winter break during first year med, any recommended plans?

[libraryismyhome]

What do people do during the winter break of their first years?

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[DocVapor]

Sex and alcohol mostly. Not necessarily in that order, though.

 

[libraryismyhome]

so while second yrs probably start digging step books, first years just relax? Just as the summer break, it's like the last winter break?

 

[DermViser]

What do people do during the winter break of their first years?

Study subjects covered so far for Step 1.

 

[Psai]

so while second yrs probably start digging step books, first years just relax? Just as the summer break, it's like the last winter break?

Dude if you're studying in the winter of second year, you're doing it wrong. Breaks are breaks. Go visit Europe or something. What are you even going to do, review anatomy cross sections?

 

[sinombre]

I'm assuming you're not actually a medical student like your status indicates.

 

[clubwestpua]

In the similar boat here... I had to cancel my trip to korea during summer and was thinking about postponing to winter break. Is this feasible?


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[Sea Otter]

Do whatever you want during your winter break except medical school stuff. Enjoy your break because come February you'll be wishing you had time to sit and do nothing (or travel) but instead you'll be studying.

 

[Kangal]

.

 

[AsclepiusMD]

Winter break is usually just a few days before Christmas (if you're lucky) to just a few days after New Year's. There isn't really time to "do" much of anything, so people just relax, hang out, go home, visit families and friends, take a vacation, etc. Don't plan on building your ERAS with something done for a winter break lol.

 

[Kahreek]

Sex and alcohol mostly. Not necessarily in that order, though.

subtle brags are a cool

 

[WhippleWhileWeWork]

subtle brags are a cool

Ha, too many variables for that to always be a brag, could be shameful confession.

 

[Kahreek]

Ha, too many variables for that to always be a brag, could be shameful confession.

in med school class break? definitely a subtle brag.
Maybe it is me who perceives it that way.
Kudos anyways.

for some people here would be easier to get 2 publications during winter break than get laid. LOL

 

[circulus vitios]

How long is your winter break? Mine is like 2 weeks long, wtf.

 

[Kahreek]

yes 2 weeks

 

[sinombre]

in med school class break? definitely a subtle brag.
Maybe it is me who perceives it that way.
Kudos anyways.

for some people here would be easier to get 2 publications during winter break than get laid. LOL

Eh I get what you're saying, but I don't think it's bragging. At least not when things like Tinder exist.

 

[operaman]

Unless you have a major deficiency in some area that needs serious work, breaks in med school need to be breaks. There are both practical and psychological reasons for this.

1) Anything and everything you study during ANY break will be forgotten by the time Step 1 rolls around. Yes, even spring break of MS2. Any second year who just took step 1 will tell you that by the time they took the exam, they were forgetting things they'd memorized 4 WEEKS AGO at the start of dedicated prep time. Can you imagine how much you'll remember from Christmas break of M1? Zilch.

2) Your sanity is precious and burnout is real. I've done really well in med school, but I know I could have done even better had I not experienced periodic times of burnout where I just couldn't motivate myself to do anything. I think about the papers I could have written, the conferences I could have submitted for, the better grades I could have gotten. My guess is that others have probably experienced some version of the same thing. No matter what you do, burnout will happen from time to time. Not using your break time to actually relax is a surefire way to make sure it happens more often. When it does, you'll end up taking "breaks" when you really should be studying.

Now, if you've almost failed something in the fall, maybe that's worth reviewing some major concepts, especially if it's something that builds on itself. If it's spring break of M2 and you've been barely passing pharm, then maybe devoting a little time to reviewing those drugs would be helpful. If you're comfortably passing or better, put down the books and take it easy for a few days.

PS- you won't have nearly as many breaks in third year, so enjoy while you can!

 

[AsclepiusMD]

Eh I get what you're saying, but I don't think it's bragging. At least not when things like Tinder exist.

🤣

 

[Brain Bucket]

 

[starstarie]

Unless you have a major deficiency in some area that needs serious work, breaks in med school need to be breaks. There are both practical and psychological reasons for this.

1) Anything and everything you study during ANY break will be forgotten by the time Step 1 rolls around. Yes, even spring break of MS2. Any second year who just took step 1 will tell you that by the time they took the exam, they were forgetting things they'd memorized 4 WEEKS AGO at the start of dedicated prep time. Can you imagine how much you'll remember from Christmas break of M1? Zilch.

2) Your sanity is precious and burnout is real. I've done really well in med school, but I know I could have done even better had I not experienced periodic times of burnout where I just couldn't motivate myself to do anything. I think about the papers I could have written, the conferences I could have submitted for, the better grades I could have gotten. My guess is that others have probably experienced some version of the same thing. No matter what you do, burnout will happen from time to time. Not using your break time to actually relax is a surefire way to make sure it happens more often. When it does, you'll end up taking "breaks" when you really should be studying.

Now, if you've almost failed something in the fall, maybe that's worth reviewing some major concepts, especially if it's something that builds on itself. If it's spring break of M2 and you've been barely passing pharm, then maybe devoting a little time to reviewing those drugs would be helpful. If you're comfortably passing or better, put down the books and take it easy for a few days.

PS- you won't have nearly as many breaks in third year, so enjoy while you can!

This.

School is pretty intense and you need the time to recover. A little light reviewing could be fine but I honestly think it is so important to let yourself just wake up late, sit on the couch all day, or whatever your body and mind are asking from you. Don't force yourself to do things during your breaks.

 

[tantacles]

View attachment 183044

This would truly be an awesome way to spend a break. However, assuming that you don't have a pair of binoculars that you're able to strap to your face so that you can flail in a fruitless attempt to kick a ball . . .

I want to reiterate what people have said: Use the break as a break. Go home if your parents are far away, go explore your locale, and generally dissociate from school. Get as far away as you can from the gossip and craziness that permeates all of medical school and try to enjoy yourself. You'll have plenty of time to stress about your courses and grades later.

I also would like to emphasize one last thing: Get lots of sleep.

 

[AsclepiusMD]

View attachment 183044

...if you're wondering why Japan was eliminated from the World Cup..

 

[Brain Bucket]

I think it's safe to say that the Japs were preoccupied with other, more pressing concerns

 

[Wordead]

...if you're wondering why Japan was eliminated from the World Cup..

Oh, is USA not eliminated?

 

[AsclepiusMD]

Oh, is USA not eliminated?

I wasn't suggesting that the USA wasn't eliminated. I was suggesting why Japan was. Smartass.