It’s no wonder that medical students have jam-packed study schedules and hardly get free time. They have to complete a lot of assignments, lab work, prepare for a quiz, and perform clinical rotations. Medical students have to stay on top of their studies while taking part in extracurricular activities and shadowing physicians. However, if you have time management skills and learn how to study effectively, you can get free time in medical school.
Holiday season is the much-needed break for medical students that is important for their mental and physical health, while allowing them to restore their energy. In fact, it is the ideal time to find time for doing your favorite activities, rejuvenate yourself, add some interesting things to your study plan and the list goes on and on.
If you are looking for some interesting activities to spend the holiday season 2021 and welcome 2022 with intense energy and enthusiasm, here are some ideas for medical students to manage their time during winter break.
Let’s check them out.
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Spend Quality Time with Family and Friends
Setting aside time for your family and hanging out with friends seem a daunting task for many medical students due to a lot of academic pressure. The holiday season is the best time of the year when they get the opportunity to spend quality time with their friends and family. You have complete freedom to arrange your schedule in a way or plan some interesting activities that maximize your time with friends and family.
Whether you want to plan new year preparations, shopping or other fun activities, the winter break is undoubtedly the best time to manage your own needs.
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Create a List of Places to Visit
Many medical students find it harder to set aside time for outings and travel. The holiday season is one of the best opportunities for students that give them a chance to explore the world and gain valuable and one-of-its-kind experiences.
Take maximum advantage of your winter break and create a list of places that you want to visit. You should avail this opportunity, especially if you are in preclinical years. It is because there are little chances of getting a long chunk of time off during your clinical years and residency training. So, plan a trip and see the world during this holiday season.
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Clear Your Concepts
The holiday season is the best time for medical students to figure out your strengths and weaknesses and try to work on those areas that need your attention. You can use this time for USMLE Step 1 preparation, studying for your upcoming test, preparing for your next clinical rotation or improving your academic concepts.
If your pharmacological concepts are not cleared, you can strengthen your concepts by watching YouTube videos or slide shares or images. Similarly, if you find it hard to learn complex anatomical terms, you can find some educational apps that make it fun to memorize medical terminologies.
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Find Some Time for Your Personal Activities
The tough schedule of medical school will make it extremely difficult for medical students to find some ME time. The winter break is the perfect time of the year when you get a chance to do what you want. Whether you want to watch Netflix shows, update your wardrobe, listen to your favorite music, painting, it is the best time to complete all these tasks and stay happy.
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Create a Healthy Diet Plan
The rigorous course load, long rotation hours and tough study schedule make it extremely difficult for medical students to eat a healthy and balanced diet. Holiday season is the best time to prepare some healthy meals and keep your diet on the right track. You can plan your diet and physical activities during the winter break. Students who are transitioning from preclinical to clinical years find it a bit difficult to maintain healthy eating habits due to the tough rotation schedule.
Say goodbye to poor eating habits and look for some healthy ways to eat better. Watch YouTube channels and some blogs to find healthy recipes. Remember, your health matters a lot, so keep yourself healthy during medical school and throughout your medical career.
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Take a Complete Health Checkup
It is important to stay on top of your health and lead a healthier and active lifestyle. You can make the most out of your winter break and schedule health appointments. The holiday season is the time to take charge of your health and get screened to make sure your heart, digestive system, thyroid, lungs, kidneys, liver, and the immune system are working properly. You can also go for dental cleaning and eye checkup. Don’t worry if you are unable to find time for screening and tests during medical school, the holidays are the perfect time to check your health status and prevent onset of any disease.
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Create a List of Goals for the New Year
It is important for medical students to create a list of goals they want to achieve in the coming years. Recall all of your academic accomplishments, clinical training and extracurricular activities you have completed during the past year. Take some time to look ahead and figure out the challenges and opportunities you want to take for the new year.
Whether you want to get hands-on experience in your favorite medical specialty or ace the standardized test, create a list of New Year goals and then make a plan for completing these goals.
Final Note
All in all, the holiday season is the best time of the year when you get the opportunity to travel, attend social gatherings, set an exercise routine, go for a complete health checkup and keep you on the right track. Hopefully, these simple ideas will help medical students to spend their holidays effectively and achieve health and academic goals effectively.
