{"id":1788,"date":"2020-06-01T13:02:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-01T13:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/?p=1788"},"modified":"2025-09-10T10:19:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T18:19:20","slug":"work-smart-not-hard-how-osmosis-takes-the-stress-out-of-medical-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/work-smart-not-hard-how-osmosis-takes-the-stress-out-of-medical-school","title":{"rendered":"Work Smarter, Not Harder: How Osmosis takes the stress out of medical school"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In This Article<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/work-smart-not-hard-how-osmosis-takes-the-stress-out-of-medical-school\/#Information_Overload\" >Information Overload&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/work-smart-not-hard-how-osmosis-takes-the-stress-out-of-medical-school\/#Managing_the_Workload\" >Managing the Workload<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/work-smart-not-hard-how-osmosis-takes-the-stress-out-of-medical-school\/#Remaining_Mentally_Healthy\" >Remaining Mentally Healthy&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/work-smart-not-hard-how-osmosis-takes-the-stress-out-of-medical-school\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/work-smart-not-hard-how-osmosis-takes-the-stress-out-of-medical-school\/#About_the_Author\" >About the Author<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Self-directed learning is gaining traction among medical students, but it\u2019s important to be strategic about how much information you\u2019re consuming to avoid burnout. UK-based medical student Mike Owen shares how he&#8217;s found balance in medical school with the help of Osmosis.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learning medicine is changing. Previously, medical students relied on two primary learning resources: the textbook and the tutor.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/2020\/04\/02\/selfdirected-learning-in-the-time-of-covid19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Self-directed learning<\/a>&nbsp;involved reading textbooks densely packed with unnecessary detail and complexity, with few&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/2019\/06\/14\/whats-a-mind-map\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">diagrams and visual aids to assist understanding<\/a>. In modern-day teaching, I believe that the tutor remains just as important as ever, but the face of self-directed learning has changed beyond recognition. The development of the internet has transformed the way we access information; endless knowledge is just a WiFi password away. The internet is changing the landscape of self-directed learning, from one of mammoth textbooks to online learning resources teeming with animations, visual aids, diagrams, and mnemonics. To take full advantage of what is on offer, modern-day medical students need to adapt to take in new learning styles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Information_Overload\"><\/span>Information Overload&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the issues of studying medicine is undoubtedly the sheer volume of information required. Exponential scientific discovery has resulted in a knowledge base that is too vast for any individual to conquer, and this has resulted in physicians having to specialize in particular areas of medicine, be it ophthalmology, cardiology, or general practice.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How to tackle this immense workload is one of the primary inconsistencies I observe among my peers studying medicine. Many individuals persist with medical textbooks as their main source of knowledge. However, this somewhat outdated method places a massive burden on their shoulders due to the volume of information on the page from which they are attempting to learn. It often requires many more hours spent studying and increased cognitive effort, maximizing the strain whilst&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/2019\/08\/29\/establishing-balance-in-medical-school\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">minimizing the time available for rest and relaxation<\/a>. Although not applicable to every student, this can create a vicious cycle where students stress both when they are studying and when they are not. Prolonged stress is physically and mentally exhausting and can&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/2020\/05\/30\/a-school-counselors-perspective-on-mental-health-in-medical-school\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">trigger issues with mental health<\/a>, such as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/2020\/05\/29\/at-least-humor-is-a-mature-defense-mechanism-an-unqualified-guide-to-usmle-step-1-anxiety\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">anxiety<\/a>&nbsp;and depression. Mental health amongst medical students and doctors, previously a taboo subject, is receiving more general recognition, with multiple research papers examining issues ranging from burnout to suicide.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"468\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/information-overload.png\" alt=\"A student holding a stack of books on his head, clearly feeling overwhelmed.\" class=\"wp-image-1790\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/information-overload.png 700w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/information-overload.png?resize=300,201 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Managing_the_Workload\"><\/span>Managing the Workload<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An effective way of limiting this workload and stress can be through using the correct learning resource, which filters out unnecessary material and presents the reader with a concise summary of the important information. My personal experience using Osmosis has provided me with a manageable volume of information, which keeps me from drowning in excessive detail and focuses my attention on only the most salient content to create a stable foundation of knowledge. This focused methodology makes studying very efficient and epitomizes the expression \u201cwork smart, not hard.\u201d For many, this can be an effective method for combating stress,&nbsp;burnout,&nbsp;and overwork. In addition, it increases the time available outside of medicine to socialize, indulge your hobbies,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/2019\/04\/18\/top-5-benefits-of-osmosing-with-family\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">see family<\/a>&nbsp;and do everything else needed to keep yourself happy and healthy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"468\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/managing-the-workload.png\" alt=\"The same student feeling better and high-fiving an Osmosis character.\" class=\"wp-image-1791\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/managing-the-workload.png 700w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/09\/managing-the-workload.png?resize=300,201 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Remaining_Mentally_Healthy\"><\/span>Remaining Mentally Healthy&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The current mentality in the medical profession is to place the patient\u2019s needs above all else. However, if a doctor is unable to stay healthy, then their work, their professionalism, and ultimately, their patients will all suffer as a result. As medical students, it is imperative that we begin to put in place effective coping strategies to minimize the stress we shall undoubtedly face in the future. Whether you use mindfulness, meditation, exercise, or anything else, streamlining your workload by choosing the right learning resource can be a worthwhile accompaniment to remaining mentally healthy. Because&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/the-ultimate-guide-to-wellness-in-your-health-professional-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a healthy doctor means healthier patients<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Medical knowledge overload can cause stress and burnout among students.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choosing focused, quality learning resources reduces cognitive burden.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Efficient studying frees time for relaxation and social activities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mental health strategies are vital for long-term professional success.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A balanced approach benefits both students and future patient care.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"About_the_Author\"><\/span>About the Author<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Michael Owen<\/strong> is a third-year medical student from Tring and an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/community\">Osmosis Fellow<\/a>. Currently studying at the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.birmingham.ac.uk\/undergraduate\/courses\/med\/medicine.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University of Birmingham<\/a>\u00a0in the UK, he is considering specializing in toxicology due to his previous experience as a researcher at the National Poisons Information Service. Michael enjoys playing football, guitar, and piano with friends to unwind and de-stress.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/plans\/md\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/hm-healthdigital-multisite.go-vip.net\/osmosisblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/bite-size-lectures-orange-ad.png?w=700\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5197\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/bite-size-lectures-orange-ad.png 700w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/bite-size-lectures-orange-ad.png?resize=300,107 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Try Osmosis today! Access your&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/login?type=create\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free trial<\/a>&nbsp;and find out why millions of clinicians and caregivers love learning with us.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Medical student and Osmosis learner Michael Owen shares his tips for tackling the huge medical school workload and protecting your mental health with smart study habits and resource choices.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":1789,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,27,35,46,47],"tags":[215,84,1501,1499,458,462,1498,911,1500],"class_list":["post-1788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-about-osmosis","category-medicine","category-osmosis-health-leadership-initiative-ohli","category-student-stories","category-study-tips-and-techniques","tag-healthcare-education","tag-medical-education","tag-medical-stress","tag-medical-student-burnout","tag-mental-health","tag-osmosis","tag-self-directed-learning","tag-study-tips","tag-workload-management"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - 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