As students aspiring to become PAs, most of you have probably heard the most infamous saying: “PA school is like drinking water from a fire hose.” I must’ve heard someone say this phrase on three separate occasions, but I didn’t truly understand exactly what they meant until the end of the first day of PA school. In those first 8 hours of class, I had learned a semester’s worth of anatomy material. We hit the ground running right from the start, and I quickly realized that adjusting to life during PA school had a steep learning curve. There are going to be times where you feel overwhelmed with how much you are learning in such a short amount of time, and it can be hard to find time for yourself. If you ever start to feel like you are losing yourself in PA school, I hope these self-care tips can get you on the right track to feeling like you again
1. Honor your Break Time- Your Brain Needs It
Sitting for hours a day in lecture can take a huge toll on your brain power. Faculty will ensure that you get a 10 minute break after every hour. My first advise is – actually take a break! Get up from your seat, get away from your computer, and enjoy a different scenery. Whether that’s taking laps around campus and soaking in some vitamin D, or going to the fridge to grab a snack, let your brain take a short break from the material. This will not only help with the eye strain that you’ll get from staring at screens all day, but it will also allow your brain to take a break from all that thinking you’re doing. The C/O 2026 cohort loves using breaktime for themed photo ops!
Another tip I highly recommend is to have strict cut-off time to stop studying at the end of the day. I’m sure most, if not all, of us are guilty of procrastinating and pulling all-nighters in the days leading up to an exam. Studies have shown that you are not actually learning new material when you cram; you just end up mentally and physically fatigued. Success to PA school means putting in studying hours after class, but setting a time to quit for the night and adhering to that time ensures that the end of the day is dedicated just for you. I like to put my pencil down at 9:30, take a shower, and methodically follow my nightly skincare routine to decompress before bed. Having a full-stop from studying also allows you to get an appropriate amount of sleep (7-8 hours!) and keep your circadian rhythms in check.
2. Don't Sacrifice your Hobbies
You will find that being in PA school means having less time for extracurriculars. While being in school will no doubt become a major priority when the program starts, give yourself time to enjoy the activities you loved to do before you started school. It can take a while to adjust to your new schedule, but make sure you set aside a moment or two to enjoy your hobbies. Whether that’s getting up an hour earlier to make sure you get your daily work-out in, or committing Saturday mornings to playing pickleball, schedule time during every module to do something other than studying or stressing or even thinking about school. Personally, I like to keep my Saturdays open for catching up on shows and movies, seeing friends and family, or getting a good nap in. Whatever your hobby is, use this time to enjoy life outside PA school.
3. Center Yourself in the Moment
PA school presents itself with many challenges, and it is easy for students to spiral down a path of worry, anxiety, and panic. PA school is like a roller coaster; some days you may feel like you have everything under control, and other days you may feel anxious and overwhelmed. When you start feeling like this, take a moment to bring yourself back to the present. Focus on your breathing, take in the nature around you, and remind yourself that whatever you are stressing about right now will soon pass. Finding a way to ground yourself can help ease your worries and strengthen your mental resolve, refreshing your brain so you can get back to some high-quality studying.
4. Give Yourself Grace
PA school has definitely been one of the most challenging times of my life. There have been countless times where I’ve thought to myself, “I can’t do this,” or “I don’t have what it takes to be a PA.” But every time I have these thoughts, I remind myself that I deserve to be here. Getting into such an amazing program is no easy feat, and being in this classroom full of like-minded students must mean that I’m doing something right. It is not uncommon to have doubts about yourself or your ability to get through the program, but just as I remind myself, I now want to remind you that you belong here at MBKU. You have worked countless hours to gain PCE, taken numerous classes to further your medical knowledge, and spent many sleepless nights worrying about admissions interviews to be where you are right now: an incoming student of the MBKU SPAS Program. You are more than capable of becoming a great PA; you have the skills, the grit, and the passion to succeed. Allow yourself to feel all the ups and downs of PA school and enjoy the experience. Take in as much as you can, ask all the questions you have, and commit yourself to learning how to become the best PA we know you can be.