It requires tremendous effort to complete medical education. If you do not show enough commitment to your studies, it is not easy to stay on track with your medical classes. There is a great deal of information to memorize and assimilate. You will be learning day and night. Sleep deprivation can take a toll on your mental and physical health. Needless to say, it is easy to lose motivation.

Everyone goes through periods when they lack motivation. This is not an issue if they are able to be back on track after a short while. However, if you suffer from a lack of motivation for days or weeks, it will seriously affect your ability to complete coursework and hamper your academic progress. As you know, you have hardly any time to waste when you are in medical school. On the bright side, there are several ways to stay motivated. Medical classes summer RGV is one of them.

Two types of motivation

According to psychologists, there are mainly two types of motivation.

Extrinsic Motivation

When an external stimulus motivates us to act, it is called extrinsic motivation. For example, you may be unhappy about having to study for hours on end; yet, the prospect of becoming a doctor and donning the white coat can motivate you to work harder.

Intrinsic Motivation

When an internal stimulus motivates us to work hard, it is called intrinsic motivation. This could be your belief system or a higher ideal. For example, this could be a genuine desire to serve humanity. For many people, the main reason to choose a career in the healthcare sector is their sincere desire to make a difference in society.

Extrinsic motivation may wear off over time. In most cases, it is the intrinsic motivation that keeps us going. That means if you really want to help the sick and the dying, you will complete your studies no matter how hard it might seem.

Here are some guidelines for staying motivated at medical school

Start writing a diary

Writing things down on paper can be therapeutic. Medical students have a hectic schedule, and they just go through the day doing things without thinking much about them. If you cultivate the habit of writing about your day at the end of the day, you will be able to gain a better perspective on things you did during the day.

Going through your diary on a difficult day can be cathartic. You may marvel at the progress you have made so far despite facing roadblocks every now and then. That alone is sufficient to keep you going.

Attend Medical Conferences

It may not be compulsory for you to attend these conferences during your course; however, if you do attend them, they will expose you to breakthroughs and ideas. As far as possible, attend seminars and conferences of all specialties. This way you will gain a better understanding of the kind of work you want to do in the future.

At these seminars and conferences, you may meet like minded people who are quite passionate about their work or studies. These conferences will also help you polish your essential medical skills. Also, by attending the conference, you can get a certificate and mention it on your resume.

Medical classes summer RGV is an opportunity for students to work side by side with research faculty. These classes are fun and interactive.

Consult your Mentor

Finding a mentor is crucial. If you are really lucky, you might have multiple mentors. A mentor will take you under their wing and show you how to make consistent progress in your studies. A mentor does not have to be a doctor. They could be a highly motivated nurse or other healthcare worker. By having regular interactions with them and following their work, you will also be able to gain some intrinsic motivation.

For example, a doctor who is passionate about his job and goes out of his way to help his patients is a source of inspiration for any medical student.

Unleash your creativity

There are several ways to make learning more creative. Unleash your creativity by using colored pencils, sketch pens, and colored notes. Prepare mind maps and memory aids so that you can remember facts more easily. These visually appealing notes and artworks are fun and stimulate the mind. They even make memorization faster. This approach also makes it easy to revise what has been learned. Consequently, you have to make less of an effort to focus your attention on the most important information.

Don’t worry too much about deadlines

Not all of them can be met. Hence, focus on grasping the concepts. If you read a lot, you will probably not be able to remember much. Learn your lessons thoroughly. If you try to complete too many assignments all at once the quality will suffer. Hence, focus on quality, not quantity. What is important is to grasp the concepts thoroughly. Do not find shortcuts for memorizing the lessons.

Cultivate the right mindset

Whenever you sit down to study, make sure that you are in a positive frame of mind. Otherwise, you will stay distracted. When distraction hits, ask yourself why you chose the medical school and where you want to be after five or ten years.

When you look at the situation from this perspective, it is easier to stay focused and motivated. In addition to this, you have to constantly remind yourself that after each session, you are getting closer and closer to your goal of becoming a doctor.

Find some time to indulge in old habits

Make sure that you have a life outside medical school. Of course, your studies will consume much of your time. This, however, doesn’t mean that you have to focus only on your studies. There is no harm in having a hobby or another enjoyable activity.

If you approach medical school with utter seriousness, you will get bored sooner or later. By indulging in some interesting activities, you can reduce that seriousness and pursue your studies more lightly. Over time, this journey will become less arduous and you will have wonderful memories which you can relish later.

Celebrate every achievement however small it may be

Of course, your ultimate goal is to graduate from medical school but it is a long way away in the future. So, rather than waiting until then, try to focus on short-term goals and celebrate small achievements. Regardless of how big or small they are, achievements enhance your confidence and help you stay focused. Also, break down big tasks into smaller chunks. This way they will appear less intimidating.

Do not lose sight of your goal

Why did you choose medical school when lots of other streams were available? This was to help people suffering from various ailments, right? Constantly remind yourself that without adequate medical knowledge, you cannot be of any help to your patients. By learning your lessons, you are not doing yourself a favor.

Rather, it is your commitment to the society you are going to serve down the lane. Remember that the medical profession is one of the noblest professions in the world. Approach it with the seriousness it deserves.

Medical classes summer RGV have got lots of opportunities that suit the interests and the aptitude of each student.