Keeping my brain sharp before 1L

[HeyItsJay02]

Hello everyone, 

I am curious about what you all do over the summer to stay mentally sharp. I have mostly taken the summer before my 1L off to relax and work part-time. I am feeling very mentally understimulated and have likely been smoking too much. To pique my interests and combat brain fog, I would like to know what you all do to stay on top of things. I am already an avid reader, so any other recommendations are appreciated! 

[GoatDuck]

Play Connections, Wordle, Strands

[canuckfanatic]

Read books! Novels! 

Law school involve a LOT of reading - you can hone that skill by reading for fun right now.

Also, law school sucks all the fun out of reading. It took me a few years post-law school before I was able to read for leisure again.

[Psychometronic]

Starting and/or maintaining an exercise routine.

[Lawstudents20202020]

If you are having brain fog, I'd really focus on getting more physical activity to shake off the cobwebs.

Also, play some board games, particularly strategy based ones. 

[Rashabon]

I stayed up late playing Red Dead Redemption every night and got every Xbox achievement for it.

[GreyDude]

On 7/5/2024 at 3:21 AM, GoatDuck said:

Play Connections, Wordle, Strands

Also Spelling Bee.

Aside from puzzles, OP, I'm with @Psychometronic and @Lawstudents20202020 -- exercise. If you're experiencing brain fog, that's the best thing I can think of. The worst thing I can think of is video games (despite my deep admiration for @Rashabon's achievement!).

[AllRise]

When I start to feel brain fog… 

I really enjoy playing Settlers of Catan, and other strategy board games. You can also play a lot of them online if you have no friends or family. 
 

I also enjoy video games a lot… I would highly recommend any of the Dragon Age entries, Baldur’s Gate 3 and Warframe. 
 

As stated above, exercise helps a lot. I’m back into a daily routine now that the bar exams are over. 

[thrill]

You're already reading, which is good. Exercise and other ways to take care of yourself (skincare, oral hygiene, diet, sleep hygiene) really help. I think in general just finding a routine you can stick to that keeps you healthy is good.

 

I'm of the opinion there isn't much you can do to prepare as you'll be thrust into it and adjust. It's really not that bad if you can have a support system and healthy habits

[scooter]

On 7/4/2024 at 9:46 PM, HeyItsJay02 said:

and have likely been smoking too much.

Everyone is just glossing over this, but the other suggestions in this thread are sort of useless if you continue to smoke too much

[GoatDuck]

Also, given that law school requires only very limited amount of thinking, you probably don’t need to keep your brain too sharp to do well! 

[englishmajor]

33 minutes ago, GoatDuck said:

Also, given that law school requires only very limited amount of thinking, you probably don’t need to keep your brain too sharp to do well! 

If I didn’t know any better I would think this was BQ! 

[GoatDuck]

4 hours ago, englishmajor said:

If I didn’t know any better I would think this was BQ! 

I’m not even being facetious. Just (1) be brutally honest with yourself about how little you know, and (2) identify who knows what they’re doing (peers and upper year students) and ask them for help, and you’ll be ahead of the curve. It’s a win-win — you learn from the best, and the best like you because you acknowledge how good they are. At least in 1L, there’s nothing difficult except for learning to swallow your pride.