Burning out already?

[Conando]

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I think I'm burning out. It's only been 2 months into my first year, and I already don't care about my classes. I've tried pacing myself and staying balanced, and I've done a good job in my opinion. But I can't get excited or even interested in the material anymore.

It's not that I think the material is too overwhelming or too difficult. It's actually not that bad. But I just don't want to learn it anymore.

Is this normal? How do I fix it?

 

[Brewmeister]

I experienced this during the first part of MS1 as well. The classes we were taking weren't really taught well and I lost interest quick. Also, there was so much mandatory class that by the time I got home at night I had little energy to study and would often fall asleep holding a book. Things will most likely get better for you once you start getting into more interesting material. Keep your head up 🙂

 

[Sheldor]

Then all of a sudden you are a third year and you wonder how in the world you made it through the first two years.

 

[DrCoffeeBean]

Eat 3 times a day, sleep 8 hours a night and plod trhough the material. You will get there, the phase will pass.

 

[willen101383]

Eat 3 times a day, sleep 8 hours a night and plod trhough the material. You will get there, the phase will pass.

Change that to 10 hours and I agree 😉

 

[ucsfstudents]

Do not make school your life. Find a way to continue doing the things you did before medical school, and hang out with friends.

 

[CaptainSSO]

Eat 3 times a day, sleep 8 hours a night and plod trhough the material. You will get there, the phase will pass.

I agree, it's just a phase. I'm only 6 weeks into first year myself, but I was already burning out my first week. Pretty bad, I know. The slump lasted a couple weeks, and then after that I felt fine.

It also helps to take some breaks--at first I was trying to allocate every moment to studying, and it was getting ridiculous. Now, if there's a TV show on, I feel like going to the gym, or I want to go spend a Saturday afternoon out somewhere, I just go and don't think twice about it.

 

[Jack is Back]

All good advice.

Decide how much work is a good amount to do, then do it.

Make time for all the other important stuff, rest, social time, fun time, whatever makes you uniquely you.

The problem is, people do this in reverse in medical school. They try to do all the work they can, then find time for other things.

Guess what, if you don't design time for the things that make your life good then you will neglect them and wind up depressed and burnt out quickly.

 

[FIREitUP]

I'm about a month in and I feel very similar. I absolutely cannot stand molecular biology/genetics. I'm just counting the hours till this block is over (around 23 hours)

 

[VoiceofReason]

the feeling that you have now is the one that will stay with you for a long time and possibly forever

 

[FIREitUP]

the feeling that you have now is the one that will stay with you for a long time and possibly forever

🙁

 

[Morsetlis]

Just become a dermatologist.

 

[Conando]

Thanks everyone. A little bit more about my situation--I don't make medical school my life. I get a ton of sleep and I goof off everyday. I take at least 1 day of the week off. And with the exception of the few days leading up to an exam, I study about 2-4 hours outside of class. I'm still doing fun things that I've done before med school.

Despite all this, I am starting to not care. I'm starting to skip labs and review sessions. I can't concentrate while watching lectures or reading notes.

Then all of a sudden you are a third year and you wonder how in the world you made it through the first two years.

How is third year better? Please, I need something to look forward to.

I agree, it's just a phase. I'm only 6 weeks into first year myself, but I was already burning out my first week. Pretty bad, I know. The slump lasted a couple weeks, and then after that I felt fine.

It also helps to take some breaks--at first I was trying to allocate every moment to studying, and it was getting ridiculous. Now, if there's a TV show on, I feel like going to the gym, or I want to go spend a Saturday afternoon out somewhere, I just go and don't think twice about it.

Something I've noticed too, this "phase" seems almost cyclical to me. I'm fine for about 3 weeks, then I hit a major roadblock. Somehow, I survive, and I'm fine again for about another 3 weeks.

the feeling that you have now is the one that will stay with you for a long time and possibly forever

🙁 x2

 

[giggle]

I'm starting to skip labs and review sessions. I can't concentrate while watching lectures or reading notes.

You're skipping labs? Anatomy labs??

Anyway, hang in there! Everyone's feeling the burn right now. Take it easy but find yourself a minimum pace to stick to so you don't get too far behind.

 

[235009]

Then all of a sudden you are a third year and you wonder how in the world you made it through the first two years.

so true

first and second year really suck. just put your head down and power through. looking back i really have no idea how i got through it..especially step 1 studying