“How do you manage your time in law school?”

This post is written as an addition to what i’ve said in my law school organization post, which can be found here.

A common question I get from my instagram followers is how I manage my time in law school. I am definitely not an expert at time management and am constantly looking to improve! I don’t have any specific advice, but here are some of my thoughts on the topic:

• Google calendar, physical planner checklists, sticky note technique, and reminders on my phone are all key for organization, as well as my Amazon wooden book stand that I could never live without.

• When I was going to class in-person, I would stay on campus and in the library until I got my reading done for the next day’s classes. I would never take work home with me, and this motivated me to stay there and get the work done quickly/efficiently. (Also saved my back from having to lug heavy textbooks to and from school) now in a remote world, I have a dedicated space to study (my desk) and don’t ever take my studying to the kitchen or my bed. I finish my reading before I allow myself to start up Netflix or scroll instagram.

• I tend to block off the weekends to unplug from law school completely, so I get Monday’s readings done beforehand on Friday and then hang out with my partner/friends on the weekend. This gives me something to look forward to (another big motivator to get work done during the week) and lets me relax and enter every week recharged. Spending weekends completely unplugged is a pretty crucial step not only for me, but for my mental health.

On this point, I also just want to provide a disclaimer that I am not involved in law review, nor do I have any intense commitments to other journals or clubs. I keep my extracurriculars and activities at the law school to a minimum, really only competing in one moot court competition for the school (which I treat and schedule just like I do any class). Blocking off weekends to unplug from law school might not be 100% possible for someone who is overloaded with extracurriculars, externships, competitions, research responsibilities, etc.  And on that note, I am not tied down to any super demanding hobbies, jobs, or clubs outside of law school either. I blog and read in my free time, but I don’t really have any commitments or obligations at the end of the day that are very demanding when it comes to time. If you are someone who has a lot on their plate, you might want to cut back on some of your responsibilities before starting law school. I personally barely visit home/family during the semester, don’t see my partner except on weekends, and have lost out on hanging out with/keeping in touch with some of my college friends. Obviously in a pandemic I don’t have a ton of social outings planned, but even in a non-pandemic world, I try to say no to a lot of invitations and events. That being said, it’s all about what you prioritize and how you manage your schedule. If those things are important to you, find a way to incorporate them into your schedule and absolutely stay on top of your schoolwork.

• Like I mentioned, having something to look forward to is crucial for me. I am much more motivated to get my work done if I know I have a good Home Chef recipe waiting in my fridge or a date planned with Sergio at the end of the day. (This also helps a lot with the stress and anxiety I feel in law school, a topic for a future blog post.)

• This whole remote leaning thing is definitely messing with my motivation and organization but lately I’ve been getting dressed (actually dressed, not just some leggings and a shirt) and that helps me feel good and then be productive! Also not allowing myself to sit/lay in bed until I am done with my tasks for the day. (Still working on that one!) Recently, I also received an electric sit-stand desk from a brand and so standing has been helpful to remain productive after hours of being at my desk.

• The last thing I’ll add is that I’ve found there is a point where no amount of studying is going to add to my understanding of a concept, and no amount of time spent outlining or writing out practice exam answers will benefit my grade. Grades aren’t as important as one may think, and they are certainly not worth the late night studying. I have prioritized rest and mental health over grades, and I personally have seen no negative impact in my academic performance, even performing quite better (to be quite honest I actually somehow pulled off all A’s the semester I made this switch in priorities). I encourage you to do the same and take care of yourself!

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I hope some of my thoughts on how I manage my time in law school are helpful to you, feel free to reach out via Instagram if you have any questions!