Battling burn out... Suggestions?

[673441]

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Hey guys,

I have an exam coming up in a couple of days and a week later I have my NBME final exam. I am so mentally and physically exhausted that I can't conjure up the motivation to do the very little review I have left... Has anyone felt like this before? If so, what did you do? Thanks!

 

[DrDarce]

I get you on the burnout, I'm definitely feeling it now. I force myself to eat cook myself something healthy and run to the gym for at least some cardio. This get's me mentally in a way more positive state and I become more productive.

 

[673441]

I get you on the burnout, I'm definitely feeling it now. I force myself to eat cook myself something healthy and run to the gym for at least some cardio. This get's me mentally in a way more positive state and I become more productive.

That's a good way to do! I looked into doing some group study and it seemed to do me better than self study. I just got some people together yesterday and said lets do some practice questions from Robbins and discuss our answers. That sort of helped me spice it up a bit!


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[P0ke]

My school's test scheduling is horrible... We had no tests the first 2 months of class and then all the tests are bunched up in the second half of the semester. The last week of finals, we have 4 tests, including 2 shelves from different classes... I don't see how they expect us NOT to cram in that situation. The scheduling at my SMP school was way better with smaller tests weekly or bi-weekly from the beginning of the semester.

 

[MD2BE92]

My school's test scheduling is horrible... We had no tests the first 2 months of class and then all the tests are bunched up in the second half of the semester. The last week of finals, we have 4 tests, including 2 shelves from different classes... I don't see how they expect us NOT to cram in that situation. The scheduling at my SMP school was way better with smaller tests weekly or bi-weekly from the beginning of the semester.

Ugh sorry to hear this... based on my very limited knowledge of medical schools (visited>10) It seems this model is quickly being phased out. A lot of the schools I visited/interviewed/accepted to at are testing on a 2-4 week basis. I think its more congruent with your prep for shelf exams down the road

 

[MD2BE92]

That's a good way to do! I looked into doing some group study and it seemed to do me better than self study. I just got some people together yesterday and said lets do some practice questions from Robbins and discuss our answers. That sort of helped me spice it up a bit!


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When I was doing my SMP, I routinely tried to get a pick up basketball game together or softball or something physically active...OUTSIDE of academia. Helped clear my mind FWIW

 

[KinesiologyNerd]

Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.

 

[xffan624]

Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.

OP is in the Caribbean. Quitting would not the worst idea in the world.

 

[zeppelinpage4]

I've been there too. I've found that giving myself a guilt free night off from studying helps.

 

[Mad Jack]

I'm there right now. Forcing myself to keep on studying the Ob/Gyn, much as I have no energy to do so. I just feel like if I laid down in bed right now I wouldn't get up for the rest of the day, that's how tired I am. Medical school is one hell of a marathon.

 

[sliceofbread136]

Third year has made me very burned out than ever before. Even after a 2 week spring break I'm still exhausted

 

[Bancrofti]

Third year has made me very burned out than ever before. Even after a 2 week spring break I'm still exhausted

wtf. you got a spring break??

And OP... take the rest of the day off and literally do whatever you feel like doing that generally makes you happy/relaxed. I've found that to work best. It's tough to get over the anxiety of pushing work off for later, but your increased productivity with the little bit more studying you'll have to get done is better than trying quick fixes or trying to push through it with a half-assed depressed effort.

 

[Anicetus]

Can you hear them? "If you're burnt out now, you're doing it wrong. Wait until clinicals...."

They're coming...

 

[kmp0410]

Do something else. Whatever brings you joy. For me its usually working out, walking dog, watching a movie, etc.

Go to bed early and wake up motivated.

Also, task oriented studying. Come up with specific things to do and its alot easier than saying "I'm going to review for 2 hours".

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

This is a prime example of the Carib program trying to weed its own students out. You'll be alright. You'll do well enough to pass it by like 2-3%. Then you'll go onto your fifth semester and rape your Step 1 due to the 3 months you guys have to study and the mock step 1 exam you have to take and do really well on to even sit for the actual Step 1. You'll go on your rotations and do your thing. Match time will come and you'll match into IM or FM somewhere super shiesty when all is said and done. You'll go on to practice and occasionally go back to do paid speaking events for Ross or SGU and tell other pre-meds just how wonderful your time in the Caribbean was and you would do it all over again and how supportive the school was. The kids that were inspired by your spiel will flock to the Carib and will be on SDN complaining about the same damn thing. Some will drop out... some will continue on. Thus, the cycle continues and life goes on.

 

[Oblique]

This is a prime example of the Carib program trying to weed its own students out. You'll be alright. You'll do well enough to pass it by like 2-3%. Then you'll go onto your fifth semester and rape your Step 1 due to the 3 months you guys have to study and the mock step 1 exam you have to take and do really well on to even sit for the actual Step 1. You'll go on your rotations and do your thing. Match time will come and you'll match into IM or FM somewhere super shiesty when all is said and done. You'll go on to practice and occasionally go back to do paid speaking events for Ross or SGU and tell other pre-meds just how wonderful your time in the Caribbean was and you would do it all over again and how supportive the school was. The kids that were inspired by your spiel will flock to the Carib and will be on SDN complaining about the same damn thing. Some will drop out... some will continue on. Thus, the cycle continues and life goes on.

lol

 

[RTchill]

This is a prime example of the Carib program trying to weed its own students out. You'll be alright. You'll do well enough to pass it by like 2-3%. Then you'll go onto your fifth semester and rape your Step 1 due to the 3 months you guys have to study and the mock step 1 exam you have to take and do really well on to even sit for the actual Step 1. You'll go on your rotations and do your thing. Match time will come and you'll match into IM or FM somewhere super shiesty when all is said and done. You'll go on to practice and occasionally go back to do paid speaking events for Ross or SGU and tell other pre-meds just how wonderful your time in the Caribbean was and you would do it all over again and how supportive the school was. The kids that were inspired by your spiel will flock to the Carib and will be on SDN complaining about the same damn thing. Some will drop out... some will continue on. Thus, the cycle continues and life goes on.

Also, can we stop using "rape" as a positive verb to describe something other than actual rape? I thought that language trend had passed...

 

[TBV]

Also, can we stop using "rape" as a positive verb to describe something other than actual rape? I thought that language trend had passed...

 

[Seth Joo]

Hey guys,

I have an exam coming up in a couple of days and a week later I have my NBME final exam. I am so mentally and physically exhausted that I can't conjure up the motivation to do the very little review I have left... Has anyone felt like this before? If so, what did you do? Thanks!

Find a hobby, or take a mini vacation, usually can help you decompress from the pressure. I used to go on road trips with classmates when we had breaks to relieve the stress from academia.

 

[673441]

Thanks all for your tips! It's helpful to know that I'm not the only one going through this. Almost done! Finals week homestretch! We can do this! 🙂


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[KinesiologyNerd]

Thanks all for your tips! It's helpful to know that I'm not the only one going through this. Almost done! Finals week homestretch! We can do this! 🙂


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Just make sure you solidify your coping mechanisms. It doesn't get easier.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

Also, can we stop using "rape" as a positive verb to describe something other than actual rape? I thought that language trend had passed...

IDK what other term to use because that's essentially what the Carib schools do to their own. SGU, ROSS, SABA, are really rich pimps... some of their employees (students in this context) make it to the big time... go on to maybe do adult TV or star in some reality TV show after they get butt implants (most of them matching into programs in the boonies)... while most of the stable is still in the streets doing the dirty work in the backseats of hoopties and back alleys to pay for their crack addiction they picked up (equivalent to the mental, psychological, and emotional RAPE that occurs to the students who don't match and are in an endless cycle of applying to pre-lims, research, and reapplying in hopes of paying off that debt).

Uncle Sam wants his dough booboo.

It's a dirty game.

 

[DrDarce]

IDK what other term to use because that's essentially what the Carib schools do to their own. SGU, ROSS, SABA, are really rich pimps... some of their employees (students in this context) make it to the big time... go on to maybe do adult TV or star in some reality TV show after they get butt implants (most of them matching into programs in the boonies)... while most of the stable is still in the streets doing the dirty work in the backseats of hoopties and back alleys to pay for their crack addiction they picked up (equivalent to the mental, psychological, and emotional RAPE that occurs to the students who don't match and are in an endless cycle of applying to pre-lims, research, and reapplying in hopes of paying off that debt).

Uncle Sam wants his dough booboo.

It's a dirty game.

OP made this thread about burnout yet you seem way too interested in talking crap about his school. We get it, you don't like his school. Move on, man.

 

[IslandStyle808]

IDK what other term to use because that's essentially what the Carib schools do to their own. SGU, ROSS, SABA, are really rich pimps... some of their employees (students in this context) make it to the big time... go on to maybe do adult TV or star in some reality TV show after they get butt implants (most of them matching into programs in the boonies)... while most of the stable is still in the streets doing the dirty work in the backseats of hoopties and back alleys to pay for their crack addiction they picked up (equivalent to the mental, psychological, and emotional RAPE that occurs to the students who don't match and are in an endless cycle of applying to pre-lims, research, and reapplying in hopes of paying off that debt).

Uncle Sam wants his dough booboo.

It's a dirty game.

R U O K brah...

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

OP made this thread about burnout yet you seem way too interested in talking crap about his school. We get it, you don't like his school. Move on, man.

Stop getting all butthurt, man.
No offense against OP. It's not that I don't like OP... I just don't like the situation his school is putting him through. I'm personally rooting for him. I have a personal beef with Caribbean programs because I personally know people who have had their dreams destroyed due to the money hungry committees and companies that run these programs. Just saying that this is the point. Schools want you to burnout OP.

 

[MD2BE92]

Stop getting all butthurt, man.
No offense against OP. It's not that I don't like OP... I just don't like the situation his school is putting him through. I'm personally rooting for him. I have a personal beef with Caribbean programs because I personally know people who have had their dreams destroyed due to the money hungry committees and companies that run these programs. Just saying that this is the point. Schools want you to burnout OP.

Not to mention that there are not any repercussions for those caribbean programs that treat students as dispensable cash cows (give you a hint, all of them)
They don't have accreditation that they are afraid of losing for lack of ethics or just straight up criminal policies...it's a profiteering scam.

 

[Pacna]

Works sometimes for me: tell myself (and have those close to me tell me) that the exam is a week sooner than it is. Of note, you'll have to say it out loud many times, and you'll look (be?) completely insane.

Definitely won't help with long-term burnout, but if it's about getting motivated TODAY, this has worked for me in the past.

 

[TxsMed14]

Hey guys,

I have an exam coming up in a couple of days and a week later I have my NBME final exam. I am so mentally and physically exhausted that I can't conjure up the motivation to do the very little review I have left... Has anyone felt like this before? If so, what did you do? Thanks!

This is my burn out list so far... open to any suggestions people have found to deal!
http://medicalschooldropout.com/index.php/2016/04/15/burnout-in-5-easy-steps/

 

[673441]

This is my burn out list so far... open to any suggestions people have found to deal!
https://medschooldropout.com/2016/04/15/burnout-in-5-easy-steps/

Wow! This is by far the best thing I've seen on burnout! Thank you so much 🙂


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[TxsMed14]

Wow! This is by far the best thing I've seen on burnout! Thank you so much 🙂


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Your welcome. Good luck on exams! Don't forget the study breaks. I recommend beading and Taboo 😉

 

[DCHoya09]

OP is in the Caribbean. Quitting would not the worst idea in the world.

I'll take a Caribbean doctor over an arrogant one who makes comments like that. What would your school say if you weren't hiding behind a SN? You should be ashamed.

 

[TxsMed14]

More resources for anyone dealing with this, Pamela Wilde offers some great insights and works to fight the stigma of 'burnout.' pretty cool! http://www.idealmedicalcare.org/blog/our-message-of-hope-for-medical-students-doctors/

 

[Fatalis]

If you can swing it, take a day or 1/2 day off and play some video games or w/e it is that you do to relax. It helps and sometimes even puts a little fire under you a** to keep you motivated.

 

[laughingfrog]

Stop getting all butthurt, man.
No offense against OP. It's not that I don't like OP... I just don't like the situation his school is putting him through. I'm personally rooting for him. I have a personal beef with Caribbean programs because I personally know people who have had their dreams destroyed due to the money hungry committees and companies that run these programs. Just saying that this is the point. Schools want you to burnout OP.

did you wash out of the carib lol

 

[673441]

did you wash out of the carib lol

I don't think he did. He just has the opinion that we are undeserving of our status as medical student. Either way I maintain a do not interact policy with them on this forum 🙂

I've found the majority of SDNers are really cool and are willing to offer advice without getting side tracked by my school (with the exception of a few).


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[DetectiveAlonzo]

I don't think he did. He just has the opinion that we are undeserving of our status as medical student. Either way I maintain a do not interact policy with them on this forum 🙂

I've found the majority of SDNers are really cool and are willing to offer advice without getting side tracked by my school (with the exception of a few).


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DAFUQ???

Bruh.. I have family AND friends that are in the Carib.. matter of fact the SAME SCHOOL YOU ARE AT. I never said anything about IMGs undeserving of any status. As a matter of fact... the ONES that make it through went through hell and deserve it just like anybody else... but they did it in a really risky way... but PDs do not share the same view. It is what it is.

There is a reason why every person I ask who went to the Caribbean says they should have stayed here in the states... strengthened their app by retakes, research, or MCAT and applied BROADLY to both DOs and MDs.

I still stand by my statement actually... FM, IM, Psych, or Peds.... in a shiesty area... is what you will get after going through all of the hurdles of the Carib.

With your questonable comprehension and logic, it really is no wonder why you went there but not my problem bro. Wish you much luck getting through it all because you will need it.. like all of us. At the end of it, you'll do what's best for you but IF I could stop anybody else from making their lives much harder than it needs to be to get much less after 4 years of intense work, I will.

did you wash out of the carib lol

Nope. Actually gonna be attending a school near you.. or maybe the same one as you. See you soon bud. 🙂

 

[laughingfrog]

Nope. Actually gonna be attending a school near you.. or maybe the same one as you. See you soon bud. 🙂

nice, i'll keep an eye out for whoever has over reactions to the caribbean. i am gonna whisper "SABA" to every class mate until one blows up

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

nice, i'll keep an eye out for whoever has over reactions to the caribbean. i am gonna whisper "SABA" to every class mate until one blows up

Or until they look at you like "wtf are you doing in med school? Really...? They wasted a seat on THIS guy?"

 

[laughingfrog]

nerd alert

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

nerd alert

Gun til I'm done bruh.

 

[673441]

CaribGradLivesMatter


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[LabMonster]

Hey guys,

I have an exam coming up in a couple of days and a week later I have my NBME final exam. I am so mentally and physically exhausted that I can't conjure up the motivation to do the very little review I have left... Has anyone felt like this before? If so, what did you do? Thanks!

I haven't read the rest of the replies, so forgive me if I duplicate.

The testing, the classes, the "learning" depersonalize what we actually want to do: help sick people. Take an afternoon and go see some patients. Doesn't matter what year you are, you should have access to the floors. Talk to an attending, faculty, resident, whomever and get up on the floor and talk to a sick person.

Spend 30-60 minutes with a person with whatever illness, doesn't matter. Could be CHF, COPD, Cancer, pancreatitis... You take 1 hour of your time, exchange your concern, honest concern, with their information about their illness, history etc and you may just be floored. We don't get to spend time with people. We're supposed to, that's our job, spending time and talking to get a great H&P and earn trust. As an attending, you won't have time - unless you make it. Sit. Listen. Hold a hand. You'll find that tests, the medical education system is all smoke and mirrors. Not connecting, not caring, not realizing your humanity is the same as your patient's will lead to burn-out.

So. Big exam. Talk to a woman who is dying of ovarian cancer. Talk to a guy who is end-stage CHF. Talk to a young HIV patient about how they will manage their chronic disease despite being addicted to meth and being homeless. You'll gain perspective. You'll gain humanity back without some resident or attending wanting a note or a plan or pimping you with questions.

To practice medicine right, correctly, you need to sacrifice your time and open yourself with listening, the right questions and time. You won't be able to do it forever, so use your time now. An hour out of studying spent with a patient who is suffering will increase your productivity, focus, and perspective. It will also give a patient hope that we do give a damn.

Good luck on the test.