2 answers
Ava
Student
Rock Hill, South Carolina
2
Questions
Asked
233 views
How should i stay engaged and not give up during med school. What are some helpful tips for this? #Spring24?
I sometimes have bad study habits and often get waves of no motivation. How can i help with this?
2 answers
Hailey Hamilton
Nurse
41
Answers
Canton, Georgia
Updated
Hailey’s Answer
Through nursing school, I always found focusing on my goals always helped me to stay on task. Remember why you began this journey and where you plan to end up. You can do it!
Dawn Boisvert
RN, BSN, CHPN, NC-BC, Freelance Nurse Writer
6
Answers
Cary, North Carolina
Updated
Dawn’s Answer
Good Morning, Ava,
Thank you for this question, and one I can totally relate to!
Congratulations on taking steps to becoming a doctor! It's a noble and well needed profession, and you will help countless individuals throughout your career!
I was never in med school, but I was in nursing school, and the amount of information that we're required to learn can be a daunting task when it comes to "hunkering down" and studying. At times, I found myself getting overwhelmed with the amount of material I needed to learn which led to not being motivated to pick it back up right away forcing me to "cram study" before exams (which I don't recommend as I found it to be more daunting than studying a little every day).
I get it.
This is normal. It's also part of the process of learning, growing, and finding out what works best for you to learn the material you need to be able to advance in your studies and career.
I recently read an article about "rituals", and how having a ritual can help with focus. This is something I practice daily, and found it has helped me.
For example, each morning I wake up, make coffee, feed my dog, and know that right after I do this, I sit down with my coffee and read two chapters in a book for 1 of the 2 courses I am currently taking (I also work 3 days a week). At 8:30 PM, I spend time reading a book in the other course for an hour or so before I go to bed. Now, depending on any assignments I have that are pending in either of these courses, I will "triage", if you will, and devote either one those times (morning or bedtime) to one or the other, or both. Either way, I have now established a ritual that keeps me focused on learning the material I set out to learn and on track to attain my goals of certification in both courses I am taking.
This is just an example of what I do. Now, what may work for me, may not work for you, but perhaps trying out different rituals of your own may have some benefit to help boost motivation and keep you engaged in your classes. You can practice your ritual anywhere: at home, in school, or outside. Whatever works for YOU.
Writing out a schedule on a white board or calendar can also help. This is something else I did when I went back for my BSN. It served as a visual motivator to look at daily letting me know which classes and reading I needed to devote my energy to, and also it provided accountability to myself to ensure I was meeting my goals in a timely manner. Each day I was able to check off a box next to my goal for that day, and believe me when I tell you, us nurses LOVE to check off boxes and see our completed assignments!
I invite you to think about these questions:
1. What's one small change you can incorporate and commit to each day that would help you stay engaged and on track with your studies? (ie: developing a ritual or another method that could work for you)
2. What visuals would you be willing to put in place to hold yourself accountable in maintaining your goals? (ie: Post It Notes, Calendar, White Board, etc)
Be patient with yourself. It took some time for me to develop a rhythm in devoting time to study, and it may take time for you as well.
Try different methods, and guaranteed you'll find what works best for you. YOU'VE GOT THIS!
Thank you for this question, and one I can totally relate to!
Congratulations on taking steps to becoming a doctor! It's a noble and well needed profession, and you will help countless individuals throughout your career!
I was never in med school, but I was in nursing school, and the amount of information that we're required to learn can be a daunting task when it comes to "hunkering down" and studying. At times, I found myself getting overwhelmed with the amount of material I needed to learn which led to not being motivated to pick it back up right away forcing me to "cram study" before exams (which I don't recommend as I found it to be more daunting than studying a little every day).
I get it.
This is normal. It's also part of the process of learning, growing, and finding out what works best for you to learn the material you need to be able to advance in your studies and career.
I recently read an article about "rituals", and how having a ritual can help with focus. This is something I practice daily, and found it has helped me.
For example, each morning I wake up, make coffee, feed my dog, and know that right after I do this, I sit down with my coffee and read two chapters in a book for 1 of the 2 courses I am currently taking (I also work 3 days a week). At 8:30 PM, I spend time reading a book in the other course for an hour or so before I go to bed. Now, depending on any assignments I have that are pending in either of these courses, I will "triage", if you will, and devote either one those times (morning or bedtime) to one or the other, or both. Either way, I have now established a ritual that keeps me focused on learning the material I set out to learn and on track to attain my goals of certification in both courses I am taking.
This is just an example of what I do. Now, what may work for me, may not work for you, but perhaps trying out different rituals of your own may have some benefit to help boost motivation and keep you engaged in your classes. You can practice your ritual anywhere: at home, in school, or outside. Whatever works for YOU.
Writing out a schedule on a white board or calendar can also help. This is something else I did when I went back for my BSN. It served as a visual motivator to look at daily letting me know which classes and reading I needed to devote my energy to, and also it provided accountability to myself to ensure I was meeting my goals in a timely manner. Each day I was able to check off a box next to my goal for that day, and believe me when I tell you, us nurses LOVE to check off boxes and see our completed assignments!
I invite you to think about these questions:
1. What's one small change you can incorporate and commit to each day that would help you stay engaged and on track with your studies? (ie: developing a ritual or another method that could work for you)
2. What visuals would you be willing to put in place to hold yourself accountable in maintaining your goals? (ie: Post It Notes, Calendar, White Board, etc)
Be patient with yourself. It took some time for me to develop a rhythm in devoting time to study, and it may take time for you as well.
Try different methods, and guaranteed you'll find what works best for you. YOU'VE GOT THIS!
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