Can you tell us about how you use your journal? Do you find a journal to be a helpful professional tool or more of a reflective personal outlet?

I use my journal mainly for organizing my life as a student/professional. I often have many things going on at once, and my mind is filled with a complex jumble of appointments, classes, ideas and tasks. My journal was an essential part of my medical success (and sanity).

The weekly layout is my absolute favorite; I used to experiment a lot with daily ones, but I never found those as useful. I don't like to plan my day to the hour, because I've found that life is too unpredictable. I like having a general idea of the week, and that gives me the peace of mind to achieve the things I need to each week. 

I think the sheer amount of studying required can definitely wear you out. I had months on end -- while I was studying for the USMLE for example -- where I genuinely studied for 8-10 hours each day, every day.

I found that working out regularly was one of the best things I could do for my mental (and physical) health while studying. Coming from a non-athletic (and rather lazy) background, I never thought that I would enjoy exercising, but I discovered that I loved workout classes.

I used my journal to schedule 3-4 gym sessions into my week at the start of each week, so that I would always go into a new week with the mindset that I've made time for the gym.

The other way that I dealt with challenges during med school was to schedule fun into my life - I know it doesn't sound glamorous, but I would put "date night" and "hangout with friends" into my calendar, forcing myself to make time for it.

I tried to make my study area one that was inviting, welcoming, pleasant. I loved waking up in the morning and moving to my desk for that first coffee of the day, to start my to do list nice and early.

I often rearranged my desk, not just for the sake of creating nice IG photos, but because each time I worked at a slightly different setup, it felt like a fresh start, or a much-needed change.  

My favorite study tip is to practice active recall. It's tough, because it's so much more exhausting for your brain than passive studying, but it makes a world of difference.

There are countless ways to do active recall -- flashcards, quizzes, writing things out, reciting topics, teaching someone else -- and it often takes more time, but it'll help you learn so much faster.

Oh, and never underestimate the power of regularly sleeping 7-8 hours a night! Good luck with school - experiment with different study techniques, and try to maintain a healthy lifestyle (eating, sleeping, exercising); your body will thank you later.