How Do I Manage My Time and Plan An Effective Study Schedule?

Time management is about setting and following a schedule of study in order to organise and prioritise your studies in the context of competing activities of work, family, etc.

According to Davidson (1997) and Wetmore (1999), the 7 divisions of time are family, society, health, finance, spirituality, work and self-development.

1. Family

Ensure that you contact your parents at least once a week. By doing so, your parents will be happy with you and so will God. They will pray for you and of course things will go smoothly. -According to my experience it really effective or in other words in really assist you in doing well everything in your life. Not only that it also do so when you are taking examination as well. I always remember my father's advice in order to success it is not only depend on your hard works but yet it also rely on our parents' bless. I frequently do this because I believe when our parents do bless us Allah also will bless us with His rahmat and help us in doing something successfully and smoothly as what is said by Prof Dr. Muhaya. For instance when I'm in boarding school and in fact even nowadays too I still keep in touch with my parents such as by calling them but don't be like me sometimes I always call them at the last minutes due to my around the corner coming exam..what kind of son am I??? haha just in order to get 'berkat' la konon nya..

2.   Society

Be sensitive to the people around you. This includes your roommates, classmates and those you come into contact with. Should someone gets into trouble, try to help him or her even if it means some taxation on your time. The time spent helping others will be repaid by God in that you will save time on other things such as being able to understand certain subjects ¡n a shorter time than usual. Have faith.     

- Same thing went to me too sometimes when I’m doing my revision especially. Two or three of my buddies come to me and ask several questions to me. At first I felt disturbed and moreover my study progress was hampered sometimes. However I agree with Prof Dr Muhaya. When we lend our hand helping them in their studies actually it helps you too to reduce your study times. Furthermore, it also assists you to refresh your knowledge and when you teach others, you speak, you listen to their problems, you interpret the questions or problems and then you train and ‘squeeze’ your brain to answer them and lastly you speak or present the solution to them… You see!! How much skills have you done?? Does it help you a lot?? I’m sure you will be easier to remember the facts and in fact you are actually are cutting the learning curve as you don’t have to utilize more time and hard work to revise the topic again. For sure your friends are the assistance of your learning ways.

Can I study and Lead A Reasonable Life At The Same Time?

It's quite a long times since I did not write and post any articles or topics for this label. Since my Midsem Exam had just finished so I could spend some times to share my reading of this books.

It depends on how you define a reasonable life. If being able to go out every weekend and dining out every evening is your definition of a reasonable life, then you have to be an extremely bright medical student because you would only have two hours of time for studying after your lecture hours. Otherwise, this kind of lifestyle will lead to difficulties in passing your exams well.

A smart student will know  how to study effectively and will not waste time on unnecessary activities such as chitchatting on the Net or watching television in the evening. From my (Prof) experience, I have not seen any of my (prof) colleagues who led this type of lifestyle and made it through medical school with good grades within the required number of years. Many of them who had a "good life" in the early years of medical school, struggled in the later part and became clinicians who are not confident with their clinical skills.

An Arabic saying states that "a person who does not stand now will never be able to sit later". This means that a person who does not work hard in their younger life will never have a relaxed life when they are older. Everything in life has to be earned and all of us have to pay the "tax" whatever our achievement is. I (prof) am sure that for you to achieve the good grades required for entry into medical schools, you have paid your "tax" in the form of many late nights, hard work and maybe blood, sweat and tears.

you must have the determination of achieving something and rewarding yourself later. For instance, be sure to complete your tasks such as revising lectures of the week before watching a movie or going shopping. The important factor here is to learn to prioritize your daily activities according to its importance and urgency. 

What Are The Possible Career Options After Graduation

1.       General practitioners.

A general practitioner attends to patients with common ailments such as cough and cold. For more difficult cases, the patients will be referred to a specialist.

2.       Specialists

There are a number of different fields that you can choose from such as cardiology, neurology and gynecology, to name a few. Becoming a specialist requires a lot of hard work and minimum training of at least four years.

However, the advantage is that you will be able to treat the patient at a level higher that what you can do if you are a general practitioner. You will be responsible for the patient’s progress right to the end.

As a specialist, you can opt to work in the Ministry of Health or join universities to become clinical lecturers.

3.       Lecturers in pre-clinical departments.

If you do not enjoy treating patients and find clinical work to busy, you can join universities to become lecturers at pre-clinical departments such as anatomy and physiology.

4.       Researchers.

If you are interested in research, you can branch into doing research in various reputable institutions in the country.

As you can see, there are many options to suit everyone’s interest and capability. The main thing is to become a doctor first. People’s interest may change with time according to the kind of exposure and working experience they obtain.

Of course, it is also determined by family circumstances. Most lady doctors try to opt for the less busy schedule such as becoming lecturers in pre-clinical departments where they do not have to be on call.

What Sort of Thinking Is Required to Become A Doctor?

Medical students should train themselves to be critical in their thinking. This is crucial as critical thinking is a skill that is required to become a good doctor.

Seeing things in a holistic perspective is one requirement of a doctor. A patient will come to you with a complaint about their health rather than a written diagnosis. The complaint may appear to come from a physical illness but it may be a manifestation of a psychological problem.

 So, if one is able to see a person a whole rather than just focusing on a symptom, then one will make a good detective at finding the underlining cause of the symptoms.

In fact, a doctor is very much like a private investigator who  is given a clue by the one symptom the patient complained of. It is his responsibility to look for the next clue to get the diagnosis using his adequate knowledge of the basic science and correlating it with the clinical signs.


Attributes of a critical thinker:

• asks pertinent questions.
• assesses statements and arguments.
• is able to admit a lack of misunderstanding or information.
• has a sense of curiosity.
• is interested in finding new solutions.
• suspends judgement until all facts have been gathered and considered.
• looks for evidence to support assumptions and beliefs.
• is able to adjust opinions when new facts are found.
• looks for proof.
• examines problems closely.
• is able to reject information that is incorrect or irrelevant.
• sees that critical thinking is a lifelong process of self-assessment.
• listens carefully to others and is able to give a feedback.

-Ferrett S (1997)-

Can I be A Doctor One Day?

This morning I woke up quite early. As saying goes the early bird catches the worm, so if I were a bird of course now I’m flying over here and there looking for worms. But as  humankind I’m ‘flying’ through internet searching several things to write on. Huhu I don’t know what kind of thing should I ‘voice out’ in my personal blog. After all I remember that I got something that  to do; it should be beneficial if I continue writing on about “How to Become A Good and Successful medical student.  In accordance to  the title stated above it is something that I’m truly don’t know whether I’m in a right track or not. So let’s see what Prof said about it.

If you are determined and remain focused in your goal, have a strong discipline in your study methods and maintain a healthy attitude in your study and course work, you will succeed to become a doctor. You must be positive in your attitude during the process of becoming a doctor.

Recall the time in school when you were doing so well and were the teacher’s pet. (How can I recall if in my previous school I had never been my teachers’ as I always play truancy ). Recall how confident you were to speak in public and answer question intelligently in class. In every person there is tremendous potential and Allah permitting nothing or no one can come in your way from achieving your primary ambition.

Studying medicine requires that you remain organized, consistent, disciplined and interested throughout the five years of study. Each year in medical school may require different components of your capability in varying proportions such as the capability for understanding, synthesizing, evaluating, public speaking and communicating.

The list is too long to describe but you can rest assure that the training in medicine will make you become a wholesome person possessing good values and social skills.

1. Have I chosen the correct field?

According to this book the author assumed that the fact you are reading this book is an indication that you are aiming to become an excellent doctor. If you are person who is concerned about the well being of others and is always happy to lend a helping hand, then you are in the correct profession. Hmm it's that true of what did she wrote?? This is because i'm still wondering why i chose medical field as my choice. It's ok maybe there is 'something' that I couldn't find in myself why i chose it..because of money?interested in?fardhu kifayah? Of course the last one is true as it is good n useful for well being n it is indeed a profitable deeds.

Continue.. Prof in addition said that if u are ready to work hard n strive to know as much as possible about the human body so as to be able to relieve another human suffering, then you are off to a good start and will receive all the blessings of Allah. According to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) there are five things that are very much encouraged to be performed.One of them is relieving the suffering of others. There is no job in trying to achieve this than being in the medical field, as people who come to you are those with some form of suffering, as it physical or mental.

Imagine the change you can make to the lives of others. As an example, imagine a person who is blind in both eyes due to bilateral cataract being able to see the very next day after surgery.

According to Prof's experience, she have seen many patients who are in tears after being able to see their loved ones once the eye bandage is removed following a cataract surgery. For many of them who appears morose before the operation, their facial expressions entirely change and their level of activity at home improves.

As a doctor you have the ability and opportunity to make a difference in people's lives.

Another hadith states that whenever a person leaves his house with the intention of helping another human being, Allah will give him the blessing equivalent to someone who performs "iktikaf" (meditates in the mosque) for a month.

So, a doctor who leaves his house to help other people will get the blessing from Allah all day long, provided he is sincere and does not expect any direst reward drom the person that he helps.

I (Prof) am sure by now you have realised that having a strong spiritual conscience would increase a person to become a doctor and help the needy.

How to become a good & successful medical student.

Yesterday my father bought me a motivational book on title "How to become a good & successful medical student". I thought that this book is really supportive n helpful for medical students n not only for them , I think it is good also for other students to follow though. As what at the front book displayed n written 'a holistic approach', it is of course useful for students due to its accomplished collection of discussion n custom problems raised faced by medical students is enthusiastically answered by the book author Prof. Dr. Muhaya Haji Mohamad M.D.,Ph.D of UKM. I have gone through the book and i think it is good if i could share with readers concerning the method n steps suggested by her. I hope that I won't do copyright infringement as i'll state along the resources n of course it is not done for money interest..



Title: HOW TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL MEDICAL STUDENT ~A Holistic Approach
Author: Prof. Dr. Muhaya Hj Mohamad M.D, Ph.D
No of Pages: 116
Approach: simple & islamic. Simply understood language
1st Printing : 2005

Prof Dr Muhaya Hj Mohamad (Currently is the Coordinator of the Postgraduate Opthalmology Training 
Program, and Chairperson of the Reserach Committee of the Department of Opthalmology, UKM)

Below I provide for you the readers the chapters n FAQ contained in this book :

CHAPTER 1: Have I Made the Correct Decision?
1. Have I chosen the correct field?
2. Can I be a doctor one day?
3. What sort of thinking is required to become a doctor?
4. What are the possible career options after graduation?

CHAPTER 2: Getting Ahead of Time
5. Can I study and lead a reasonable life at the same time?
6. How do I manage my time and plan an effective study schedule?
7. Should I involve myself in many co-curricular activities?

CHAPTER 3: Potential Traps for Meddical Students
8. What are the common problems for First Year medical students?
9. What are the common traps of studying?

CHAPTER 4: I Sure Love Those Lectures
10. How do I get the maximum benefit from the lectures?
11. What do I do when the subject is really boring and I do not understand the lectures?

CHAPTER 5: Am I Doing It Right?
12. What are the effective study habits?
13. How do I study smart?
14. How to read quickly?
15. How do I overcome the frustration of studying difficult subjects?
16. How do I remember what I have studied?
17. Must I have a study group?

CHAPTER 6: Am I a Good Friend?
18. How do I deal with friends who are always depending on me for lecture notes?
19. How do I deal with friends who are always asking me to teach them?
20. How do I overcome envy of other people's achievements?

CHAPTER 7: Facing the Examinations
21. How can I pass all the examinations?
22. How do I prepare for MCQs?
23. How do I write a good essay?

CHAPTER 8: Can I Do it?
24. How do I overcome inferiority complex?
25. What do I do if I lose the motivation to study?
26. How do I keep my interest in medicine going?
27. What do I do if I do not feel like following other people's advice and want to do things my own way?

CHAPTER 9: Can I Be a Good Clinician?
28. How do I clerk a case well?
29. How do I present well in case presentation?
30. How do I get the patients to cooperate with me during ward work and clinical examinations?
31. How do I make full use of my clinical sessions in the clinic?
32. How do I correlate the basic sciences to the clinical subjects?

CHAPTER 10: Assets of A Good Medical Student

APPENDIX
1- Effective note taking
2- Paying attention in class
3- MURDER study system
4- Speed reading & comprehension
5- Effective reading & comprehension
6- Taking notes from a textbook
7- Flip card technique to enhance your memory of a subject
8- Ten tips for test taking
9- Point to ponder

After sometimes, I will provide the link for each chapter when I manage to finish the description of particular 
chapter or topic above. You only have to hover over the particular one n it will direct you to the link.
Ok..that is for this times..