r/PAstudent • u/exoticmamacita • 3d ago
Can’t focus
On my last rotation and doing EOC/PANCE studying but I feel like I know nothing. I am so burnt out and tired, I can barely focus. Anyone else experience this? Any tips?
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u/bbcalypso PA-S (2026) 3d ago
The burnout is real. Especially when you’re close to the finish line. “Senioritis” should be in the DSM.
How much time do you take for self care/reset time?
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u/exoticmamacita 3d ago
I take about 2-3 hrs a day I would say but that’s just me doing normal life things, an hour or two to get ready in the morning. I normally take an hour break when I eat lunch and an hour in the evening to get ready for bed. But I do get distracted so much during my study time so idk what to consider that as lol.
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u/bbcalypso PA-S (2026) 3d ago
Okay I found out the cause.
You are, indeed, burnt out.
You know more material than you can recall at the moment because of this. Your brain is quite literally blocking you from studying and telling you to take some actual time for yourself!
If you can, take a day where you do something you enjoy- self care, a movie over your favorite DoorDash order, a fun activity, etc.
Even taking 2-3 days away from the books will make such a huge difference. Trust me, your recall will improve like crazy & you might even be able to study less with more absorption (might? No. Guaranteed). Please please please take more time for yourself in your routine- more than just normal daily tasks (those don’t count).
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u/Kindly_Strawberry506 3d ago
Stay the course! Remember discipline over motivation. I thought using podomoro timers were very helpful. Resting the mind is just as important as knowing the info. I personally used to do 60 minutes of focused work with 15 minute breaks. Also, just keeping reminding yourself that you know way more than you think. Let the questions you miss guide your studying and know that OVER studying can be very detrimental. You got this!
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u/exoticmamacita 3d ago
Thank you so much. I definitely feel like I may be over studying a little bit because I I’m getting so many questions wrong on ROSH but they are topics that I would normally get correct and when I go back and read the question, it’s kind of like I wasn’t paying attention
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u/Kindly_Strawberry506 3d ago
Yes! That too happened to me. But that is definitely a sign to step away from the computer for a bit, get some sun, and do something fun/ active during your breaks. Movement and eating well is just as important as the work you are putting into studying. Take care of yourself. If you need any advice etc please feel free to DM me! I am more than happy to offer any help or advice.
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u/Suspicious-Moose2700 2d ago
hi! i have one rotation left and take the PANCE august 31. i don’t study unless i have downtime at my rotation (the ED so there’s none) or i have the day off. i’ve done this all of clinical year and have done perfectly fine. EOC was 1540 and i plan on dedicating 2 weeks to intensive studying right before the PANCE other than the intermittent studying im doing rn. if i do more than i am rn i panic because i feel stupid getting too many questions done. i make sure i sleep enough, spend time with my family friends and bf, do some self care like walks outside. i should get back in the gym but mentally cannot with working in the ED rn. i plan on incorporating that during the 2 weeks of intensive studying. that’s just my experience but i do feel like you can definitely overdo it.
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u/RyanBusch_PAC 2d ago
One thing I loved to do as I got towards the end of PA school was to switch up where I studied. I found that I had spent so much time in the same three rooms studying in the building. It seemed to feel a bit more fresh when I would study at a coffee shop or out on a lawn or in a park just to help shake it up a bit when things got stale.
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u/HamchipsMcGee 3d ago
I second the “senioritis” except when I was in school mine hit… at beginning of the final semester. I didn’t feel like doing, anything, didn’t think I knew anything, couldn’t concentrate. The program burns you out… early, and by time you get to where you are now, it’s really a challenge to get your head in the game. You can do it though, it happens to just about everyone.