Tips to Overcome Challenges Faced During MBBS

For all medical students across the globe, an interesting realisation sets in quite early in college: whatever you did so far was nothing in comparison to the overwhelming amount of study and work you have to undertake for years to come. Unlike regular graduation courses where students attend classes, revise their lessons, and be done with them, MBBS is a different ball game altogether. Medical students have to process an insane amount of information every day, and the test and exam schedules are pretty hectic. As a result, it is not uncommon for students to feel lost or out of pace. But there are a few things that can be done to successfully navigate through all the challenges. Read on to learn a few tips to overcome challenges during your MBBS years.

Expect the Unexpected

When it comes to MBBS, more is more. With all the classes, projects, lab sessions, and assignments, it becomes imperative to develop skills to handle more things than you are used to. At this point, if you embrace the fact that everything will be new—and no matter how fast or attentive you are, there will be information overload, and you will come face-to-face with topics that will test your intelligence—you will be ready for the journey ahead.

Time Management

So, here is the deal: You will have back-to-back theory and practical classes, and before you realise you have somewhat understood your topics for the semester, you will find yourself sitting in an examination centre taking tests. Hence, time management is a skill crucial for the successful completion of MBBS.

Throughout your MBBS years, time management will continue to be crucial. Create a routine. Dedicate a fixed amount of time for studies and projects. Prepare a realistic study schedule. If you wake up at the right time, spend the allocated time on co-curricular activities, and do not postpone things for tomorrow, you will be in a much better position to steer through your medical years.

Study Techniques

Are you good at making notes? Do you need visual cues to memorise things? Do you like to study with a partner where you ask each other questions to assess each other’s grasp on topics? Or are you a lone wolf who likes to study by yourself? Do you like bullet points? As far as study techniques go, you do what you want. If you study based on something that works for others, you may end up wasting precious study time.

So, decide on a study format. Figure out what works for you. For example, some students finish the easy assignments first and then move on to the complex ones because, by the time they are done with a complex topic, they have no energy left for the simple ones. On the other hand, some medical students believe that the most complex project needs the most attention and energy, so it’s better to get those out of the way first. So, choose your technique; it’s a very effective way to make the most of your time.

Stress Management

With constant information overload and clinical rotations, medical students tend to get stressed. When this happens, it is imperative to accept that you are stressed and have a method to unwind or take your mind off of things for a while. Not acknowledging the problem will only make it worse. Medical students usually have a plethora of activities they can participate in to manage their stress. Be it painting, a game of cricket, playing guitar, going for a walk, reading a non-academic book, or even talking to a friend or roommate, any activity that you like can help you get back into the groove. If you feel overwhelmed while studying, sometimes something as simple as a few deep breaths or splashing some water on your face can do the trick.

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Exam Preparation

When it comes to exam preparation, the sooner you start, the better the result. The moment you get the exam schedule, paste it somewhere in your room and plan your preparation according to the exam dates. Dedicate separate notebooks to separate subjects and revise as much as possible. If you are not sure about your information assimilation skills, sit down with a friend and ask each other questions from a previous exam paper. And if you struggle to answer a particular question, read that part of the book again.

While preparing for exams, it is also vital that you stay away from social media and other distractions. Every minute matters. Remember, everything can wait until your exams. Stick to your study schedule; if you lapse on a particular day, pick yourself up and start again.

Coping with Burnout

Your years at the medical college can stress you out to the point where you feel you are lagging behind. Remember that avoiding study time can only worsen your anxiety. Take a long, hard look at your study schedule and see if there is room for improvement. Create a new schedule, if needed, and stick to it. Also, make it a point to have a routine that allows you some time for yourself. Have a hobby. Watch a movie. Call a friend. Whenever you feel overburdened with your studies, take a break. And start again.

Last but not least, if you feel these routine stress management tips are not helping you, see a therapist. A licenced therapist knows the right questions to ask and can help you cope with stress. Strongly recommended!

Balancing Personal Life

Medical students and practitioners need to have a life outside the realm of medicine. It is this life that creates balance for them. Avoiding everyone because your student life is overwhelming is a bad idea. For most medical students, the five years go by in a blur, sometimes taking a toll on their mental health. So, taking some time out to spend with your loved ones is strongly advised. It will recharge you.

It is important to note that the MBBS syllabus has been carefully designed to prepare you for a very important and intense field of work. The curriculum is extensive, but hundreds of thousands of students successfully pass the MBBS exams every year. And if they can do it, so can you.

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