The Hay Is In The Barn

I woke up this morning too early and already putting on my running shoes. I have a qualifying race this Saturday and I wanted to get some miles in — I craved it despite the fact that the expert advice was to NOT run today. They hay, the experts have told me, is already in the barn. This makes total sense, of course. There is nothing I can do over the next two days to make real positive gains in my time. There is, however, a lot I can do to negatively impact me: not sleeping, over-training, psyching myself out, rushing behind schedule to the event, etc. Sound familiar?

Your hay is too already in the barn (I'll stop saying that expression now). I would strongly recommend you stop with the PT's, and to the extent possible, not think about the test. Nothing you will do over the next day will strengthen the neural connections you have already formed in your preparation. But a good deal of what you will do can either focus you or freak you. I would go for a walk, run, or hike each day. Exhaustive research has shown this helps with test-taking (A wonderful book the explores this and other learning related principles that I have recommended to thousands of law students is Brain Rules by John Medina). I would get everything you need in one place, backpack it and double-check it. Set two alarms for Monday morning. I would map out the route to the test center and, if possible, drive it and physically go to the test room. But most importantly, I would stop asking others about the test, about past tests, if they are ready, if you seem ready, etc etc. If you are reading this blog YOU ARE READY. You have prepared more than just about everyone in your test center.

Go destroy the LSAT, we are pulling for you!

-Mike