Getting the Most out of Your Premed Weekends

Weekends….everybody loves them! For the premedical student, they are like gold. When you become a doctor, they’re even more precious and can be thought of as diamonds! During the week, you spend your time in class, studying, playing sports, attending meetings, conducting research, and for some of you working. With so much to do, how do you decide the best way to spend your weekends? Here are some basic concepts that will help you make the most of your premed weekends.

Rest on the 7th Day. There are two type of premedical students. The first is the student that works all day everyday. This student is always going 110% percent with the firm belief that the person who works the hardest always wins. The second type of premed is the one that thinks he or she will simply be able to get into medical school because they have declared the premedical route. “As long as I complete the courses, I’ll become a doctor.” Both of these are the wrong attitudes to have. The key to success is working smarter, not harder. Going 110% is great, however, you have to take a break at some point in time, and when you do, you want it to be a real break. Taking off one full day each week, simply to relax and re-energize will do you more good than you could ever imagine. Also, please do remember that you need to earn this day off. In order to take off the 7th day, be sure you’ve worked hard the prior six days!

Reflect and Plan. Each week should end with a reflection of your performance the prior seven days and a plan for the next. In reflecting, you should ask yourself: (1) Did I use my time wisely this week? (2) Are there any topics covered in class that I don’t fully understand and need to revisit? (3) Did I put my passion to work this week (whatever it is that you are most passionate about in life, you should find a way to use it every week! In planning for the upcoming week, ask yourself: (1) How do I need to restructure my schedule to get the most out of this upcoming week, (2) Who do I need to connect with this week (strengthening your network should always be a part of your weekly plan) (3) How will I put my passion to work this week. These may seem like very basic questions, but the impact will be tremendous!

Hang out! Yes this is okay to do! It’s really just another way to network. In the section above, this concept is eluded to but not detailed. Networking is of extreme importance no matter what career you pursue. In the medical field, the lives of your patients, in some instances, may be affected by the strength of your network. For the college student, growing your network is done in large part by hanging out with friends and attending events. When considering the first concept above, “Rest on the 7th Day”, one could argue that hanging out isn’t necessarily resting. In doing so, you are building your social capital which will prove to be beneficial over the years to come. Take caution however not to do anything that will ruin your chances of getting into medical school. As an example, drunken fights at the frat party are a quick way to weed yourself out of the applicant pool.

Weekends can be used in an infinite number of ways. In the end, the key is simply that you are intentional with your time and pay mind to use it wisely. These simple concepts certainly won’t guarantee that you will become a doctor, but they will provide you with a framework to move one step closer by maximizing your weekends.