Being at medical school is more than just about lectures, deadlines and exams. It is the foundation of our journey as doctors. It is about our careers after graduating and our patients.
Here are a few tips that may benefit you in developing a healthy routine and studying efficiently.
Lectures play a huge role in your learning, especially in the early years of your degree. Pre-read the lecture materials and gain a basic understanding of the major concepts. If possible, start note-taking and writing down your questions ahead of time.
Above all, pay attention during lectures and avoid distractions that come in many forms including phones, laptops, friends and ceilings.
Sitting in the same lecture hall for hours can be tedious, especially when the lecturer is reading off the slides —every student has dozed off at least once.
If you lose focus or find a particular section difficult, make sure to note when you stopped paying attention and fill in the gaps when you go back to the recording
Make sure you have a designated study space organised according to your needs.
Things to check include suitable lighting, a comfortable chair, removal of distracting objects and sufficient space.
An organised environment saves you from wasting time and enhances your ability to focus.
In saying that, some of us need that clutter around us to be able to work. Find out what works for you.
An extremely high volume of content is delivered at a rapid pace in medical school.
In order to understand and retain all the content, you need to go over it repeatedly, unless you are blessed with a photographic memory.
Remember that it’s not about studying all the time — it is about studying effectively.
It is important to understand that we are all different and we all need to study differently.
Know whether you study better alone or in a group, at the library or at home and by writing things down or reading it out loud or teaching others.
Identify the techniques that work for you.
Make sure you process information thoroughly because beyond passing your exams. You will require this knowledge for placements and future medical practice.
You need to know what to study before you start studying.
It is important to organise all your study materials and make a list of topics you need to cover for your exams to ensure you don’t miss any.
Then, prepare a timetable that allows you to cover all the topics at a good pace.
Starting revision early will allow you to go through the content comfortably, so try not to leave all your revision to the last minute.
Also, ensure that your timetable is not insane. Avoid scheduling a lot of topics on any given day as this may lead to a build-up of unfinished topics and falling behind. This increases anxiety, guilt and stress.
Scheduling your breaks and nights off is essential to avoid missing out on your much-needed revival time.
Lastly, it is very satisfying to have a checklist — give yourself a tick at the end of studying each topic.
Make sure you have adequate, scheduled breaks while studying. Your brain is not designed to work effectively for hours on end.
As a rule of thumb, taking a 15 minute break after every 45 minutes of study will enhance your ability to work consistently.
The exact timings can vary, so find a routine that works for you.
During these breaks, avoid social media —get some fresh air or talk to people instead. Reward yourself during these breaks once you achieve your study goals.
Try testing yourself with questions from past or practice exams and Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) banks at regular intervals as well as at the end of each topic to discover any gaps in your knowledge.
Aiming to do at least 50 MCQs a week throughout the year is an achievable goal that will help build your knowledge consistently, identify knowledge gaps, develop critical thinking and monitor progress.
Sitting mock exams can help train your time management skills and ability to think under pressure.
Variation is vital to help your brain function effectively
Keep varying your study technique and location to stimulate your brain and avoid falling into an aimless and ineffective routine.
Everyone studies differently and uses various study techniques.
The use of visual aids and flowcharts can help condense information and facilitate last-minute revision. This method is beneficial to remember management protocols, antibiotics and other topics.
Using flashcards to note down salient points from each topic can help retain information and produce quick revision material for later use.
Some also find it useful to write their own MCQs to test their areas of weakness. These questions can be shared to facilitate group study by raising points for discussion.
We all neglect self-care during exams and medical school, but it is extremely important to make sure our bodies and minds work in unison and not against each other.
Sleep, diet, exercise and good mental health play a big part in success.
Do not underestimate the power of a good night of sleep. Your brain desperately needs that time off to process everything and recover.
It is vital to go to bed and wake up at a set time every day, despite changes in your routine.
Always allow yourself a minimum of eight hours sleep without guilt. Studying until 3am does not mean you are more knowledgeable. It might mean that you are not managing your time well.
Make sure you stay hydrated and have a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, veggies and nuts. Although we all have varying exercise capacities and needs, try to do something active every day.
Despite help being more readily available to us now, a lot of us still don’t ask for it or don’t know when to ask. Do not leave it until it is too late.
Universities offer counselling services and your GP is well equipped to assist you.
Understand that it is okay not to be okay.
If you are in a crisis situation, call Lifeline at 13 11 14.
University is full of opportunities, but try not to take on so many things that you don’t have any time for yourself and risk burnout. If you are struggling with studies, ask for academic help from your mentors and fellow students, earlier rather than later.
We hope you find some of these tips helpful as you continue your medical journey. We wish you all the best for everything. Keep calm and stay positive.
By Akshaya Ajit and Bridget Joseph Xavier
Bridget was the GPSN Chair at the University of Adelaide (UoA). She was involved in the teaching and obstetrics societies at UoA. Her areas of interest are physician training, general practice and anaesthesia.