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Being in medical school in itself is tough. On top of the mountain of studying you need to complete, extra reading, presentation and going to the hospital, you have EXAMS.
Yes, exams not tests, almost every month. I remembered telling my non-medical friends that I have an upcoming exam, literally almost every time we met, which if you are in medical school, you would understand. The moment one is over, the next is coming up and you have to start preparing for it. Eventually, they grew immune to me saying that I have an upcoming exam. Little did they know, so did I.
I used to fear exams but eventually it was incorporated so much into our lives that it became part of our lives and did not stop most of us from well, having fun to the fullest.
I have always been a morning person since high school. I never understood why but even as I sleep late, I still find myself getting up early, usually before the rest of the day kicks in. Here are a few habits that I would recommend doing as I’ve done so during my days as a medical student.
1. Getting Up EARLIER Than Your Class
Set an alarm 2-3 hours before your first class.
The timing of our classes varies according to our posting and changes weekly. Some days, it would be at 8. Sometimes 9 or even 10 if another group is having their bedside teachings. Hence, there are days where my subgroup would not have to go to hospital as my batch were the ones who suffered through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more on my experiences in my final year of medical school.
Thus, there were timings and allocations for us as we could not simply enter the hospital as we please and stay beyond our designated time as it was during the pre-pandemic days.
Does that mean that you should stay in bed till the very last minute and get up when it’s time for you to leave? Unless you have been pulling up an all nighter as you may be a night owl, then my advice is no. Regardless of the timing of your class, keep your morning consistent and clean by getting up at the same time everyday and getting up way earlier.
For me, morning sets the tone for the rest of the day and it affects my productivity. Personally, I do not like to wake up and rush to class as it affects my mood for the whole day as well as my interaction with people. It’s like waking up with anxiety and eventually I might just suffer from atrial fibrillation.
Waking up earlier allows me to slow down in the morning and just take my time for my body to warm up, just like a car for throughout the whole day I would be on full gear, never slowing down till it’s time to sleep. Besides that, it allows you to take your time in getting ready and preparing for class. Hence, you would be able to leave earlier, if you live quite a distance from your class or the hospital.
2. MOVE Your Body
No, I don’t mean get up and run. Unless you’re into that kind of thing.
I am typically a very slow person in the morning and I really need to give myself time to tune up for the day. However, I find that taking slow walks and eventually building up pace wakes me up even faster. Besides that, morning would be the best time to get your exercise out of the way. By getting that done first thing in the morning, you have gotten the hardest part out of the way and gives yourself a sense of accomplishment to accomplish more throughout the day.
Basically, you do not have to think about it for the rest of the day as you’ve already completed it.
3. Shower
I was blessed to be living in a warm climate with access to hot water in the morning. Hence, bathing in the morning wasn’t an issue.
Maybe it is due to my mindset but personally, I do not feel comfortable without my morning shower and I tend to be self-conscious of myself around others as I go throughout the day. It’s a distraction I didn’t need.
Showering in the morning gives you that final kick in waking up and you will definitely feel a lot better after that.
4. Have Breakfast
I usually fast upon the first hour of waking.
However, I do not skip breakfast. As I mentioned, I usually fast upon the first hour of waking, I utilise that time to prepare my breakfast meal and my coffee.
It keeps me full longer and I do not get “hangry” as lunch time approaches. Besides that, I find myself snacking less throughout the day.
5. Read / Study / Do Practise Questions
You’ve had breakfast, moved around and gotten ready and now you’re just waiting for your friend to finish getting ready or to come pick you up. Perhaps, it’s too early to go to class.
It’s time to utilise that free time by catching up on some of your reading or going through your flashcards or the topics for the day. If you feel that the timing is too short for reading, you can always opt for answering questions.
Personally, my mind is fresh in the morning and early morning studying is the best for me. Hence, after my shower, I usually sit, read or do some questions while having my breakfast.
Here are just a few habits that I’ve done consistently and still continue to emulate. If this interests you or you find that you’re a morning person as well, consider giving it a try. Find the habit that suits you and boosts your productivity throughout the day and inculcate it.
Finally, if you’re a medical student or even just a student, I wish you all the very best!
Related posts:
- 5 Benefits Of A Study Group In University – Medical School Edition
- 6 Strategies For Studying 2 Weeks Before Finals
- 6 Ways To Study In Final Year Of Medical School
The Theoretical Doctor 