Did you know Australia has 24 university medical schools accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC)?

However, getting into and graduating from med school is no easy feat. In fact, Medical Deans reported about 3,701 graduates from medical schools in Australia last year.



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Medical schools aren’t for the faint-hearted. Becoming a doctor takes about ten years of studying on average. After completing a degree, you must undergo proper training, such as internships and residencies.

As such, medical students easily and quickly get burned out in med schools. In fact, the National Institutes of Health reported the prevalence of burnout among students due to sleep deprivation and low household income. Unfortunately, burnout can take a toll on their physical health and mental wellness.

So, as a medical student, how do you address burnout and promote your overall well-being?

Read on and follow our practical tips below.

1. Set SMART Academic Goals

As a medical student, start by defining your academic objectives. Whether entering med school, beginning the semester, or kicking off the year, ask yourself what you aim to achieve. Setting SMART goals is key to successful learning and professional development in medical school.



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As a medical student, adopt the S.M.A.R.T framework for your academic goals:

• Specific: Instead of vague goals, define exactly what you aim for. Is it to hit an A+ in all your medical courses or go beyond the required number of cases to handle?
• Measurable: Set key criteria to measure your performance and track your progress. For example, monitor the number of medical cases you've handled thus far.
• Achievable: Ensure your goals are within reach—as realistic as possible. Why dream of graduating with flying colors when you know you're an average student? Focus on passing your subjects first; You might eventually graduate with a high distinction.
• Relevant: Of course, your goals must be relevant to your current situation as a medical student. Why focus on handling as many medical cases for your classroom training?
• Time-bound: Assign deadlines to your academic goals. Are you looking to graduate on time? Setting a timeframe in place helps you focus, avoid procrastination, and achieve your objectives.

2. Champion a Healthy Student-life Balance

Did you know the state government has begun offering $12,000 study subsidies for nursing and medical students this year? That might motivate you to excel in med school amid the rigors of academic and clinical responsibilities. But to avoid burnout and still succeed, maintaining a student-life balance is vital!

As a medical student, strike a balance between your personal and would-be professional life by:

• Creating a realistic schedule. Plan your time wisely by listing all your tasks or activities and plotting a specific time for each. A critical timetable helps you set a balanced day!
• Prioritizing things effectively. Focus on what's the most important and urgent in your academic life. Task prioritization is key to achieving prompt actions and preventing distractions!
• Taking regular breaks. Schedule short breaks to recharge and leisure time to unwind. That way, you'll return to med school more focused and productive!
• Establishing boundaries. Draw the line between your personal and academic commitments. Setting boundaries helps you maintain a healthy balance between your personal life and studies.
• Embracing flexibility. As a lot is going on in med school, be open to changes. Flexibility lets you adapt quickly and easily to unexpected events while keeping stress levels at bay.

3. Master the Art of Time Management

Time management has always been a buzzword in professional settings, which also applies to medical schools. With coursework demands, clinical responsibilities, and personal commitments, it helps you balance your academic and personal obligations. Ultimately, it can impact your efficiency, productivity, and success as a medical student.

As such, master the art of time management by following these techniques:

• Pomodoro Technique: This technique involves short sessions with breaks in between for more focused and manageable work. How? Work for 25 minutes, rest for 5 minutes, and repeat!
• Eisenhower Matrix: This matrix entails sorting tasks based on the order of urgency and importance. As a medical student, consider the quadrants below when handling tasks:

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• Eat-that-frog Technique: This technique entails tackling the most challenging task, and the rest of the smaller tasks will follow. As a medical student, heed Mark Twain's advice: Eat that frog alive; Don't just stare at it!
• The 2-minute Rule: This rule requires you to perform the tasks immediately if they only take less than two minutes to accomplish. Doing so helps you quickly handle small tasks and prevent them from piling up.
• Time Blocking: This technique involves assigning specific time blocks to various tasks. It helps you stay organized and manage your time more effectively and efficiently.

4. Cultivate Effective Study Habits

Australia has been investing in its health sector and partnering with various organizations worldwide. Let's take the Albanese government's $90 million investments in six new medical school programs for the rural communities in Australia. They started having an extra 160 medical students undergoing end-to-end rural medical training in 2023.

If you're one of these lucky students, capitalize on such an investment. But to be worth their investment, develop good study habits to succeed in med school by:

• Setting clear objectives. As a medical student, you should know precisely what you want to achieve. Consider the SMART goals discussed above!
• Developing a consistent routine. It's best to set a regular schedule and stick to it whenever possible. Create a realistic schedule, as mentioned above!
• Creating a dedicated study area. Having a spot for studying can make a difference in your medical student's life. Opt for a conducive environment that's clean, organized, and with fewer distractions!
• Employing active learning techniques. You should be proactive by making a conscious effort to learn in med school. Techniques like group discussions and problem-solving help you understand and remember better!
• Staying completely organized. There's no better way to study than to keep everything in order. Doing so reduces stress, helps you focus, and makes studying easier!

5. Establish Robust Support Networks

Medical students play a crucial role in healthcare delivery. Not only do they learn as a student, but they also assist in healthcare settings as nurses or assistants. They, too, need a supportive network to cope with stress and succeed in med school.

As a medical student, set your support system through the following:

• Immediate Family: Always reach out to your loved ones for help, guidance, and advice. They're there to support you academically, appease you emotionally, and foster your overall well-being!
• University Mentors: It's best to find trusted mentors in your university and build good relationships with them. They can guide you through all your academic challenges in medical school and help you grow professionally in hospital settings!
• Health Professionals: What better way to proceed than to build good relationships with doctors, nurses, and staff? With their help and guidance, learn as much as you can in the hospital settings. They might be the colleagues you’ll work with in the future!
• Closest Classmates: Your classmates in medical school can be your support system since you know and understand each other. What better way to do that than to support each other? Doing so creates a positive learning environment together!
• True Friends: Of course, you can always count on your genuine friends in times of need. They don't necessarily have to be in medical school as well, but they can provide emotional support and ensure your well-being.

6. Practice Genuine Self-care

Genuine self-care is all about taking good care of yourself. Sure, you might have a support system to help you navigate the complexities and difficulties in med school. However, you should look after yourself to address burnout and promote well-being.


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As a medical student, take good care of yourself by:

• Eating healthily. Opt for healthy foods and establish a well-balanced diet recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Eating appropriately gives your body the nutrients it needs to focus on med school and ensure overall well-being.
• Staying hydrated. Drink plenty of water daily to ensure your body's proper functioning and promote good health. Mayo Clinic recommends daily fluid intake: 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) for men and 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) for women.
• Exercising regularly. Stay physically active despite the rigors of med school. Regular exercise is good for your physical and mental health, helping prevent burnout and foster overall well-being!
• Getting enough sleep. As a medical student, prioritize rest as much as you can. Regularly having a night of restful and restorative slumber is crucial for focusing on your academic life and promoting your overall well-being!
• Pursuing hobbies and interests. Take the time to do what you are passionate about—read good books, listen to your favorite music, watch new flicks, hit the gym, play sports, etc. They add joy to your life as a medical student and contribute to a well-rounded lifestyle.

Medical School Success: Addressing Burnout and Promoting the Well-being

The medical profession is truly a fulfilling and rewarding one. However, health professionals are responsible for promoting public health, treating patients, and saving lives. That makes medical schools an extensive and complex training ground.

As such, it's easy to see medical students experience burnout. However, that can take a toll on their physical health and mental wellness.

If you are one of them, consider the practical steps recommended above for addressing burnout and promoting overall well-being. Set your academic goals, develop good study habits, enhance your learning, have a support system, and practice self-care.

Ultimately, taking good care of yourself will help you succeed in medical school and become a doctor someday!


This article is written by Nancy Mitchell, RN at Assisted Living.