There are two main elements to finding balance between your work (applications, LSAT prep, law school, and eventually, lawyering) and the rest of your life. The first is developing and using good time management skills. The second is finding fun, healthy and productive things to do with the non-work time.
You’ve no doubt acquired some basic time management and organizational skills in college. Practice and refine them with your law school applications:
- Establish a to-do list for yourself, with all the tasks you’ll have to complete
- Set up a reasonable time line, with deadlines and/or reminders on your calendar
- Set aside blocks of time in your week for the longer term tasks: LSAT prep, drafting your personal statement, etc.
- Delegate early the tasks to be completed by others: sending your transcript (the Registrar’s Office) and writing your letters of recommendation
By planning out your time and your tasks in this way, it’s easier to see when you have time to do other things—school work, and, as important, play. When you block out sufficient time for, say, LSAT prep, you can go out with friends with a lighter heart, knowing that you’ve already finished your assigned practice for the day.