As a medical student, if there is one constant in my current existence, it’s studying. There is just so much bloody content to cover in medical school, particularly with finals fast approaching. As I sit down for another passmedicine session, I wonder to myself: Am I revising enough?

Then, as a true procrastinator, I decided to write this instead of doing MCQs.

When you take a look at medical students on social media, there is a very clear trend of long, uninterrupted erupted study breaks. Eight, Ten, Twelve hours a day spent sitting at a desk studying for exams. It makes me think about my own study habits and how they weigh up.

Typically, a full day of revising, for me, consists of Two-Three hours of active recall studying in the morning, an hour or so for lunch, Two hours more work, a couple of hours chilling (TV or Playstation normally), exercise, dinner and finally some passive learning (like rewatching a lecture).

That adds up to an absolute maximum of six hours in one day. I don’t think I have ever spent more than 8 hours learning, and that includes attending uni followed by studying. In any given week, I don’t think I’d manage more than three days of this intensive either.

Why am I telling you this?

Well, not to make myself look good, that’s for sure. I probably should do more studying. I probably should learn to be less distractible and less of a procrastinator.

BUT… I don’t need to. Just like you, if you are a student looking at other students online thinking “I should revise more” don’t NEED to.

It’s all about finding a balance.

Do I work hard for my exams? Hell yeah. Do I do well in my exams? Hell yeah, I do! Would I do better in my exams if I spent twelve hours revising a day? Possibly. Would the difference in grade be worth all the time and energy and stress spent on it? Hell no.

I do enough, and I’m good with that.

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