Losing Motivation

[mac_kin]

Hey!

So I'm about 3 months into school and I'm starting to feel like I'm stressed all the time. I do my work but it takes me a while to get to it.

Back in undergrad I was so motivated to do my best. In 1st, 2nd, 3rd year I was such a keener. 4th year I took fairly easy courses so I was a little bit more laid back about school.

And now I feel like its all slipping away. I don't seem to have the same drive I once did.

When you start to get stressed or unmotivated, what do you do to recover?

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[WiscDoc]

Hey!

So I'm about 3 months into school and I'm starting to feel like I'm stressed all the time. I do my work but it takes me a while to get to it.

Back in undergrad I was so motivated to do my best. In 1st, 2nd, 3rd year I was such a keener. 4th year I took fairly easy courses so I was a little bit more laid back about school.

And now I feel like its all slipping away. I don't seem to have the same drive I once did.

When you start to get stressed or unmotivated, what do you do to recover?

Two things work for me:

1-Reminding myself that I may wind up desiring a competitive specialty, so I have to study.

2- even better sometimes, is to volunteer at a clinic of some sort. Patient contact usually does a good job reminding me why I'm doing this.

Good luck,

a fellow M1

 

[OncoCaP]

Hey!

So I'm about 3 months into school and I'm starting to feel like I'm stressed all the time. I do my work but it takes me a while to get to it.

Back in undergrad I was so motivated to do my best. In 1st, 2nd, 3rd year I was such a keener. 4th year I took fairly easy courses so I was a little bit more laid back about school.

And now I feel like its all slipping away. I don't seem to have the same drive I once did.

When you start to get stressed or unmotivated, what do you do to recover?

Hang out with people who have the study / fun balance you're looking for. Also, be sure not to compare yourself with others (unless, of course, you are number 1 in your class 😀). Focus on learning the material. Shadow physicians. When you see the reason you need to know all this stuff, it's a lot easier to want to study it.

 

[iradi8u]

Hang in there - this is a marathon, not a sprint. It's okay to lose motivation from time to time - I certainly have. Perhaps you need to give yourself a week long vacation & only expect yourself to do the bare minimum. After your week, it's back to work. The info will all still be there when you come back from your vacation and you may be re-energized. Maybe watch movies or read a good book - whatever it takes to just feel better.

I hope you get over your slump soon. This, too, shall pass🙂

 

[DarlynVMD]

Let me tell you what works for me as an extreme pick-me upper and motivator when I'm losing that drive........ THE $120,000+ loan that is sitting under my name... when you feel as if you're losing focus, just remember the massive debt you're probably under by now. Further, I noticed that when I start to feel out of it, it's mostly because of the slack of my professors at my institution. I feel as though it all has to do with the culture of your school. If the professors are always on top of things and are doing their jobs 110%, then trust me, this alone will keep you on your toes. But at my school, some of the professors never bother coming into class, and some even teach half-a$$ed, which has a negative impact on all the students, and as a result, this laziness diffuses into us and we become less and less interested. I don't know how things are at your school. Just think positive and be grateful that you're in med school, most people never even get to see that chance. Just motivate yourself, if you lack self-motivation, call your parents and I'm sure they'll find the most inspirational words that no one else on this board can ever tell you. The career you have chosen is very demanding and stressful, but you must find ways to maintain your sanity. Remember that you'll be facing the USMLE real soon, and you want to maximize your studies now so that the time comes to face the beast, you'll be more than prepared. And believe me you, this probably won't be the first time you'll feel like this. Ask any medical student, most of us constantly ask ourselves "WHAT THE FLUK AM I DOING HERE?", and some go as far as wanting to quit. But there's always something in you that refocuses you, and for some it takes a little longer to find, but at the end, it's always on time.
Pick yourself up again, the battle is not finished. You're not the first or last medical student to feel like this, your work is not yet done, so refocus yourself and dive in head first. Things will start to look up real soon.

HAPPY STUDYINGS!!!

 

[shreypete]

hey there mac_kin, i feel ya. I'm having the same problem--getting more and more de-motivated by the day. in my med school, the students have to take all the pain and the profs. (except for very few) don't teach properly (not because of experience but because of the language barrier and time).....and the worst part is that my grades are constantly fluctuating...i pass marginally at times, do really well sometimes and fail sometimes too...it's really de-motivating and depressing......

i just hope i can pass the 1st yr. and then i guess i'll have some sort of confidence to continue.....

 

[enlightenedhick]

Take a day off and leave your area/city. Hard to do, but an incredible positive effect every time I do it. My $0.02.

Hey!

So I'm about 3 months into school and I'm starting to feel like I'm stressed all the time. I do my work but it takes me a while to get to it.

Back in undergrad I was so motivated to do my best. In 1st, 2nd, 3rd year I was such a keener. 4th year I took fairly easy courses so I was a little bit more laid back about school.

And now I feel like its all slipping away. I don't seem to have the same drive I once did.

When you start to get stressed or unmotivated, what do you do to recover?

 

[barasch]

Work hard and play hard. When you're relaxing, really do something that gets you away from school and you focus completely on something else. Then, when you get back to work, you'll really be productive.

 

[agranulocytosis]

Or...

you can always think about how much in debt you're in...that seems to kick me on the pants all the time.

 

[wanabdoc]

Hey!

So I'm about 3 months into school and I'm starting to feel like I'm stressed all the time. I do my work but it takes me a while to get to it.

Back in undergrad I was so motivated to do my best. In 1st, 2nd, 3rd year I was such a keener. 4th year I took fairly easy courses so I was a little bit more laid back about school.

And now I feel like its all slipping away. I don't seem to have the same drive I once did.

When you start to get stressed or unmotivated, what do you do to recover?

Dude, this post is like reading about myself! Sometimes, I just close my eyes and keep studying believing it will all be worth it, but usually hanging out for an evening with friends talking about NON-medical stuff or watching a movie keeps me sane.

 

[InternationlDoc]

In undergrad every one worked hard...why? To get into medical school

Well, the same ball game - work hard to get into a good residency

Honestly, this is medicine - you have to study and keep up essentially all your life. Trick is balance; you have to adapt to whatever you want and see what you can/cannot do like other rare superstars can

Essence of my rant = give it your best without killing yourself.

 

[chogoten]

but how do you stay motivated if your school only grades honors, pass, fail?

as someone who missed the cut-off for honors twice out of four classes thus far by one measly question each time, my motivation has dwindled.

i work hard and get near the cusp of honoring, but in the end a P at 89% = a P at 65%

 

[ubcredfox]

but how do you stay motivated if your school only grades honors, pass, fail?

as someone who missed the cut-off for honors twice out of four classes thus far by one measly question each time, my motivation has dwindled.

i work hard and get near the cusp of honoring, but in the end a P at 89% = a P at 65%

Patient care. You're not studying for the exams. You never should be. You're studying to do a job. You're job will be to make diagnosis, establish treatment plans and manage patients. That's what you're studying for. If you want something to motivate you, go to any ***** doctor. I don't want to end up like that.

My school has exactly the same system as yours. And, like you, I've missed honors a few times by grace of a 2-3%, or in one case, 0.6%. So ya, now I just don't care about those exams.

Pass their exams, but learn for yourself, and your future patients.