By devoting hours meant for sleeping to studying in med school, you may be considered a “night owl”. But instead of looking for prey, med school owls keep their eyes on sheet after sheet of class readings, in preparation for the next day’s exam or recitation. While this may seem like the norm in med school, it’s a sorry state to be in especially if your health and class standing is put at risk. Here are a few tips to make all-nighters in med school easy as counting sheep.
Stay away from the sugar
While sugar and caffeine-laden food and drinks do keep you up, these affect your concentration the following day. Instead of downing pots of black coffee or consuming a big bag of candy-covered chocolates on the eve of an exam, try snacking on protein-rich food. Food rich in protein such as cheese can help increase your memory skills. Try snacking on crisp fresh fruits such as apples and pears for a natural pick-me-up effect minus the calories.
Catch some Zzz’s
Though this goes against the whole idea of an all-nighter, grab some sleep if you can. If you just want to take a nap, wake up, and go on studying, ask a classmate to wake you up at a desired time. As a medical student, you should already know that not getting enough sleep or rest can be detrimental to you. Not only will your health suffer from it, but you’ll also tend to perform poorly during daytime. Your concentration and moods are affected, the same way that your decision-making skills may be impaired due to the lack of sleep.
Frequent all-nighters can be avoided if you pay attention to your classes and find time to study during the day. Studies even show that students who pull all-nighters frequently just waste their efforts, as they become more prone to low GPAs. Don’t let all-nighters be your cover up for procrastinating, instead do what you need to do as soon as you can.
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The road to higher learning is certainly not paved in gold and studying in med school is certainly not as easy as it was during your undergraduate years. As much as we’d like to think that medical school is just an incubator that houses great talent, it’s not. It’s actually a battlefield of wits, skills, strengths, and patience. Though medical school will equip you for life as a doctor, you should come prepared for the four or so years of medical study.
Here are some of the things you should do to prepare for medical school
* Take up required courses.
Though most medical students are biology majors or took up pre-med courses, there are those that come from not so distant interests as well. A tip for incoming students is to take units that are likely to be required in med school. Some high school students have the end in mind and pattern their undergraduate courses to be able to fulfill med school requirements. As with other science-based interests, med school requires applicants to have taken up units in biology, physics, chemistry, math and English. Complex subjects such as biochemistry, anatomy, and pharmacology are taught in med school and having knowledge of at least the basics of such can be helpful in the long run.
* Develop effective study habits.
Even if you got through your undergrad years in a breeze, med school promises some serious midnight oil burning. When you decide to go to medical school (or any school for higher learning) be prepared to live a scheduled life if you want to retain a semblance of sanity. Med school requires a lot of reading and studying, and of developing a list of tasks or a schedule can help organize your life. Professors expect that their student come to class well-prepared. Aside from studying required texts in advance, you could also look into other medical texts that are relevant to your study. It is also important to keep abreast of any developments in the medical community so that you can be able to discuss it with others as well.
* Prepare your physical health.
Med students pull all-nighters so frequently that most of them suffer disorders of one form or another. Partner sleeplessness with stress and you have one interesting paradox – a sick medical student. At the risk of throwing away your efforts for studying for a killer exam in pathology, try to maintain a healthy lifestyle by getting enough rest and sleep and eating right.
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Medical school prepares you to face a profession where you will be called “Doctor” by patients, co-workers and even superiors and professionals in the field of medicine. But what if you are also being called “Mom” or “Mama” by smaller voices while studying in medical school? Though being a mother while preparing to be a doctor can prove a challenge, it should not hinder you from reaching for your goal.
Balancing motherhood with medical school
Raising a child (or a family) and attending medical school at the same time may seem like the ultimate challenge that would probably drive any homemaker crazy. However, see the situation as it is but in a positive light. Yes it would be a challenge to be a mother and a medical student at the same time, but you will get past it with hard work and proper management. Learn how to take one step at a time, based on the importance of the task at hand. Devoting your attention to one item at the moment can help you focus and leave no mistakes behind.
Worrying about your child
It’s typical of a mother to worry about her child. But if you’ve got other stuff to putter about such as your finals in pharmacology, maybe it’s time to ask for help from your partner, a relative, or a professional caregiver. Once you’ve had someone help you out with the child, you can turn your thoughts to your studies for the meantime. Don’t worry about not giving enough attention to your child as you can always see him or her later when you’re done studying. Though guilt may creep up on you every now and then, think about how becoming a doctor can also help you prepare for your child’s future. Motherhood should not stop your dreams. Instead, you’ve actually had more reason to go on and become a doctor.
Overcoming physical and mental stress
Aside from exerting effort in studying, caring for the needs of your family may also add a lot of physical and mental stress to you. Instead of breaking down and throwing in the towel, learn how to lighten up and take it easy. Appreciate the small things such as a compliment for your recitation, additional points for an exam, and even your baby’s warm, sticky embrace. Remember that medical school only lasts a few years and all of these shall pass. And when you finally pass your medical exams and graduate, you’ll carry two titles of distinction in two of the most prestigious fields.
Photo Credit : TheeErin
