Ahh, winter. Bears burrow deeper into their caves, and chipmunks cozy up to their food stores. Snowflakes fall, fireplaces turn on, and all you want to do is huddle under a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate.
But, alas—you belong to the species Medicinus Studentius, and don’t have the luxury of hibernation! The bare trees and snowy skies mean a new semester is here, and it’s time to turn over a new leaf and get organized for 2025.
Here are some tips to help you prosper as the bears are fast asleep. 💤
6 Ways to Turn Over a New Leaf After Winter Break
With so many competing priorities to juggle, it’s easy to fall into survival mode once the semester starts. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Now is the time to break any unhealthy habits you developed and replace them with healthy ones. 💪
Here are some tips that’ll make you a better student in the new year:
1. Level up your note-taking.
Are your notes all over the place? If so, now is the time to review, refresh, and make yourself a bit more efficient! There are multiple ways to get lecture information organized for later review.
💡 Pro tip: try using the Cornell method or outline method, then use mind maps to create overall structures of topics when you begin reviewing larger systems closer to the exam.
If you’re someone who keeps everything digitized, keep your notes organized with an app like One Note, Ever Note, or Notarize.
The benefits of taking good notes can’t be overstated. It lays the foundation for all of your studying, and is a great goal to set for yourself in the new year.
2. Create a study schedule.
Do you have a solid study schedule? How do you balance your courses with exams, shelves, and Step studying? A good planning tool can take the bulk of scheduling stress away.
Check out the Med School Study Planner—it’s free and lets you divide the resources you’re using into daily tasks!
One of the great things about the Blueprint Med School Study Planner is you can rebalance your schedule when you need to change it. It also lets you know if you’re taking on too much so you can avoid getting burned out. It’s a great tool to use when you get back from winter break and want to organize your study sessions into manageable chunks.
3. Get some good study resources.
When you’ve got the scheduling down and it’s time to hunker down, there are a few tools that we recommend. Make sure you have one or more solid content review resources (SketchyMed, Boards and Beyond, Pathoma, or Blueprint Prep).
You’re going to need a way to memorize the huge volume of information you get exposed to as a medical student. There’s always the tried and true Anki, or you may be someone who needs to create flowcharts or visual notes using an app like OneNote. Finally, make sure you’re getting your reps in with question banks such as Blueprint Prep or UWorld.
On that last note, as far as prep work goes, there really is no substitution for using Qbanks. They’re the best way to test your knowledge and get ready for USMLE exams! If you can start using them when you get back from break, you’ll be putting in some excellent study time. ⏰
4. Do some career planning/networking.
It’s never too early to start meeting mentors, even if you’re not sure what specialty you’ll end up in!
Start exploring the free AAMC Careers in Medicine tool, an in-depth personality and values test that points you to a few best-fit specialties.
Once you have a few areas of interest, it’s recommended you join the corresponding professional organizations to facilitate meeting mentors and finding research opportunities.
You can never overestimate how important networking is for your career. In that way, medicine is similar to other professions. Things often come down to who you know and the impression they have of you!
5. Practice self-care.
Medical school will test your resilience, your bank account, and your mental and physical health. We’re not born knowing how to handle these things, and there’s no shame in getting some concrete steps and help along the way. (Here are some resources from the AAMC that may be of use, in addition to the blogs linked above!)
Even during tough months where it’s hard to prioritize your basic needs, having a healthy diet will do wonders for your mood.
This meal prep and planning tool was developed by University of Massachusetts medical students to help you with grocery lists, budgeting, and cooking easy and nutritious meals!
Some key takeaways include dedicating set times on the weekend to plan meals for the week, preparing large portions that can be stored in small containers for easy grab and go, and sticking to ingredients that can be used for multiple meal types. It can be easy to forget about eating on long rotations, especially surgical, so packing snacks and setting alarms to make sure you take a quick break to hydrate and eat is key.
Along with eating well, it’s important to get your sleep in. You may have been able to sleep more during winter break because you weren’t as busy, but try to make it a priority once you get back to school. That won’t always be possible, but getting regular and good sleep is one of the best habits you can get into.
6. Start an energizing routine.
You can sustain the energy you’ve gained from winter break by engaging in activities that refresh you throughout the semester. One way to do this is to start your day with a routine that energizes you, such as meditation, breakfast, or a workout.
Another is to set aside time each week for visiting with loved ones and engaging in your hobbies. Medical school is all about balance, and sometimes that means sacrificing thirty minutes of studying to make yourself calmer and happier.
Final Thoughts
Winter may be the season for hibernation, but it can also be your chance to bloom. As others have trouble getting motivated after the holidays, you can make improvements during the depths of winter that’ll benefit you in the new year and beyond.
Take advantage of these tips, and rather than suffer a winter of discontent, you’ll plant the seeds of prosperity that’ll help you grow as a student and healthcare professional. 🌱
Best of luck on your med school journey, and remember, Blueprint tutors are here for you every step of the way!
