Does anybody else have difficulty taking breaks?

[shan564]

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Hello everybody,

I'd like some advice.

Recently, I've found that the intensity of my prep is progressively growing. I'm getting more and more done, and I'm setting higher and higher goals. All of a sudden, I just decided to add another 50-hour lecture set (plus review) to my already-packed last-six-week plan. I'm going deep into the night, through the morning, and just falling asleep when I fall asleep.

It wasn't like this when I first started studying about 5 weeks ago. I was going casually, covering 10 pages a day in First Aid, doing 25-50 questions in UW, and then taking the rest of the day off. People at home (I'm staying with my parents during prep time) were asking me if I'm working hard enough. Now they're trying to convince me to take a break.

And I know that I probably need a break. But whenever I take a break, I think of all of the stuff that I could be studying.

I've never been like this before. Honestly, I was a bit of a slacker for most of med school. But all of a sudden, I feel like a gunner (which is not an adjective that's ever been applied to me before). Maybe it's SDN... maybe it's the pressure... maybe it's just trying to make up for lost time in the first two years of school... but I don't know how to handle myself.

Usually, in the week before finals (even in med school), I'm the guy saying "man, we studied for like five hours today... let's go watch a movie or something." But now, I can't even watch a movie without having a copy of First Aid in my lap.

What do I do? I don't know if I can go another 6 weeks at this pace without driving myself crazy. But on the other hand, I can't take a break without thinking "I could be working on my score right now." How have you guys handled that situation?

 

[CatFactorial]

The danger is that you burn out before the test and stop caring.

I think it's ok to be non stop study mode in the weeks leading up to the test, but you should try not to compromise on sleep, food, and exercise.

 

[shan564]

Yeah, I realize that I'm at risk of burnout, which is why I scheduled break days... but on the break days, I keep thinking about the test and I end up studying anyway. That's especially bad when it's time to go to bed or go to the gym... it's always "let me just finish one more lecture, and then I'll go."

Luckily, I'm staying with my parents during my prep period and my mom's a dietitian, so at least I'm getting healthy food. Otherwise, I'd be eating Big Mac meals every day.

 

[RedSoxSuck]

Hello everybody,

I'd like some advice.

Recently, I've found that the intensity of my prep is progressively growing. I'm getting more and more done, and I'm setting higher and higher goals. All of a sudden, I just decided to add another 50-hour lecture set (plus review) to my already-packed last-six-week plan. I'm going deep into the night, through the morning, and just falling asleep when I fall asleep.

It wasn't like this when I first started studying about 5 weeks ago. I was going casually, covering 10 pages a day in First Aid, doing 25-50 questions in UW, and then taking the rest of the day off. People at home (I'm staying with my parents during prep time) were asking me if I'm working hard enough. Now they're trying to convince me to take a break.

And I know that I probably need a break. But whenever I take a break, I think of all of the stuff that I could be studying.

I've never been like this before. Honestly, I was a bit of a slacker for most of med school. But all of a sudden, I feel like a gunner (which is not an adjective that's ever been applied to me before). Maybe it's SDN... maybe it's the pressure... maybe it's just trying to make up for lost time in the first two years of school... but I don't know how to handle myself.

Usually, in the week before finals (even in med school), I'm the guy saying "man, we studied for like five hours today... let's go watch a movie or something." But now, I can't even watch a movie without having a copy of First Aid in my lap.

What do I do? I don't know if I can go another 6 weeks at this pace without driving myself crazy. But on the other hand, I can't take a break without thinking "I could be working on my score right now." How have you guys handled that situation?

I think you need to pace yourself because you WILL BURN out and then your performance will suffer. I totally agree with it being difficult to take breaks. I am the same way but i have a set schedule. I go to sleep at the same time and try to get up at the same time everyday. I have a very set routine. I have a scheduled day off (sundays) when i run errands etc and just relax. I think this day off is important because it helps me unwind (lol) and let my brain rest a little bit. But there are times during the week (monday - sat) when i have a difficult time studying. And this period of being unproductive really stresses me out. I get angry because of my really intense study schedule and i feel behind etc etc. So i can't take a break even if i am being un productive. I have found myself to be MORE stressed if i get an unscheduled break because it was not planned.

Scheduled day off forces me to keep studying and something to look forward to. So in a way i am still studying alot but after reading your schedule, i feel like a slacker. I feel i could work harder. But in a way both of us are working hard. Only difference is that you don't seem to have a set schedule.

Conclusion: Perhaps try to have a scheduled day off each week and this will help in avoiding burning out and perhaps make you even more productive. Remember, It is a marathon and NOT a sprint!

 

[RedSoxSuck]

That's especially bad when it's time to go to bed or go to the gym... it's always "let me just finish one more lecture, and then I'll go."

I know the folllowing is bad but have no choice. I have to be asleep by midnight inorder to get up at 7am to start studying. Most of the nights, i can't fall asleep until 1am and i can't afford to sleep in until 8am to get that extra hour because i need to finish daily schedule. So i have been taking nyquil to make sure i fall asleep on time. I am sure its bad but for now it will have to do.

I wonder why that the case. Probably excessive stress and i am already OCD and a creature of habit/routine.

 

[shan564]

I do have a set schedule. It's in Google calendar with a to-do tasks checklist and a scheduled day off every week. It was originally two days off, but then I decided to step it up. Still, the schedule is fairly modest... but I always end up trying to do extra stuff when I finish my required stuff. Which is strange, because I'm still over 5 weeks away from my test, and I'd honestly be satisfied if I got the same score as I got on my last UWSA.

So it's completely irrational. I know I'm on the road to burnout, but that's my rational side thinking...

I think it's exacerbated by the fact that I'm currently in a city where I don't have any friends. When I have friends around, I can go a month without thinking about studying.

 

[shan564]

I know the folllowing is bad but have no choice. I have to be asleep by midnight inorder to get up at 7am to start studying. Most of the nights, i can't fall asleep until 1am and i can't afford to sleep in until 8am to get that extra hour because i need to finish daily schedule. So i have been taking nyquil to make sure i fall asleep on time. I am sure its bad but for now it will have to do.

I wonder why that the case. Probably excessive stress and i am already OCD and a creature of habit/routine.

My outlook on this particular time period is that you're allowed to do whatever you want to support your study habit. If that means sleeping at completely random hours (which works best for me) or taking nyquil (which apparently works best for you), then do what you need to do and worry about other things later. My caffeine addiction is as bad as it's ever been, but I'll take a few days to withdraw after the test...

 

[RedSoxSuck]

My outlook on this particular time period is that you're allowed to do whatever you want to support your study habit. If that means sleeping at completely random hours (which works best for me) or taking nyquil (which apparently works best for you), then do what you need to do and worry about other things later. My caffeine addiction is as bad as it's ever been, but I'll take a few days to withdraw after the test...

I am consuming around 9 shots of iced espresso daily. But i try to drink alot of water to keep it flowing through..

 

[shan564]

Ha, well, you're way ahead of my three daily cans of Diet Mountain Dew (plus a coffee if I didn't sleep well last night)...

 

[coreytayloris]

haha. finding reasons to stop studying is never a problem for me.

I love watching floyd mayweather motivational videos and quotes on youtube to get me pumped for studying.

Even the king needs to take a break though.

You wanna be peaking for the day of the test, not two to three weeks out.

 

[CatFactorial]

I am consuming around 9 shots of iced espresso daily. But i try to drink alot of water to keep it flowing through..

My blood pressure went up after reading that.

 

[CatFactorial]

Also you could try taking a 10 minute break every hour. That way you're able to relax somewhat without feeling like you are wasting time.

 

[NightSwim]

I'd just ride the wave of productivity and focus while you can. Rather than long breaks, maybe smallish breaks will ease your anxiety while also helping prevent burnout. I think to prevent burnout you want to avoid getting lonely and depressed. Have something to look forward to each day or so. For instance, every evening I've been going to the ice cream shop... while listening to Goljan during the car ride. At least it's something that I enjoy and keeps me sane.

 

[shan564]

Oh, I should have mentioned - I take small breaks all the time. I'm never studying continuously for hours and hours on end.

 

[hinduthug]

You're on SDN hence you are taking a break!

 

[hinduthug]

I am consuming around 9 shots of iced espresso daily. But i try to drink alot of water to keep it flowing through..

Adverse effects of intaking about 1g of Caffeine....haha!

 

[RedSoxSuck]

Adverse effects of intaking about 1g of Caffeine....haha!

My caffeine tolerance is really high. I am immune to energy drinks because i can drink one and then go back to sleep. I blame it all on the MCAT!!!...I used to go to costco to get a case of monsters and go through them like water. When i was done with mcat, i drank them for fun because they tasted good. LOL!

 

[hinduthug]

My caffeine tolerance is really high. I am immune to energy drinks because i can drink one and then go back to sleep. I blame it all on the MCAT!!!...I used to go to costco to get a case of monsters and go through them like water. When i was done with mcat, i drank them for fun because they tasted good. LOL!

Lol "cuz they tasted good" made my day.

 

[RedSoxSuck]

Lol "cuz they tasted good" made my day.

Seriously!! I just finished rest of the case for fun and then went to costco and bought another one

 

[hinduthug]

Haha have you had your cardiac workup at all? Might want to get it done lol.

 

[jpudge12]

Hello everybody,

I'd like some advice.

Recently, I've found that the intensity of my prep is progressively growing. I'm getting more and more done, and I'm setting higher and higher goals. All of a sudden, I just decided to add another 50-hour lecture set (plus review) to my already-packed last-six-week plan. I'm going deep into the night, through the morning, and just falling asleep when I fall asleep.

It wasn't like this when I first started studying about 5 weeks ago. I was going casually, covering 10 pages a day in First Aid, doing 25-50 questions in UW, and then taking the rest of the day off. People at home (I'm staying with my parents during prep time) were asking me if I'm working hard enough. Now they're trying to convince me to take a break.

And I know that I probably need a break. But whenever I take a break, I think of all of the stuff that I could be studying.

I've never been like this before. Honestly, I was a bit of a slacker for most of med school. But all of a sudden, I feel like a gunner (which is not an adjective that's ever been applied to me before). Maybe it's SDN... maybe it's the pressure... maybe it's just trying to make up for lost time in the first two years of school... but I don't know how to handle myself.

Usually, in the week before finals (even in med school), I'm the guy saying "man, we studied for like five hours today... let's go watch a movie or something." But now, I can't even watch a movie without having a copy of First Aid in my lap.

What do I do? I don't know if I can go another 6 weeks at this pace without driving myself crazy. But on the other hand, I can't take a break without thinking "I could be working on my score right now." How have you guys handled that situation?

WOW, this has to be the lamest reason for a thread I have ever read...get over it man... I really think you should study 22.5 hrs a day.

 

[kaleerkalut]

haha. finding reasons to stop studying is never a problem for me.

I love watching floyd mayweather motivational videos and quotes on youtube to get me pumped for studying.

Even the king needs to take a break though.

You wanna be peaking for the day of the test, not two to three weeks out.

Post one of the videos.

 

[shan564]

WOW, this has to be the lamest reason for a thread I have ever read...get over it man... I really think you should study 22.5 hrs a day.

I'll bet your patients will love you. 😀

I thought it'd spark an interesting discussion. Sorry if you don't find it interesting, but you cared enough to take the time to post.

 

[theRainmaker78]

I'll bet your patients will love you. 😀

I thought it'd spark an interesting discussion. Sorry if you don't find it interesting, but you cared enough to take the time to post.

Through his sarcasm he was trying to tell u that u have to chill out. The fact that u made this thread is proof in itself. Maybe its the pressure of being an IMG, family pressure, but looking at ur posts here and another thread, you definitely need a break. If u've been studying for a while then adding a lecture set in the last 6 weeks is NOT a good idea, unless ur doing either Goljan or Pathoma. Anything else and ur most likely wasting ur time. Unless, ur finding it difficult to read First Aid and u need one of those "express video reviews" to help u through that.

Otherwise, u should be focusing on the concepts in Uworld and First Aid and filling in the holes in ur knowledge (with other books if needed) instead of trying to finish as many questions as possible. Its a thinking exam after all, part aptitude test. U need to leave home and go visit friends or family for a day or two and then start again.

 

[CatFactorial]

WOW, this has to be the lamest reason for a thread I have ever read...get over it man... I really think you should study 22.5 hrs a day.

I find it useful enough, and it's nice to know that other people are going through similar things. No need to be a jerk.

 

[shan564]

Through his sarcasm he was trying to tell u that u have to chill out. The fact that u made this thread is proof in itself. Maybe its the pressure of being an IMG, family pressure, but looking at ur posts here and another thread, you definitely need a break. If u've been studying for a while then adding a lecture set in the last 6 weeks is NOT a good idea, unless ur doing either Goljan or Pathoma. Anything else and ur most likely wasting ur time. Unless, ur finding it difficult to read First Aid and u need one of those "express video reviews" to help u through that.

Ha, maybe you're right. I think I'm giving off the wrong impression with a lot of the posts I write here. I'm really not "that guy" who always has his nose in the books. To the contrary... I was a below-average bare-minimum student in the first two years, and that's why I'm overcompensating now.

FWIW, I don't have a whole lot of pressure on me from other people. I'm planning to go into psychiatry, so I don't really need a particularly high score. And I definitely don't have a problem with parental pressure or family drama or anything of the like. The pressure is all in my own head.

I think this was meant to be more of an abstract discussion than anything else... I realize that I could use a break, but the question wasn't meant to be "do I need a break?", but rather "I've noticed an interesting change in myself recently... am I the only one or do other people feel the same way?"

Also, when I said "another lecture set", I did mean one of those "express video reviews."

In any case... this has to be the first time in my life somebody has told me to "chill out." It's usually the other way around. So I guess the lesson is that I'm going in a strange direction, and I probably need to act more like myself.

Otherwise, u should be focusing on the concepts in Uworld and First Aid and filling in the holes in ur knowledge (with other books if needed) instead of trying to finish as many questions as possible.

Yeah, that's actually what I'm trying to do now. I was doing too many questions before because I'd meet my FA goal for the day, so I'd do a few sets of questions. But now I'm deciding that I'd probably benefit more from primary resources.

Its a thinking exam after all, part aptitude test. U need to leave home and go visit friends or family for a day or two and then start again.

Already did that... can't do it again. It's probably a good thing that I don't have any friends in this town, since I'm not very good at avoiding distractions...


Anyway, thanks for all of the feedback. I think I was asking a question that was mostly unanswerable. But it was interesting to read what people had to write.

 

[mdeast]

Definitely take a full day off each week. I'm doing Sunday-Friday and taking off Saturday. I feel by Friday my studying becomes unproductive because of burn out. Also....get some exercise in everyday. I'm studying 10-12 hours/day but still doing 1 hour of cardio/weights. Helps you mingle with "the real people" and get those endorphins going.

 

[RedSoxSuck]

Definitely take a full day off each week. I'm doing Sunday-Friday and taking off Saturday. I feel by Friday my studying becomes unproductive because of burn out. Also....get some exercise in everyday. I'm studying 10-12 hours/day but still doing 1 hour of cardio/weights. Helps you mingle with "the real people" and get those endorphins going.

Real people!! lol. i hear ya!

 

[Ronin786]

Don't mean to piggyback but when do you guys find the best time for exercise is? Some people have recommended splitting your study sessions with an hour or 2 while others say early in the morning to get you started. Obviously it's a matter of personal preference, but what do you guys find works the best?

 

[CatFactorial]

Don't mean to piggyback but when do you guys find the best time for exercise is? Some people have recommended splitting your study sessions with an hour or 2 while others say early in the morning to get you started. Obviously it's a matter of personal preference, but what do you guys find works the best?

I like to get it out of the way as soon as I wake up. I prefer exercising in the evening, but doing so induces sloth (although I'm not surprised some people get revved up by it).

 

[shan564]

I usually go to the gym as late as possible because it's less crowded then.

 

[RedSoxSuck]

Don't mean to piggyback but when do you guys find the best time for exercise is? Some people have recommended splitting your study sessions with an hour or 2 while others say early in the morning to get you started. Obviously it's a matter of personal preference, but what do you guys find works the best?

I usually studying from 8am to 330pm and then gym and then start studying again. Reason why i go at 330pm because it is less packed. And by the time all wanna be, know it all, equipment hoggers and people who leave weights all over show up, i am DONE! lol

 

[Zorodek]

Take a Break have a podcast. lol
https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/the-universe-review-take-a-break-have-a-listen.1244946/

 

[TheOther]

Take a Break have a podcast. lol
https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/the-universe-review-take-a-break-have-a-listen.1244946/

Posting on a thread from 5 years ago for this??

 

[ASM student]

There's a famous quotation in Arabic meaning " If your wind is high, spread the sails"
People are different, if this is how things are working out with you then let it be, you actually should be happy ( not worrying) that you have good stamina. As long as you feel getting what are you studying in then you're totally fine until you feel somehow mentally blocked and you're gaining none of what you're reading then taking a break shouldn't be a concern.