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The semester of your medical studies is slowly but surely coming to an end. The first exams are coming up soon and you are starting to think about your study plan. During the exam period, you are usually busy studying all day. Therefore, it is very important for you and your performance to find out in which environment you can study best. Of course, the question arises: library or home study, which makes more sense?
The two camps balance each other out, with many medical students swearing by the library as the perfect place to study, while others claim to be able to concentrate better at their desks at home. To help you find the right place to study, here is a comparison of the two options.
Learning in the library - pros and cons
The library, affectionately known as the "Bib", is for many the purest learning paradise and thousands of students swear by it as the perfect place to study. It comes with both advantages and disadvantages. Libraries around the world vary enormously, but the basic principle is more or less the same everywhere. They offer fixed and regulated learning times, a place to work or study outside your own four walls, which definitely makes it easier for you to separate learning from leisure.
Distractions also play an enormous role in learning. Therefore, another plus point for the library, because here you will find comparatively few distractions. However, it also takes a bit of self-discipline to simply switch your mobile phone to flight mode or, best of all, to simply switch it off. We all know that it is THE concentration killer. The fact that in the library you're usually only among fellow students or like-minded people who are hungry to learn also increases your own urge to be productive immensely!
On the other hand, there are points such as long travel times, no real guarantee of space, comparatively high noise levels and, unfortunately, mostly uncomfortable chairs and definitely bad air. Of course, all this varies from library to library and from city to city, so you can be more or less lucky with your library. But all in all, from my point of view, I definitely have to say that the library atmosphere can have a positive effect on your productivity, if you let it.
Learning at home - pros and cons
So what are the pros and cons of learning at home?
Sure, you're far more flexible with timing at home, no travelling, no scrambling for the best seats, no noise, more comfortable seating and usually better air. It all sounds much, much better, right? "Why even have this discussion?" you ask yourself. All these points in favour of studying at home can be your undoing in no time. You're too flexible, you shift your study times wildly back and forth, you're not really disciplined, you get distracted far too easily and you procrastinate without really realising it. Here the flat is being vacuumed, there some small work is being done that has no priority. And then the day is over and you haven't really got anything done. Learning-wise, of course.
As you can see, this decision depends enormously on yourself and the type of learner you are. It is not possible to make a general recommendation here, but I prefer the library for effective learning during the exam phase. But you have to try it out for yourself. In any case, I recommend that you get one or at most two very good study buddies with whom you can make appointments, go to the library together or meet at home to study. Of course, the danger of distraction is always higher in pairs, but that's where self-discipline is needed. There are clear agreements, clearly defined study times and breaks. Everything has to be regulated and timed.
Conclusion
So I recommend you try everything, go to the library, in pairs, alone, leave your mobile phone at home, take it with you and switch on flight mode. Meet at home or at a friend's house, try to study alone at home. You have to find the best place and the perfect way for you personally. But don't worry, it will happen faster than you think. However, you have to be open to new things and try out all the possibilities.
Small setbacks and learning blocks are normal, bring variety into your learning routine. Otherwise, it may well happen that your body gets used to only being productive at the one desk where you always study and you feel that you can hardly concentrate outside of this area. Learning to study properly also takes time, so don't stress yourself out. Everything comes with time, you can do it! I promise you, once you've found the perfect learning routine for you, you'll even start to enjoy it, and lo and behold, all of a sudden the whole learning thing will be a lot less stressful for you. Medical studies abroad Even a little fun.
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