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7 Lerntipps fürs Studium von einer Medizinstudentin - Animus Medicus GmbH

7 study tips for studying from a medical student


7 Study Tips for Studying from a Medical Student


When studying medicine, you are often faced with a huge mountain of material, most of which you are expected to know in a short space of time. This is often extremely discouraging and a single question pushes itself ahead of all the others: “How am I supposed to get all this into my head?”


I have definitely been in this situation several times and know how overwhelmed and demotivated you can feel in such moments. That is why I would like to share a few tips with you that have helped me tackling huge amounts of material while still taking care of my mental health; If you neglect these, you will quickly lose the energy and stamina you need to study. Studying is a marathon, not a sprint!



Tip #1 Divide the amount of material into small parts


The best way to start is to skim through all your materials to estimate how many topics you can divide the material into and roughly how much scope each topic has. This way you can get an idea of ​​the big picture. divide into smaller bites, which are much easier to conquer and which you can climb up bit by bit.


If you still don't know where to start: most textbooks have already put some thought into the order of the topics, so: usually just start with the first topic, the rest almost always builds on that.



Tip #2 Make a study plan


For me personally, nothing works without a study plan. It brings structure to everyday life and gives you the feeling that you are in control of your success and know exactly: If I follow the plan, I will definitely finish by the deadline.


If possible: build in a few buffer days and a few revision days before the final date. This will give you extra security in case something comes up or you just can't concentrate on a particular day. The study plan is also not a rigid structure. It can be changed at will during the implementation. However, it is important that you keep the basic framework so that you are sure to get through the material.



Tip #3 Quiz each other


Studying with fellow students is much more fun and doesn't feel as annoying as sitting alone in front of a book. Talk to 2-3 friends, when you learn what, so that after a day of learning you can talk through topics, explain anything you don't understand to each other and, above all, coordinate with each other.


This way you can see where your strengths and weaknesses lie and can then firstly change your study plan and repeat the topics that didn't go so well and secondly take a breather when you see that studying has actually made a difference in some areas. Answering questions and discussing things also reinforces knowledge immensely!



Tip #4 Visualize progress


You often have the feeling that you haven't achieved anything and that the mountain just doesn't get any smaller. That's why it's important to to visualize progress and keep it in mindFor example, the study plan worked well for me because I always ticked off the topics that I had worked on.


Every time I was able to check off a box, it was a kind of mini-triumph and I knew that I had already taken a small step in the right direction.After a few days, you'll see how many topics you've already ticked off and realize that all that work is actually making a difference.



Tip #5 Set study-free times


Extremely important! No one can keep up with 24/7 learning. Set a time at which you will stop learning at the latest, take some time out in the evening and do something that you enjoy and that provides balance: work out at the gym, go out for a nice meal with friends or curl up on the couch with your friends and watch your favorite TV show.


Sometimes take an afternoon off to do something pleasant. There's no need to feel guilty about doing something other than eating, sleeping and studying. You might be able to do the latter for a few days, but in the long run it will be extremely exhausting and your study time will be used much less efficiently, which will be even more exhausting, and you'll end up in a nasty vicious circle. After all, we're still human, not machines, and humans can't work around the clock.



Tip #6 Don’t lose sight of the big goal


Especially in the preclinical phase, it often happens that you are so busy memorizing that you think to yourself: “Why am I putting myself through this?” You rarely get the feeling that you can actually use all the knowledge you are cramming into your head in a concrete way in your job as a doctor.


Unfortunately, I can't currently say whether you'll need the knowledge later on. What I can say, however, is that no degree is easy and, especially in medical studies, you always need a certain amount of ambition because it feels like there are always obstacles in your way. So if you're in a phase where you're thinking: what's the point of all this? Think about the final goal you want to achieve: becoming a doctor.


You often have to bite the bullet on the way there, but in the end it's worth it because you can do the job you really want to do. In concrete terms, the colored boxes in the textbooks that make the clinical connections always help me. This can also make you more fascinated by the subject. And if none of that helps, here's the favorite saying of clinicians: After the medical exam, everything gets better anyway!


Tip #7 Enjoy the time


Even if it is stressful sometimes and you have to learn a lot, you should try to enjoy every single second. Have fun with fellow students, go out, or just do cool things that you've always wanted to do.


When you're studying, you have more freedom than anywhere else. Enjoy the time when you're so young and full of energy and don't take your studies too seriously.



What did you think of the article? Did you learn something from it? Feel free to write it in the comments.


Best regards,


Your medical student


@studymedizin_