MBBS courses are some of the most intensive and challenging courses to study. Time management is an incredibly difficult skill for all medical students to master. This is especially so for students studying the MBBS in Kazakhstan. Medical students need to learn to balance lectures, practicals, clinical postings and exams, as well as their personal life and other commitments.
This blog outlines many different ways for MBBS students to manage their time more effectively, both while studying the MBBS in India, as well as in Kazakhstan. All the methods and strategies outlined in this blog are designed to help students manage their time more effectively, reduce stress and help them achieve their academic goals.
The importance of time management skills for MBBS students
Time management skills are important for all students, however, it is critically important for medical students. The primary reason for this, is because medical education is vastly different from other undergraduate courses. It is much more intensive, due to factors like.
- The large syllabus which includes multiple subjects from basic sciences to clinical subjects.
- Practicals, lab work and dissections are a regular occurrence.
- Clinical postings and duties.
- Many internal assessments and exams.
- Preparation for licensing exams and other highly competitive exams.
The rigorous nature of the medical education system without proper time management leads to burnout and poor academic performance. This is further compounded for students who are studying the MBBS in Kazakhstan. These students also need to manage homesickness and adapt to a new environment which often includes a new language, all within the time constraints of their medical studies.
Designing a Timetable
Effective time management begins with a good schedule. Consider, for example, how you can break your day into time blocks, rather than just having an ambiguous study plan.
- Morning: Lectures and Practicals
- Afternoon: Revision of Lecture Notes
- Evening: Self-study of Subjects
- Night: Light Revision and Planning for Tomorrow
A schedule can be kept with a planner, an app, or even a notebook. Look over your schedule to keep what is working and remove what is not on a weekly basis. There is no need for perfection- good and consistent time management means having a schedule that is realistic rather than ambitious.
Prioritization of Subjects
The key to efficient studying is learning to focus on high-yield subjects. These types of subjects are the most critical to what you will need.
- The first pass is covering these subjects.
- The second pass is more in-depth while still being critical.
- The last pass is for low yield or not tested subjects.
The focus on high yield subjects will ensure that even at the last minute, you are ready for the exam.
The Pomodoro Study Technique
The best way to ensure you have the most focused time when studying is to break your study time into intervals. The Pomodoro Study Technique is a great way to keep your focus throughout the day.
The best way to study high yield subjects such as anatomy and biochemistry is by breaking your study time into smaller, frequent intervals that are broken up with focused time and active recall.
4. Coding Methods of Active Recall and Spaced Repetition
Reading your textbooks is an incredibly poor way to study medicine.
- Active recall means you try to remember the information rather than reading the notes over and over.
- Spaced repetition means you try to remember the information over increasing gaps of time. For example, 1 day, then 3 days, then 1 week, then 2 weeks, and so on.
This is definitely best done with the help of flashcards. You can use regular flashcards, or a flashcard app like Anki. In medical school, and especially classes like pharmacology or microbiology that have a ton of memorization, there is a huge benefit to using flashcards.
5. Clinical Postings Have Priority
It is a huge mistake to treat clinical postings as secondary to the actual theory classes. This is actually the place where you begin to build all of the clinical skills you need and see how all of the theory begins to come together. You need to set aside time to:
- Join ward rounds
- Take histories and exams
- Engage in case discussions with seniors and faculty
You need to study the theory and have the clinical skills to implement that theory. This is especially important for students who are studying MBBS in Kazakhstan. Those programs, unlike many other programs, have a ton of clinical exposure in the early years, and taking advantage of that exposure will benefit you greatly in your medical career.
6. Don't Divide Your Focus While You Study
Studying medicine means you need to understand and recall many interrelated concepts. Therefore, it's crucial to study with ABSOLUTE focus on the task and nothing else. Multitasking, especially studying with your phone, is a huge detriment to how much you can retain. Focus apps can help, but you need to put your phone out of reach and partake in deep work for a single subject for the entire allotted time.
7. Schedule Time for Rest and Recovery
The best time management advice is to make sleep and recovery a priority. Chronic sleep loss and stress reduce cognitive and memory function, and decrease performance in studies. Try to have:
- 7-8 hours of sleep daily
- Frequent short breaks during long study sessions
- One complete day of rest
- Information is absorbed and retained more readily by a mind that is well rested.
8. Plan for Major Exams in Advance
Major university semester exams or licensure exams such as the National Exit Test (NEXT) or FMGE require disciplined planning to avoid the need to cram at the last minute. Plan a timeline for each of the major exams several months in advance, and determine the time frames for each of the major exams, the period of review, and the time for the practice exam.
Indian students who wish to pursue post-graduate studies should begin planning for the NEET-PG exam as soon as possible by accessing the official NEET website to learn about the exam structure. This will assist students in aligning their MBBS preparation with exam requirements.
9. Use Technology Wisely
Medical students have a wealth of available resources:
- Anki or Quizlet for spaced repetition flashcards
- Google Calendar or Notion for scheduling and task management
- Medical question banks for practice testing
- Recorded lectures for reviewing complex topics
- Screen the effects of technology on study time. Technology can be very useful in the right context.
10. Balance Academics with Personal Well-being
You must establish a routine that includes:
- Physical activity or exercise
- Hobbies and social interaction
- Communication with family, particularly important for students far away from home doing MBBS in Kazakhstan
- Mental health breaks as necessary
Poor performance is almost always due to burnout. The success you wish to attain in medicine should be due to long-term, sustainable habits, and not short-term, extreme habits.
Special Considerations for Time Management
MBBS in Kazakhstan for Indian students brings with it a certain set of unique time management issues:
- Time zone and calendar changes, requiring you to have an extra time allowance for the first several months
- Language, as many MBBS programs are in English, but you may need to learn a little Russian or Kazakh to communicate with the patients you will work with.
- Personal time will need to be set aside for planning and taking trips back home, and making regular family calls, as they should not be a hindrance to your studying.
- Consider the FMGE or NEXT exam structure during your entire course and not just in your final year, as you will need to allocate time to prepare for these India-centric licensing exams.
Selecting an accredited medical university can reduce post-graduate uncertainty. To verify, check the university's recognition with the National Medical Commission (NMC), the WHO (who.int), and the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS). All these confirm the university's international recognition and validate your degree for future medical practice and studies.
Here's a sample of a weekly time management framework
This framework is for MBBS students:
- Lectures and Practicals: Monday to Friday (Morning), Self-Study (Afternoon to Evening), Revision (Nights)
- Focused Revision on the week's topics with practice questions and revision of weak areas (Saturdays)
- Rest (Sundays)
- Preferable to engage in reading or planning the week (Sundays). Personal time (Sundays)
Effective and sustainable time management is an essential skill for medical students and medical professionals in general. The time management habits of a medical student from the planning and rest to the self-study and clinical practice are the habits that will deliver the most significant long-term impact.
