In medical school,
feeling overburdened is entirely natural. It comes as no surprise given the
enormous amount of work you have ahead of you. However, there are several
things you can do to minimize that feeling, like mental exercises, setting
reminders for yourself, making lists, and more.
As prevalent as med school tiredness is, I guarantee you that there are
solutions.
In this article, we'll
look at the coping mechanisms I intend to employ in preparation for a very busy
sixth year. Let's peer into it together.
Being myself a sixth
year medical student, I know how life gets hard sometimes. Burn outs may be
very common among students and feeling overwhelmed may take over your life. Nevertheless,
there is always a way to get over it and feel better.
Be aware of the
signs and symptoms
A very first substantial
step in avoiding falling behind in medical school is to be aware of the signs
and detect when it’s really happening, as a way to help yourself before even
things get exacerbated, -even if I assure you that everything will be okay-. For
that you have to keep an eye out for early warning signs such as:
· - Irritability and Sleep
issues – too much or too little.
· - Social isolation or behavioral
changes.
· - Lack of motivation and Difficulty
focusing.
· - Difficulty of
self-control.
· - Headaches and stomach
aches as physical signs…
One crucial thing I
learnt in my six years in medical school that everyone is different and unique
in their own way. My learning techniques, the amount of time I need, and how
many times I have to repeat revisions are specific to me, and I absolutely don’t
need to compare myself to others. And I was able to tell when I'd spent enough
time on one topic to move on to the next.
Recognize that you
are not alone
You may think that you’re
the only one feeling overwhelmed and others are leading their best life, yet
plenty of students are exposed to overwhelm and burn outs during their journey
in medical school. Therefore, it is mandatory not to feel alone in such cases.
Some people tend to
hide the way they feel, and prefer rather not to talk about it, showing the
whole world how brave and confident they are. It’s sort of a protection and
also fear of vulnerability. This may give you too the sensation of the only one
suffering.
Throughout the year,
I, too, feel anxious especially during exams or when I have many shifts. so
consider this strong evidence of my fragility in public. understand that you
are not alone if you are struggling, and reach for help if you ever feel like
you need it.
One more important
thing is try to talk about it with your closest colleagues, you may found out
that they are struggling as much as you, and you can be each other’s support.
break things down
step-by-step
I've discovered that
breaking things down step by step and day to day is one of the finest
strategies to overcome overwhelm. That way, the minor tasks that add up to the
big picture don't seem so daunting. And you're well aware of what needs to be
done.
I personally use a to
do list with small tasks every day. I try to be more realistic in setting
goals, consequently, I know what I did and what needs to be done after. It’s a
sort of planning things and dividing tasks into smaller ones. You can create it
in your laptop or even phone mobile. For me a note book makes the work.
My study strategy was
usually to cover at least 70% of the day's content in one study session and
then make up the rest on weekends. Besides, obtaining a good night's sleep for
the next day.
Never attempt to do
everything all at once
We’ve all been there
once, trying to do way too much, that’s the worst mistake we may all commit and
by the end you’ll be stretched far too thin and be mentally scattered.
Giving yourself
permission to quit trying to "do it all now" and to start being more
strategic and patient with your growth is the key to long-term success.
Seeing all the length
of medical studies. All the hours spent in university and the hospital,
overwhelm can easily get you. So activities that provide a needed break while
simultaneously sharpening your mind are good for you. Personally I love horse
riding, and I practice it 2 to 3 times a week. This helps me have breaks from
long day studying and slow me down not to do everything at once. The thing is
you have to find your getaway, your outlet to relax.
Being in study-mode
24/7 doesn't actually give you any kind of valuable advantage.
Learn how to study
more effectively
The more you learn to
study medicine effectively, the less overwhelmed you’ll be. That’s why I advise
everyone to use techniques while studying. It will have a huge impact on you
freeing time too and bettering the process.
Understand that doing
everything is not going to be beneficial but less effective, by learning how to
priorities which courses to begin with and how much time it deserves, you’ll
save yourself so much ineffective work.
One more thing,
getting help from students who are older than you, helping you know what
matters more, and what are the courses worth your time can be very beneficial. So
never be afraid of asking for help, it can really bring a change to your life.
It is actually not that
complicated as it may seem on the surface.
Stay disciplined
As in different
domains, the most important technique to avoid falling behind in medical school
is to maintain study discipline. Keeping your well-being by taking breaks is
equally vital. It is important to learn how to balance between serious study
time and relaxing breaks. This will allow you maintain your momentum and avoid
feeling burned out.