What's your strategy to avoid brain exhaustion?

[GomerPyle]

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Hey all. I seem to have a problem with burning out my brain. What are some time-efficient strategies that some of you have come across to feel fresh and focused while you study or take exams? Specific diets/drinks/exercises that actually work? I can drink a coffee or take a caffeine pill, but that doesn't necessarily make my brain think better - it just gives me energy.

 

[TBV]

Procrasturbation mostly

 

[futuremdforme]

Look up pomodoro technique.

 

[FindMeOnTheLinks]

take a 5-10 minute break every hour

 

[Cskidd359]

.

 

[Entadus]

A good night's sleep and Yerba maté at 1pm

 

[Teddy.KGB]

Ever since I read the book "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell, I have learned to rely on my subconscious to do the studying for me. I don't mean "study through osmosis", but if you study really hard during the day and take time at night to hang out or do whatever, your subconscious is in the background integrating everything. Think about all of the great ideas you have while in the shower. On one hand, it meant that I couldn't procrastinate studying until just before exams (which used to be my M.O.), on the other hand, when I do it right I feel pretty good and I'm doing well on the exams. Plus I am actually able to maintain my social life.

 

[Apoplexy__]

Ever since I read the book "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell, I have learned to rely on my subconscious to do the studying for me. I don't mean "study through osmosis", but if you study really hard during the day and take time at night to hang out or do whatever, your subconscious is in the background integrating everything. Think about all of the great ideas you have while in the shower. On one hand, it meant that I couldn't procrastinate studying until just before exams (which used to be my M.O.), on the other hand, when I do it right I feel pretty good and I'm doing well on the exams. Plus I am actually able to maintain my social life.

Malcolm Gladwell is the ****.

As silly as it might sound, finding a particular type of music you jive with was something that really helped me a lot. For me, it was music with minimal or repetitive lyrics and a simple and repetitive beat: Drum & Bass. Characteristics of distracting music that doesn't work:
-Songs with meaningful/deep lyrics
-Songs you really like or that mean something to you (e.g. bring back memories)
-Songs with diverse and highly contrasting sounds

 

[Anicetus]

Vitamin "A".

 

[Gorne]

I study until my eyes hurt and may begin to bleed a little from lack of blinking. I then pour a hot cup of coffee and splash it on my face and get back to it.

do ueven med school bruh ?0

 

[Doctor Strange]

Sex and alcohol. Not even kidding.

 

[Dave89]

Following links to Huffington Post articles. Empties my mind of any and every intelligent thought.

 

[nOchemallday]

For me it's just clock the time every day. Class 8-12, Lunch 12-1, Library 1-5. (I don't actually go to class anymore, but I'm still in the library at 8 otherwise I won't get anything done at home.) I get home ~5:30 and make dinner and then it's no more med school for the rest of the night. Sunday after dinner I review anything from the prior week and prep the next week - usually 8pm-12. I may spend an hour studying at home the night before a quiz, but on non-test weeks I just stick to this schedule to give myself plenty of time away from the books.

Finding the motivation to do the grind every day has been far more challenging for me than burnout.

 

[Apoplexy__]

A good night's sleep and Yerba maté at 1pm

That Guayaki life

 

[Bones 2020]

 

[Barrel Proof]

Get into a good workout routine. Try alternating weights and cardio each a couple times per week.

 

[it'sabeautifullife]

Completely abandon the studying a few times a week and do something totally mindless--martinis, movie, shots, just laughing with a bunch of friends in your living room eating take out... You might feel like a slacker in the moment, but you'll end up getting more done in the long run.

(I do nearly all of what people have already said here too... All good advice [careful with the Vitamin "A" doe]. Music is powerful, can wake you up or put you to sleep. The Blink thing is real. And nothing replaces sleeping, eating, working out, and strategically administered caffeine.)

 

[Sirphillup]

Breaks throughout the day while studying is key for me. I usually study 45 minutes, take a 10-15 minute break, and then take larger breaks around dinner/lunch time (~45 mins - 1 hr). I usually stop studying about an hour before I go to bed and let myself do something I enjoy (like play video games, watch tv, or binge-watch youtube videos). Also, if I am burned out that day, I take it a lot easier on the studying. Lastly, and this is big for me, I need to make time to be a regular person. All work and no play makes me a really unhappy person, which always affects my studying.

 

[Mad Jack]

Sex and alcohol. Not even kidding.

Pretty much this.

 

[wjs010]

Music, workout, Xbox. These are the ONLY things you need.

 

[cutari]

Sleep/1 hour power naps. The only way to zone out for a bit and completely forget the stress and you wake up feeling better. Plus, your brain's actually digesting what you'd have studied. Music (mostly instrumental) helps too

 

[gabellaminerals]

While I was in school, I never took anything rather than coffee. Then I went back to get some of my prerequisites, and added Aspirin, Vitamin C and Ephedrine to the mix by cutting the pills in quarters. I found it more effective to take small doses, rather than taking too much and then burning out.

Also trying to add at least 30 minutes of aerobics everyday, bicycling or running... I used to eat the zone diet, very healthy meals mostly salads, cabbage and animal protein. Recently turned to legumes mainly for protein (aka vegetarian). For the most part except for occasional milk or cheese because I like milk and coffee together. I tried adding almond milk or pistachio instead of animal milk, but recently ran out of nuts...

Still missing a few prerequisites depending on which dental school...
Haven't started studying for the DAT officially yet.

Recently discovered nootropics and made this combination of Amino Acids, Nootropics and Vitamins that seems to be giving steady energy, while reducing anxiety to 0%. It's completely natural and doesn't seem to build up on your system as Caffeine alone does. You can find it on Ebay.

 

[kimeo]

8 hours sleep
Pomodoro technique + Pomodorium
Running
Painting
Music

 

[MareNostrummm]

Pomodoro technique seriously works.

But on top of that you should also take a full 1 hour break for lunch and for dinner.


Or you could just straight study non-stop, you'll be getting so far ahead of your classmates!