Premed Productivity & Happiness Hacks

Through a lot of experimentation and trying new strategies, during our own premed journeys we realized that one of the most valuable lessons to learn is how to manage our productivity while maintaining happiness during studying. 

The pressure of managing your time becomes a real challenge and we want to help you find the most productive way to do this while keeping a positive mindset… 

In this video and commentary below, your MedLife Mastery mentor, Braeden, will share the tips and tricks he used to maintain the Golden Mean of happiness as a premed student. 

We'll pass it off to Braeden from here

Today, we'll be talking about what I believe is the biggest key to staying happy and productive while you're studying as a premed. This really separates the ones that make it and are happy in the process and enjoy the process versus the ones that feel stressed out, out overwhelmed and all these other negative things.

Now, we're not going to lie here, being a premed is hard. There's no way around it. It's very difficult to try and get into medical school. 

The first thing you got to do is you got to get a near perfect GPA, which that in and of itself is very hard to get to do. But on top of that, in the academics, you got to get a really solid MCAT score, which that is a whole other beast of itself. These two things, just the academics are really difficult.

But on top of all that, they expect you to get some research hours in there and maybe squeeze out a few publications if you can. They expect you to do volunteer work, have extracurriculars and do some shadowing. It just seems like the list never ends. There's so much that's on your plate.

And on top of all that, you're telling yourself, you have to have a life. You have to be able to exercise, sleep, eat, and do all these other things too, have fun with friends. And that just can really seem overwhelming. It just seems like, man, there's so much to do. How do I fit it all in? How can I do everything to be productive, achieve my goals and dreams, and do all that and be happy at the same time? Or do all the things that I love?

Maximizing your Time for your Passions Outside of Medicine

Well, the good news is there is a way to do it. I was able to do all that, get really good grades, get a good MCAT score, all that stuff that you need to have as a premium. But at the same time, have a life, hang out with my friends, play hockey competitively, all these things, and I was able to do all that.

And how I did that, and the biggest key that I want to get into here is having an effective scheduling system, or in other words, having good time management skills. So you're probably asking yourself, why is time management skills really the key to everything, the key to being productive, but at the same time being happy?

Create a Scheduling System

Well, the reason is that time is really our most valuable resource, the only limited thing that we really have. And because of that, we need to be able to maximize our time. And by having an effective scheduling system, we're able to do that.

If our scheduling system is really solid, we're able to get more work done, be more productive in a shorter amount of time. Then that way, you waste less time.

It frees up more free time then to do all the things that you love to do and all the things that you have to do, right? The time to exercise, the time to really sleep, right? To eat, right? All these things. Then do the fun things like hang out with friends. Go play some hockey if that's what you're into. Go play whatever sport, play an instrument, whatever it is, follow your passion, all this stuff.

You're able to do that if you're able to maximize your time while you're working and being productive. And for busy premed, this is huge. This really separates the ones that make it and are happy in the process and enjoy the process versus the ones that feel stressed out, overwhelmed, and all these other negative things.

The Importance of Productivity

I've seen it so many times. People who make it and people who don't.

This is the message I'm trying to get across. Across to you. The time management skills is really the separating factors. If you're able to really hone down and really get a good scheduling system in, a good way to keep track of everything, to really maximize your time, I promise you you'll see your productivity and your results skyrocket. From there also, you'll be able to just have a life, do all the things that you love to do.

You'll see that it's such a great cycle. When your results go higher, when your productivity goes higher, you get to have more of a life. From there, because you're happier and everything, it just goes back to more productivity, you feel more refreshed, recharged, ready to go, and it's just a positive cycle. So it really is that important. And this is the whole point of this video.

Now, we're not really going to dive into the how to's or the ins and outs or all that stuff, but it's really I want to get the message across that having a good scheduling system is really the difference between those that do make it and those that don't. 

But just for today's sake, I don't want to overcomplicate anything. I just want you guys to get really the main message to have a really good scheduling system. 

Learn From Former Premeds Who've Mastered Their Productivity

If you find Braeden video helpful, then remember that these strategies and resources don’t end here…

Wherever you are in the premed journey, remember that there are people out there ready to give you a helping hand! 

You don’t have to experience the same difficulties! Learn from top premeds who have also struggled and persevered through one-on-one MCAT Tutoring or get some advice on what will make you stand out to medical schools through our med school application coaching!

We know just how much the MCAT can take a toll on you when you’re pouring so much time and energy into the prep process…

But just remember that even if it’s a long journey, you have to take care of yourself along the way and make time for the things that will keep you healthy (both mentally and physically)!

Be kind to yourself and don’t make studying for the MCAT any more difficult than it needs to be.

You got this!