Stress and studying medicine go hand in hand, but with a bit of planning, passion and determination, you can learn to master it
Medical school is tough, there’s simply no getting around it. A certain amount of stress is unavoidable. You’re learning how to cure diseases, perform complex surgeries, and ultimately save lives after all, so really if you’re not at least slightly stressed out as a medical student, you should be worried.
Yet if the stress becomes overwhelming, the concern is that it might be tempting to throw in the towel – and never fulfil your childhood dream of becoming a doctor. That doesn’t need to be the case. If you’re concerned about the level of stress involved in studying medicine, fear not. With a bit of foresight and organisation, you can learn to keep your workload (and your emotions) in check over the course of what is undeniably a rigorous and intensive degree course. Planning your university career out thoroughly will only serve to help you focus on what you’re at medical school to do: make the world a better, healthier place.
Find a mentor
The first thing you can do to reduce stress at medical school is to find yourself a mentor. No one, no matter how clever, can succeed on their own. Having someone with experience to talk to about what you’re doing, and where you stand in terms of exams, studying, or just life in general, can be a big help, whether it’s a doctor, a professor, or even a more experienced student. While these people are busy and can’t be on hand all the time, they will have been in your position, and will understand what you’re going through better than anyone else.
Study, study, and more study
Just in case you were in any doubt: medical school is hard! The most stressful thing you will experience is not knowing what to do in a demanding situation, so be sure to put in the effort and study hard. It may be a chore, and mean more stress in the short term, but in the long term you’ll be thankful you did it.
Network
Like studying, networking is a pain, but well worth the effort. Getting to know different doctors and other medical professionals will give you access to different viewpoints, and more allies to go for advice. It will also make the medical profession feel more like a community, of which you are an important part.
Make time for yourself
Your studies are the most important part of your life, but they’re not the only part. You’re only human, so give yourself a break from work and revision to behave like a human being. An evening catching up on TV, a meal with friends, or a day out with family can be rejuvenating, leaving you ready to face the working week ahead.
It’s also important that you remember to eat right and exercise. It can be easy to let things like diet fall by the wayside when you’re putting in late night study sessions and long shifts on a ward, but getting the right nutrients, and getting the blood pumping with daily bursts of cardio exercise will make you feel better, and thus make you better at your job.
Get a head start in summer school
You don’t need to wait for your first term of medicinal training to lessen your stress levels. Getting a head start on your studies is a great way to maintain a manageable workload, and there can be no better preparation for university than a few weeks at summer school.
Programmes like Immerse Educations Cambridge Summer School offer first rate introductions to medical studies, taught by world-class tutors from the likes of Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge and more. The curriculum is varied, the facilities impeccable, and the location of the summer school, Cambridge University, inspiring. A few weeks at Immerse Education is the best start possible for your future in medicine.
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