Your initial response to the title is probably "lolwut" and I definitely don't blame you. In medical school, it's really easy to feel like you haven't studied enough, and even when you have covered everything (by magic/not-being-human), you'll probably feel compelled to go over it even more times. Med school is cervical spine-breaking speed, and it's way too easy to get sucked into, and even consumed by your studies.
Here's my typical schedule, so you know what I'm talking about, and why I've actually sort of had issues with the pace of med school.
Monday-Friday:
530am wake up, eat breakfast, assorted bi-winning, caffeine intake
730 I'm probably at school now hoping for an announcement of mandatory naptime
8-4 Classes and studying, then heading home
4-5pm usually kill time for an hour or try to get ready to study
5pm-12am studying
The same goes for my Sundays and Saturdays which is epic winning. Repeat that until the end of the block and then I'm just overjoyed to get my life back.
The thing is though, you're always going to feel behind in med school, and you're going to forget things, and still pass all your exams. So set aside at least 10-15 minutes for a brief but winning work out (all that inactivity will stack up and you'll gain 3838319 pounds!), or even to take naps.
I've noticed that a 5-10 minute nap for me works as well or better than 100mg of caffeine. I'm that caffeinated that I've got it down to hard numbers, hah.
I went to my doc the other day and have a bunch of fatigue-related symptoms I hope to get rid of somehow. There's a difference between "tired" and "fatigue," because fatigue starts just becoming more chronic and starts interfering with every part of your body. Notice that twitchy classmate of yours who seems hypereflexive? That's a sign of fatigue.
I've been so fatigued that I'm hypereflexive and get muscle fasciculations/cramps, and that just tells me "hey, slow down, don't wreck your health so early." I'm also going to try to get more work-outs in, while I'd say cardio and resistance training is both equally important; if you can only do one, shoot for cardio because proper circulation and heart health can't be overemphasized. Thanks for reading.
Hey, I'm a wannabe med student for now, and I was wondering; I know that in med school you have to study a lot and your scheduale does seem intense, but do you feel like you have any time to socialise?
ReplyDeleteAnd do you study in group or by yourself?
thank you!
hey there!
ReplyDeleteIt's different for every personality type, but people definitely do have time to study. I think you could easily take one night off, or several hours from a night to go out to dinner or any other activity you like.
Med school is really all about time management and repetition, not how intelligent you are when you're starting out.
Basic sciences is all memory, then when you hit clinics, it's intelligence (as in, differential diagnoses, assessment and plan).
I study by myself because I feel it's the most efficient. I make a study schedule for myself so I can cover all of the material before the exam, and that works perfectly. I feel like it's the most efficient use of your time, because if you need to work on Subject A, while everyone else is discussing Subject B, you won't get held up.
Looking back on it, I would have liked to spend at least 1 hour here and there doing group studying so I could deepen some friendships here and there.
I hope that offers some insight!
loved this post!
ReplyDeleteHello there burnt orange�� scrubs! It is a FACT and sad to say that i do really know what you felt those days and maybe up to the present because i too was a struggling med student. Kudos for this well explained blog but i wonder what would be the best all niters when caffeine does not work anymore and any tips on how will u maintain the passion of being a doctor if being one could be a burnout/ lots of things to be sacrificed?
ReplyDeleteIt is summer here in our country and i wonder what are the things that i can do to be well prepared for the nxt schoolyr? ThNks!
hey there, panda on loose.
DeleteI did hit the point at which caffeine wasn't doing a whole lot for me, and I'm actually still there right now. I think part of it is just chronic fatigue, from all the years of running on an average of 4.5 to 5 hours of sleep a night.
If you can, take a 30 minute nap, or 10 minutes if time is short. I found out that 10 minute naps work about as well as 100mg of caffeine for me.
I think everyone needs a break where they can just close their eyes and drift for a while. It'll do a lot for your health and morale!
Thank you and keep reading
Does your schedule change when you are close to the date of examination?
ReplyDeleteHey there. My waking hours have changed, I usually get up at 430 am now, but still go to bed at 1130. The night before an exam I'll go to bed at 930 or 10pm, just so I can be well-rested and think well during exams.
ReplyDeleteBasic sciences was pretty intense, but it does end!