Some people focus on the number of hours they spend studying; what is more useful is to think about the effectiveness of each hour of study.

• Focus on understanding first; then it will be easier to remember things. Try to apply what you are learning to how you’ll use that information as a doctor.
• When you start to study a topic, first map out all you know about that topic: ‘activating prior knowledge’ is one of the most effective ways of maximising the effectiveness of each study session.
• Test yourself: this is the only way to find out if you’ve learned anything!
• Make learning fun (you’ll remember more that way!).
• Be open-minded to try new ways of learning. Active methods are best (an active method could involve making a mind map from a lecture, or activating prior knowledge at the start of a session; passive methods could include reading a book chapter but making no notes and doing no testing afterward of what you’ve learned).
• Use a range of resources: lectures, you tube, books, study groups, websites, anki, pictures, mind maps.
• Remember ‘breadth not depth’ – you need to learn a lot of different topics, so you cannot afford to spend too long on any one topic: set limits on how long you’ll spend on each topic.
• Draw things out, teach others, learn how to explain concepts using clear explanations.
• Don’t avoid the difficult topics; tackle them (and get help if needed).

A positive mindset will not only help you enjoy yourself (very important), but will help you learn too.

• Remember that medical training is ‘a marathon, not a sprint’ – you won’t ever know everything, but the good news is that nobody else will either!
• Don’t worry about what other people know – just work out what works for you and focus on that.
• Remember: you are not alone – support each other through the difficult times.
• Adopt a growth mindset: believe that you can grow and develop if you put in the effort.
• Reward yourself as you go along; recognise your achievements.
• Remember why you are here! Remember you deserve to be here.
• Remember to enjoy what you are doing.
• Learn to love learning, learn to really enjoy the process of becoming a doctor.

Being organised will massively increase the effectiveness of each hour of study.

You can find some useful information on How to improve your ability to concentrate on the Wellbeing Support Services webpage of the University.

• Make a timetable for each week, making sure to block out time for fun, rest and relaxation! Find more information about Getting a Work-Life Balance on the Wellbeing Support Services webpage of the University.
• Keep it ‘slow and steady’ – don’t wait to cram everything at the end of the year, but don’t try to do too much each day either!
• Keep your study area and your learning resources organised and it will be much easier to work effectively: ‘tidy desk, tidy mind’.
• Think of the best time of day for studying: tackle tricky subjects when you are most alert, and try group study for topics you find more difficult to engage with.
• Experiment with time management tools: one technique, called the pomodoro technique, involves giving yourself a set time (e.g. 25 or 40 minutes) to study a topic, then 5 mins rest and 5 mins revising what you have learned. After 4 cycles of this, take a longer break of 15-30 mins. But experiment with what works for you; students differ greatly in how long they can concentrate for.

Having a nice study environment can really help you to enjoy learning.

• Find the place that works best for you (home vs uni; library vs computer room).
• While some people need quite to study, many others find background music helpful for concentration: see what works for you.
• Minimise disruptions: try online apps (e.g. forest app) to set up uninterrupted study times.
• Keep phone away during study time.
• Study in good light, with fresh air, and ideally plants nearby.
• Get nice pens and other tools for learning.
• Keep study environment tidy and organised.

The evidence is that we learn best when we feel safe, engaged and curious; on the other hand, stress impedes our ability to learn. What this means is that paying attention to your wellbeing is a vital part of learning effectively.

• If you do nothing else, aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night – it improves almost every measure of performance, including learning, creativity, wellbeing, and memory. You can find more information about Sleep on the Wellbeing Support Services page of the University.
• Think about healthy eating, good hydration, daily exercise, time in nature. Try moving for 2 mins every 30 mins – it significantly improves subsequent concentration and is very good for brain health and wellbeing.
• Think about when to fit things in: e.g. exercise in the morning to get the day started, or in the evening to wind down from work?
• Take breaks: see them as a necessity not a luxury: do something really rewarding during breaks. Never feel bad for taking a break: they are a crucial part of the learning process.
• Keep doing the things that keep you happy: ‘one small slice of happiness a day’.
• Do activities outside of medicine, keep up with non-medics.
• Remember that support is always available, from your personal tutor, lecturers, seminars, peers, wellbeing services.