Dear diary,


I need more hours in a day.


Flicking through USMLE preparation forums and journals I have noticed an ongoing theme of self pep talk and constant repetition of motivation mantras, and that's from folks who study full time. I am not sure whether I should be worried about or proud of my laid back attitude. [Something tells me this is not the term my household would use, neurotic would be more like it]


Some folk take out 3 months to study for Step 1. How do they do it? 3 months is a very long time to dissapear off the life radar, never mind a medical life radar. What about attachments? What about ongoing projects? What about publications? Oh, and also there is a matter of a family life. Where does that fit in?


Currently my 'To-Do' list has 4 subsections, and items are being added on faster than I can tick them off. The more items there are on my 'To-Do' list, the more I want to lock myself in the flat and play piano all day.


So, dear diary, how about extra 24 hours per day, please?


PS: At the risk of turning into one of THEM, a personal favourite motivation quatation encountered while clicking through preparation forums:


"Dont quit when the tide is lowest, For it's just about to turn.
Dont quit over doubts and questions, for there's something you may learn.
Dont quit when the night is darkest, For it's just a while til dawn
Dont quit when the hill is steepest, for your goal is almost high.
Dont quit when U have run the farthest for the race is almost won
Dont quit for you are not failure until you fail to try"


by Jill Wolf