I bought a skeleton!!

Yes guys...after all this time I bought a skeleton!

He is set to arrive on Wednesday,I am soo excited. Actually excited is a big understatement, I am bubbling with expectation.

In fact on Friday, I was in BHS with some friends, and I saw a lovely plum felt hat, and I thought it would look perfect on a skeleton in my room.(this was before I even ordered my skeleton).

I am thinking of calling him/her Marley.





I shall call him Marley, and he shall be mine,and he shall be my Marley 

Back to Learning

So....I did actually get some food.Eating rael food makes such a good difference to my mood and energy levels.

I feel like a real student now.Well that sentence is ridiculous, but I am now settled in, studying, going to lectures and doing all the other student stuff.

Its also freshers week, so I have been able to collect alot of freebies.Mainly pens and chocolate, I have to say that standards of freebies have dropped since I was a fresher. I did get some free syringe pens though



In other news I have been feeling really tired, (going to bed as soon as I get home from lectures). I hope that I am just tired and not getting ill, or about to have a lupus flare up. I can not fit illness into my schedule!

Next week is medic freshers week(freshers week for medics). As I am on the committee for several societies I need to harass the freshers to make them sign up.

I think joining the societies I am a member of is worthwhile(I mean why else would I be on the committee???) Dear Freshers....sign up to what you are intrested in, most people sign up to things they never end up doing.But watch you budget and dont pay silly amounts to join societies you wont benefit from.

Still around, drowning in revision

I am still studying.

Before I was casually studying,dipping into revision here and there, and doing a bit each night.

Now my life only consists of lectures sleep and revision.It is not as bad as it sounds,since turning it into a habit it has become oddly satisfying.

The amount of stuff I have to know is scary. I really wish I was studying a course with modules, instead I have a long 4 hour exam ,on everything I have learnt since being at medschool.

This is what my typical revision day looks like.

6am- wake up
6am-7am-Get ready for the day(pray,read bible,breakfast,shower,dress)
7am-8.40am-Revise
8.40am-9.00am-walk to uni
9.00am-5.00pm-Lectures/placement( I try to do my homework during the breaks between lectures)
4.00pm-5.00pm-Walk home from uni/I go to the gym for if I finish lectures before 5pm
5.00pm-7.00pm-Sleep,I have been getting home from class exhausted(In capable of using a microwave exhausted)
7.00pm-8.00pm-Lunch(I know its technically dinner time,but this is when I get around to having lunch
8.00pm-12.00pm-Study
12.00pm-1.00am- Snack, then get distracted by youtube/tidy up my room
1.00am-2.00am-Silly hour* exhaustion takes over, so I try to stay awake by talking through my notes with different accents.
2.00am-crawl into bed, only to dream about transport channels, or renal disease risk factors.

That is a typical exam period day for my medic friends.I am exhausted, tired and likely to burst into tears for no reason at all.

But....

I would rather be stressed whilst studying medicine, than doing anything else.

My next post will be about why I wanted to study medicine,I think I need to remind myself why I am torturing myself.

The Fear

Its exam time and I am terrified.

My medical school has one end of year exam that determines weather or not we will graduate with honours. I have been studying my little socks off. Despite trying my best  still  feel woefully unprepared.

I think I have some perfectionistic tendencies,so just passing is not enough.I want a high grade. The problem is in medicine,every one is smart, so the high grades go to the ultra hard workers,or the super smart mutants.

I am neither of these, then there is the small minor detail that I missed a fair chunck of last term.


Thankfully there is a sensible part to my brain that says



This is what I find useful
1. Get out of your house/dorm.
Go to a library. The distraction of home comforts won’t be there and it will get you into a working mindset.  Also it’s nice to go home to relax, and have a change of scene,before doing more work.I get really bored and unmotivated if I stay in one place for too long

2. Study with a buddy
A problem shared is a problem halved.One of the best ways to understand things is to discuss them with a friend.I personally only like to study with 2-3 people,but you may like larger groups. Nominate someone to direct the conversation so as not to go off topic,  you will find it is a great way of sharing information and filling gaps in your knowledge.

3. Think of the future/the past.
Imagine yourself in your dream job. The next phase of your life is going to be so much fun, you just need to get these exams done and dusted.If the future seems so far away,just think of how far you have come,if you got this far,surely you can go a bit further.

4.Study Hard
Use your study leave for the biggest ‘cramathon’ of your life. Don’t give up so close to the end. Keep re-reading notes and practising exam questions. Some of it will stick in your brain eventually. You’ll also feel more confident going into the exams than if you hadn't looked at anything the two weeks before.

Thanks for reading to the end of this post,here is a video to drive the point home

Study Tips

University not only about parties,there is that other thing called studying. Medical School is intense,there is a lot of work required,therefore its important to stay on top of it all.

There is no magic set of instructions to ensure perfect grades.Each person is unique and some things may not work for everyone.

Here is a list of my top 10 study tips.

10. Set mini deadlines or use a to do list.
Break each task into small achievable chunks.Its easier to accomplish lots of small tasks compared to a single big one. With small goals you can also ensure you are on track to achieve the bigger goals
A list reduce the chances of you forgetting to do something.Crossing things of to-do lists is soooo satisfying.


9. Draw mind maps and diagrams
Mind maps are the marmite of studying,you either love them or hate them
I personally only use them during revision time.Mind Maps help me see how various concepts and ideas relate to each other.I found that my course was delivered in such a way that the information given seemed really out of context,so there was no way I could have used mind maps in the beginning. Diagrams are great at all times, they are certainly a nice change from reading text. Print out diagram stick them on doors mirrors,draw your own,or try labeling a blank diagram.


8.Aim to Study a little bit everyday

Every little bit helps.I know from experience that there will be some days when you can not be bothered to study or 101 things are happening at once and you just don't have time to study. Do something,even if its just going over that mornings notes, or making a vocab list.


7.Coloured pens or highlighters
Studies have shown that use of colour can improve memories.I personally love my colored pens and highlighters. Write your notes in colour or highlight key ideas.


6.Be prepared when attending lectures
Doing this will dramaticaly reduce your work load.Before going to a lecture ensure you are ready to learn, try not to be hungry or thirsty.In the lecture listen to whats going on,and do not be distracted by friends. If you are going to drag yourself out of bed for that 8am lecture,you may as well get the most out of it.
Repeat after me: Lectures are for learning, revision is for recapping stuff you have already learnt.


5.Post-it notes
Use post-it notes to summarise things.They are tiny so you can not get too wordy. If have lots of ideas stick to one key idea per post-it note.
Post-it notes are great for revision games
Example:   1.Copy facts onto one color
                 2.Stick these onto a wall.
                 3. Using a different colour try and re-create as many post-it notes as possible,and keep                                    trying to beat your personal best

4.Frequent breaks

As you study your attention span decreases meaning you will become less productive.This means it will take much longer to do every thing.Take breaks after 40 min of studying, go for a walk,stretch, have a snack or tidy your room.
Warning: Don't spend more time having a break than you do studying

3.Periodically review what you have learnt
This is especially important if you are studying a degree like medicine.The sheer volume of information means it will be difficult to rely on cramming for exams alone.
I choose to go over my notes quickly at the end of each week before filing them.Its fairly simple, the more often you review stuff the more you remember.


2.If stuck go find an expert
There is no shame is asking your lecturers for clarification.Send them and email or ask them after class.If you are shy ask your friends if they can explain it for you.
When it comes to essay writing read a book about how to correctly write an essay

1.Stay motivated.
Above all other things keep your eye on your goal.Think of all the great rewards studying will bring.
When desperate: