Introduction
Starting your pre-med journey and sticking with it all the way can be challenging and test your patience many times. As this is bound to happen there are things you can do to prepare yourself for this.
Having different tools you can lean on when times get tough will help you remain level-headed during this uncertain time.
- Take Breaks
This first tip is self-explanatory but needs to be reiterated. Taking breaks, especially during an intense study period like taking the MCAT allows you to reset and rejuvenate so you can continue to put your best foot forward. Taking mini-breaks throughout the day as well as a full day off is a great balance because it allows you to get things done but also have time to recover fully.
During prime MCAT studying try to take a full day off once a week such as a Sunday and 4 30-45 minute breaks throughout your work day for example. Finding a schedule that works for you and staying consistent with it can build a good work-life balance foundation.
- Continuing to do Activities and Extracurriculars
As pre-med most of you are probably involved in a lot of different activities and extracurriculars already. It is important to continue to try to stay consistent with some of those activities during peak periods. I found this particularly helpful during stressful MCAT studying as it offered me a sense of groundedness and peace that I needed during that time. It continued to remind me why I wanted to pursue medicine and offered me perspective.
Finding 2 to 3 activities that fulfill you and staying active with them during this time can give you that unexpected boost that you might need.
- Eat good, Rest up, Stay Active
Please do not underestimate the power of a 30-minute walk, a nourishing meal, and 8 hours of sleep. When you are in full study mode it is so important to be actively prioritizing these things.Lack of sleep can leave you groggy and unable to focus. Lack of movement can lead to poor mental and physical health. And fatty and sugar-filled meals can leave you hungry faster and mindlessly wondering.
All this to say do not neglect the basics as they are basics for a reason. They are necessities for you to be a functioning human being and not negotiable.
- Remember your Why
Throughout this journey things can get intense, you may feel like you’re failing, or imposter syndrome is taking over but having reminders of why you are pursuing this path can keep you motivated along the way.Writing down your goals, affirmations, or anything that reminds you to keep going is a good thing to keep close. Looking at these things every day or on a consistent basis can keep these thoughts in your head so that when you are feeling down you can feed yourself positivity.
This is kind of a safety net that allows you to continually pour positive thoughts and energy into yourself which in turn builds up your self-confidence and “tricks” you into believing in yourself more. This embodies the saying “ Act as though you are already who you want to be”.
- Foster and Lean on Community
Having a community that you can lean on is important in every aspect of life but especially in the medical field. Putting yourself out there and meeting like-minded people whether they are older or younger is a good way to build community. When you need advice or a quick recommendation letter these will be the people you call. They can help to take some of the load off of you when needed.
A community looks different for everyone but this can include parents, friends, significant others, professors, physicians, community leaders, mentors, etc…..
Whoever they are to you make sure they have your best interest at heart and are there for you when you need it.
Conclusion
Starting to develop these things early can help you to build a good foundation for yourself for the rest of your life. Being intentional and organized can assist you with integrating them into your schedule.
Although it is amazing if you can do these things every day, life gets in the way and it can be challenging to achieve it all. My challenge to you is to not fit everything into one day but rather see what you can achieve in a week or a month.
Focus less on short-term fixes and start making lifestyle changes.