section can be heavy, so it’s best to get used to reading densely packed articles and novels so you’re eyes won’t glaze over on test day. If books aren’t your thing, there are several news sites you can read every day to sharpen your RC skills.
Still, the goal is to get used to reading more and for longer periods at a time, so if the best you can do initially to get into the habit is to load up your Kindle with books recommended by #booktok, that’s a start.
3. Start Living a Healthier Lifestyle and Get More Sleep
No, you don’t have to hit the gym every day. However, making small changes and smarter food choices can greatly improve your health, which directly influences your studying. Studies show certain foods can boost your brain power, while exercise can relieve daily stress and help clear up your mind.
Getting enough sleep is also crucial for your brain health. Contrary to popular belief, it can be detrimental to stay up late, studying or otherwise. Sleep deprivation reduces productivity and contributes to mental and physical health problems.
So hit that snooze button if you need to and consider taking a walk to wind down instead of immediately rushing home to binge-stream.
These resolutions are simple changes that are easy to implement and unlikely to be forgotten by February…or by your upcoming LSAT date.
However, if the only resolution on your list is to get a higher LSAT score, we have your back! Blueprint LSAT students increase their LSAT scores by 15 points on average. Whether you want to prep in a live class, with a Self-Paced Course, or with a private tutor, we have an LSAT prep option that fits your learning style!
