Studying Overload? My Brain Feels Like Mush

[astrife]

I've been studying 6-7 hours per day for a little over three weeks now. My only real day off is Sunday when I do 4-5 hours of reviewing practice exams. I've noticed a deterioration in my problem solving abilities as of late. My lowest scoring practice test ever was this past weekend, and when reveiwing the problems I was missing tons of questions I shouldn't have just because my head wasn't in the game so to speak. I am not as quick with discretes in the EK 1001 books as I think I am really capable of either.

I guess I'm burning out, but my motivation is still there I just feel like I've depleted some unknown vital nutrient necessary for cognition. I'm trying to be healthy, eating well, good sleep, running 4 times a week for 40 mins but my mind still feels sluggish.

Any thoughts? I need a good score badly so I feel like I've got to keep this pace. 5 weeks lefts.

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[SN2ed]

Burnout. Take a few days off. You should have one break day per week where you do absolutely nothing MCAT related. That means no review, no taking practice passages, no flashcards, nothing. Skipping a break day will cause you to burnout again. Usually when people continually burnout, it gets progressively worse each time.

 

[Enoko]

You need a true, solid break day. Trust me I am in your exact same position and I was trying my damnest to try and push through and never have down days.

Doesn't work. The human mind isn't built like that, there is a reason ER surgeons are legally forced to take a day off if they work so many hours in a 3 day period or whatever. Our minds need time to rest. Spend a day just lying in the sun or hanging out with friends.

I was on a strict 8 hour a day schedule for a while but then I decided to go to a bonfire/sleepover one friday night. Turns out that Friday morning, and the 2 days afterwards were by far the most productive days I have had in a while. When you know a break day is coming you are able to study harder, and in the 2-3 days after a break day you are able to study much more effectively. It's better to run at 100% 6 days a week then run at 70% for 7 days a week.

Oh and on off days abstain from any stimulants. No coffee that morning, no tea, and no Redbull. That way, when you use these things on days that you do study, they will be much more effective 🙂

 

[anbuitachi]

I take a break after every 30 minutes of studying. If i study more than that my brain just wont take anything in anymore -_-

 

[rjns11]

I've been studying 6-7 hours per day for a little over three weeks now. My only real day off is Sunday when I do 4-5 hours of reviewing practice exams. I've noticed a deterioration in my problem solving abilities as of late. My lowest scoring practice test ever was this past weekend, and when reveiwing the problems I was missing tons of questions I shouldn't have just because my head wasn't in the game so to speak. I am not as quick with discretes in the EK 1001 books as I think I am really capable of either.

I guess I'm burning out, but my motivation is still there I just feel like I've depleted some unknown vital nutrient necessary for cognition. I'm trying to be healthy, eating well, good sleep, running 4 times a week for 40 mins but my mind still feels sluggish.

Any thoughts? I need a good score badly so I feel like I've got to keep this pace. 5 weeks lefts.

I just went through this myself and it took roughly the same amount of time. The feeling is extremely frustrating as I'm motivated to study but cannot keep focus for more than a couple of seconds. I took a day off and work out daily, but it's still with me today. Please let me know if any of the offered advice helps you.

 

[MCAT4life]

6-7 hours isn't bad, i've turned in 12 hour days, but I also sleep around 10 hours those days to compensate, your brain need the time to recover, however if you work out and eat right, 6-7 hour a day should be ok, the 4-5 hours you spend while reviewing test, is not break considering you are deciphering what you got wrong and probably looking up solutions to problems. My best advice is get enough sleep. Although you'll probably be thinking about MCAT problems in your sleep lol...

 

[addo]

I finished school May 15, took the mcat the 22 and voided cause I was burnt out. Im retaking it next month and I havent done anything since the 22nd, and I feel so good. I think I might be cutting it a little close now though, so I am starting again tomorrow- heavy on the studying. Got 5 weeks to go, and 5 mcat free days throughout that time.