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What are some good study habits to apply to your routine for medical school?

Many people have trouble figuring out how to study once they are out of high school, so, what are some good study habits to apply to your routine once you're in medical school?

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Charlotte’s Answer

Hi Brooke,
Studying in medical school can be overwhelming, but adopting the right study habits early on will make a significant difference in your success. One of the most effective techniques is active learning, where you engage with the material by using methods like active recall and spaced repetition. Instead of passively reading, practice quizzing yourself with tools like Anki flashcards and explaining concepts out loud, as if teaching someone else. Creating a structured study schedule is also crucial—break down your syllabus into manageable chunks and dedicate specific times for daily and weekly reviews to keep material fresh. Prioritizing high-yield topics, especially those frequently covered in exams, will make your study sessions more efficient. Incorporating the Pomodoro Technique can help maintain focus by studying for 25-minute intervals with short breaks in between. Forming small, motivated study groups can enhance understanding, as discussing complex concepts with peers often deepens your grasp of the material. Additionally, don’t overlook self-care—getting enough sleep, staying active, and managing stress are essential for maintaining mental sharpness. By balancing focused study with self-care and collaboration, you can manage the rigorous demands of medical school effectively.
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Hadia’s Answer

Hello — although I’m no longer in the healthcare field, I pursued medicine for three years and wanted to share a bit of advice. In my opinion, one of the best things you can do is learn to discipline yourself. You won’t always feel like studying consistently, even though the field requires it. Motivation and passion are important, but they can fluctuate — what really keeps you going every day is the discipline you’ve built.

That could mean creating and sticking to a daily study routine, setting specific times to wake up and go to sleep, or building in regular review sessions. Small habits like that help create structure and consistency.
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Michael’s Answer

Hi Brooke:

Medical school is challenging and demanding. Rotational shifts are long. It seems that 24 hours are not enough to get everything done in the day.

Here are some helpful recommendations for staying on top of responsibilities, retaining difficult information, time management and preventing being overworked and burnout:

- Form a study group with classmates ... set a study agenda with them to accomplish certain goals by certain dates and times ... ask your classmates what best study practices that they do and help each other study challenging concepts, questions, etc.
- Use a white board with an eraser and erasable markers to write down concepts, theories, formulas, etc.. The white board can be used over and over again and save on paper.
- Utilize flash cards where the question is on the front and the answer is on the back. This helps to memorize the information.
- Outline the course material to be learned ... it's like drawing an information map. Each section of an exam will focus on a specific concept, theory, formula, etc.
- Get help and advice from professors or teachers as well as other classmates for best studying practices ... ask them for help to make yourself more accountable to your studies and to you.

Here are other recommendations when studying and avoiding burnout:

- Get to bed early to ensure you are getting enough rest and sleep to be refreshed for the next day ... at least 7-8 hours per night
- Make it a point to get some form of exercise per day ... stretching, going for a walk and getting some sunshine, go to the gym, go running, etc. in order to build up your energy levels
- Instead of candy and chips ... switch to an apple, a banana, a salad. etc. to fuel your energy levels ... too much sugar and fatty foods will make you sluggish and sleepy.
- Find a study area that does not have a television or video games nearby ... go to the library where you can focus on the task(s) at hand
- Put your cellphone facedown and turn on the Do Not Disturb option ... set your text options to reply "Busy studying and will contact you later, Thanks!"
- Create a digital calendar or purchase a calendar from Staples, Office Depot, etc. ... write down goals daily, weekly and monthly on what study items that you need to accomplish by what date and time ... share your calendar with your teachers and your study group of classmates to ensure to remain on track for your study goals
- Reward yourself after accomplishing a study goal ... take a break, go for a walk, eat a healthy snack, call a friend, etc.
- Visualize yourself accomplishing each and every study goal ... create a goal record to track your progress
- Keep Positive and focus on the things that mean the most to you ... you, family, friends, etc.
- Reflect on your past accomplishments to help motivate you to accomplish your future goals
- Read a book, take up a hobby like gardening, playing a musical instrument, volunteer work at a church or charity, etc.
- Remember to take care of and be good to yourself ... there is only one of you ... special, unique and extraordinary

All of the mentioned above is about balancing priorities, pacing oneself and being good to oneself.

Hope this helps and good luck with medical school and becoming a future doctor!
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