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Ways to stop feeling overwhelmed in medical school


 

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.

 

 

 

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