I Thought I Wasn’t “Disciplined Enough”—Until I Learned This

For a long time, I thought I was the problem.
I’d sit down with my LSAT books, stare at the pages, and think:
“If I were more disciplined, this would be easier.”

Sound familiar?

If you’ve ever blamed yourself for not having the “grit” or the “hustle” to get through LSAT prep, I want to tell you something I wish I had learned sooner: discipline isn’t the issue. The method is.

Why Willpower Alone Doesn’t Work

We love to glorify discipline. We’re told that the people who succeed are the ones who grind harder, push longer, and sacrifice more.

But when it comes to the LSAT, that approach backfires.
Why? Because this test doesn’t reward sheer effort—it rewards clarity.

If your study plan is designed around “try harder,” then every time you hit a wall you’ll assume the problem is you. You’ll double down, work longer hours, and still feel stuck. That’s not discipline—it’s burnout.

What I Learned About Real Progress

The turning point for me—and for so many students I’ve worked with—was realizing that progress doesn’t come from more effort. It comes from better systems.

• Targeted practice beats random drilling. When you know which question types give you trouble and you attack them directly, you actually get results.
• Short, consistent study blocks beat marathons. Your brain learns in cycles. Pushing past that doesn’t make you stronger—it makes you sloppy.
• Review matters more than reps. One deep review session where you figure out why you missed a question is worth more than ten rushed practice sets.

This isn’t about discipline—it’s about design. If the structure is right, you don’t have to rely on endless willpower.

How to Build a Smarter System

If you’ve been blaming yourself for “not being disciplined enough,” here’s what I want you to try instead:

1. Audit your weak spots. Write down the question types or sections that consistently trip you up.
2. Build study sessions around those. Don’t waste equal time on strengths. Put energy where it pays off.
3. Create a rhythm, not a punishment. Two or three focused blocks a day is enough. Show up consistently—don’t punish yourself with all-nighters.
4. Redefine success. Instead of “Did I study for 6 hours today?” ask, “Did I learn something that will help me on test day?”

The Truth About “Discipline”

When I hear students say, “I just need more discipline,” what they usually mean is, “I don’t have a system that works for me.”

And here’s the best part: once you build the right system, discipline isn’t this heavy thing you have to force—it becomes natural. You stop white-knuckling your way through study sessions and start showing up with focus, clarity, and even confidence.

So if you’ve been carrying the story that you’re not disciplined enough, let it go. The problem isn’t you. The problem is the plan. And the good news? You can change that starting today.

Final Thought:
Discipline isn’t about grinding harder. It’s about giving yourself a structure that makes progress possible. Once you have that, the LSAT stops being a battle with yourself—and starts being a challenge you know how to meet.