Dear 1L: Schedule 1L
đź’Ś Dear 1L,
The summer before law school, I started to get nervous. I was excited, too, but as I sensed the magnitude of what was coming, anxiety built inside.
There were SO many unknowns:
What would law school be like?
Would the people be nice?
Would classes be hard?
And,
Would I be good at law school?
What I did next—to try to gain control over all that unknown—seems quite radical to me now. But it made a huge difference keeping me tethered during 1L, and it ultimately brought me success grade-wise.
I share my approach, in case some or all of it might work for you.
* * *
đź”· 1: Schedule your days.
✏️ Planning in advance just how you will spend each time period of the day—aka time blocking, or time mapping—is a widely-recognized method to maximize efficiency.
You designate specific time ranges on your calendar for different courses and tasks. After that, you only worry only about the task assigned to the time block you’re in.
During that block, think of nothing else.
✏️ Mapping time in advance has many benefits. One is that it removes counterproductive transitions after each task is complete.
What will you do next? What should you do next?
Those are debilitating questions that sap energy. Have all those questions answered in advance. Then, don’t think, just do.
đź”· 2: Sync your sleep.
Go to sleep at the same time. Wake up at the same time. Every day. Permit zero debate when that alarm clock goes off in the morning. Just go.
✏️ Get into a rhythm. That way, you can turn on auto-pilot, keeping all fuel reserves for thinking about your course materials.
đź”· 3: Plan your meals.
Decide what and when you will eat each day, in advance. There will be time for fun food and drink choices later.
For now, pretend you are in the military. Keep your mind and body in peak performance shape.
I did it 6 days a week and took one day and night off completely. (That was my “cheat day.”) Not worrying about what and when I’d eat took a load off my mind.
✏️ Less decision-making = more mental energy saved.
_______
Boiled down, the gist is this:
♦️ Don’t “wing it” in law school.
♦️ Be intentional.
♦️ Minimize decisions.
Decision-fatigue is real. Less decisions = less fatigue. That is good.
Fondly,
đź’Ś Amanda
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