Making your Plan Work for You

Your Step 1 boards are an interesting time in your life. Everyday you wake up there is one goal in mind- beat the boards. It is hard to maintain a normal life. However with proper planning you should be able to have a normal life and be well prepared to take your boards.

Customizing your schedule to fit you is the key to success. If you are a morning person study early; if you are a night owl study late. Choose the time you are at your best during the day. Due to long study hours this may not always be possible but try your best. If you workout three days a week then continue to workout three days a week. Working out is a great way to relieve stress so why would you stop during this stressful time? Do your best at maintaining your normal lifestyle.

Write down your schedule. You are 50% more likely to achieve a goal if you physically write it down. Grab a calendar or print one off of your computer. Sit down and write out a plan for each day up until your boards. You don’t need to write specific topics to cover each day. You want to start with an outline. How many hours will you study on particular days? Pull out your school schedule and work with it to make a plan that will be achievable. The most important fact to remember is if your schedule isn’t working for you then change it.

Don’t just plan study time, plan fun! Be sure to include some fun on your schedule. Preparing for the USMLE Step 1 or COMLEX 1 can be extremely stressful if all you do is study 24/7. Make an effort to have fun. Getting away and having some time for yourself can not only improve your mood but it can also make your study time more productive.

There’s one final tip you don’t want to forget. After studying for several hours in a row you start to become unproductive. Take a break! When you are really focused- study, study, and study. When you feel like nothing is getting into your brain- take a break or change up the study method. You will find yourself on a roller coaster when studying for boards. Learn how to stay productive during the highs and lows!