How I Study While Working 100 Hours a Week as a Doctor

The first 500 people to use my link will get a 1-month free trial of Skillshare skl.sh/zachhighley05241
Is it possible to maintain a relentless work schedule as a doctor and still find time to study and improve professionally and personally? Well, on some weeks, when I hit around ~100 hours, it isn't easy, but it's possible. In this video, I will share my journey and strategies for continuing to study, learn, and improve myself even when I work 100-hour weeks as a doctor.
📜 Write Up - zhighley.com/how-to-continue-...
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🐧 Twitter - / zachhighley
💌 Newsletter - zhighley.com/newsletter/
0:00 Intro
0:43 Metacognition
3:18 Optimize Air and Light Quality
4:48 Maximize Your Uptime
5:31 Use 80/20
8:45 Reasonably Plan
10:35 Keep The System Running
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Who am I:
My name is Zach. I’m a Resident Physician in Boston. I make videos about medical school, studying, and growth. I love trying new things and often mess up. However, every time I screw up, I usually learn something. Whatever I learn, I post it either on KZbin or on my website 🌐 (zhighley.com/​​).
I write a weekly newsletter 💌 (zhighley.com/newsletter/​​) linking the best things I read, watched, and listened to that week. Join the 4,000+ that read it every other Sunday morning.
The Gear I Use to film videos: zhighley.com/resources/#_YouT…​​
What I’m Reading: zhighley.com/resources/#_Books

[@ZachHighley]

I promise a haircut will be my MIT soon, for now though this is: skl.sh/zachhighley05241 The first 500 people to use my link will get a 1-month free trial of Skillshare

[@emmnasr8989]

Hi Zach, the link is not working. There seems to be some error, can you please ask the Skillshare team to check it out?

[@ZachHighley]

⁠​⁠hey the link works for me and others, have you tried a different browser? Like chrome or safari?

[@emmnasr8989]

@@ZachHighley Sorry, I meant that the discount code is not working

[@ZachHighley]

@@emmnasr8989gotcha, as long as you use the link in my comment here it should work, try copying the link and pasting it into an incognito chrome browser or private safari window if still an issue, if still no luck message skillshare support

[@clouDndsky]

Thank you, Zach :)

[@mallagallabumbum8209]

A week has 168 hours. If you work 100 hours per week and sleep enough (8 hours per day = 56 hours per week) that leaves 12 hours to relax. Per week. "Very healthy"

[@SilverHawk214]

If you watched the first part of the video, he literally says he tries to do important personal work/stuff, when possible, during his shift when there is downtime. Which means it's still part of that 100 hours at work anyway. About as healthy as a 100 hour work week can be if you ask me.

[@User24x]

12 hours to do everything else besides work & sleep

[@aaronwilson4258]

He probably sleeps while at work. Also, I don't understand how a resident physician is working 100+ hours per week. Less than half of all residents will ever see an 80-hour work week, let alone 100+ hours. That means he's working nearly 17 hours for six days. Also, residents are capped at working 80 hours per week, so I don't know how/why he's exceeding that amount.

[@sakuto1085]

@@aaronwilson4258 A majority of residents do see 80-hour work weeks, this is extremely common especially when rotating on a more demanding service (ICU, inpatient floors, OB/Gyn, and surgical residencies overall). The 80 hour cap is also not enforced properly, residents are required to log their hours, but programs will coerce residents into not logging more than the "80 hour cap."

[@abcd649KKK]

approx., 14hrs work each day, 7 hrs sleep, and 3 hrs free time literally no free time practically dude also has to eat and get ready like maybe he gets 2hrs for himself each day

[@julioamarilla3249]

Thank you, Zach. I’m always looking forward for your videos to help me stay sane as a resident too. Never disappointed. Keep it up!

[@EcomCarl]

Prioritizing MITs and leveraging downtime effectively is such a smart approach, especially with a packed schedule! Setting clear goals can truly make a world of difference. 🌟

[@drnickbella]

Leveraging those rotations in residency that require less work hours is so key. Prioritize getting big things done when working clinic hours versus floor hours.

[@geraval557]

If you don’t have a wife and kid/s yeah

[@tinamoni6792]

You are a 100% right! An emotional, mental and physical healthy Dr. is the best! I hope as you continue on you'll keep your schedule and pace by taking care of you first so you can take care of patients better!

[@padelackles]

So your residency program is violating duty hours?

[@bharathkrishnaas]

Hey Zach 👋🏻 So good to see you again! And as always another great video 🥳 (And the hairstyle looks pretty darn cool too 😜)

[@ZachHighley]

Careful we may start a hairstyle war here

[@freddyjosereginomontalvo4667]

Good video man. As always say thanks for the advice. Take care

[@ZachHighley]

Thanks for the watch! Take care

[@ASLAMBINALIBM]

Hey Zach, you truly my inspiration. I been watching your video you ever since you made your Anki video . I was year 1 back then now I'm in my 4th year as med student. Your video is a life hack and truly saves me a lot of time LOL.

[@ZachHighley]

Amazing! Soon to be a doctor colleague let’s go!!!

[@michellekawczinski]

I’m really interested in what your exercise and nutrition looks like when working this much. If you work 100/168 hours of the week and sleep 8h a night, there are only 12 hours, about 1h40m/day left for exercise, showering, buying and cooking food and even commute, when we ignore the studying, That seems very little to me tbh, as there’s also always some time taken away by switching tasks.

[@egregius9314]

Yeah I suspect the 100 hours is not entirely accurate. I know more people who claim 80+ hour workweeks, but they include commuting/eating in there.

[@brianmcneil5067]

A video on your weekly workout routine would be appreciated!

[@user-ci2tq4tz6d]

Thank you Zach❤

[@RameshKumar-ng3nf]

I always learn a lot from you 🙏 , from all your study related videos 🙏 It helped me improve my life 😊

[@ZachHighley]

I learn a lot from you! Thanks for the support

[@truthteller2711]

May u ask if u still use Anki to keep up with ur medical knowledge? If not how do u keep it? Thanks

[@grantmowry2195]

what does your exercise routine look like at this point in residency?

[@katherynsantana6891]

This video is motivating me to want to continue my studies. Thanks for the motivation 😊 📚🎒

[@ZachHighley]

Keep going!

[@PedroCruz-md3cs]

Hey Zack, i went throughout all of your videos in skill-share and nebula to understand the best way to study and get better grades with less effort being put into. But, i have a question since i know that active recall and space repetition is the best for learning something thanks to you. The question is , how for example if i want to learn from a book, an independent study of general physiology, how would you go do that to make the information stick , since there is no exams and practice question to test my knowledge Thanks!

[@tiahssaha286]

I like the book self beside you! It can stack many books without attaining much space! Can you link ? From where you have baught it?

[@umamakhatib3085]

Hey Zach 😃 See after a long time, How are you? I was waiting for your video.. I am happy to see you 😊

[@ZachHighley]

Happy to see you! Yea these last couple months of residency have been tough but plan to upload more frequently starting in July!

[@anjneyrai]

Great video !!

[@ZachHighley]

Thanks!

[@user-jb1ub5el6f]

يحتاج الاستمرار على الخطة المكتوبة شغف ولا اعرف مكان نشتريه منه اقصد اغلب الاحيان نعتمد على اي من المهام التي اريد فعلها التي لدي رغبة بحيث يصبح انهائها سهلا 10:42

[@june3536]

It has always been MIT to watch Zach's updated videos! ❤️

[@ZachHighley]

the best MIT I’ve ever heard

[@Som.Suwadee]

I’m over here stuck at trying to divide 100 by 7 days…. There’s no hope for me.

[@ZachHighley]

The answer is 42

[@Som.Suwadee]

@@ZachHighley when you choose to be kind over being right

[@grantmowry2195]

What's the average week like? You said it gets up to about 100 hours, but is that typical?

[@GEGO_2003_2]

I loved the new look❤❤

[@ZachHighley]

Love you!

[@GEGO_2003_2]

@@ZachHighley ❤

[@tinvillage]

Another resident here - I honestly have a hard time with these claims of "we work 80 / 100 / xxx" hours per week. What is considered work? For me, it is everything between entering and exiting the hospital. In that time, we are usually so busy, that we often do not take a break and eat at our computers. "Downtime" at work to do other tasks? Nope. To read something up? Maybe something quick, but nothing fundamental. Maybe if we have a week with several night and weekend shifts we can approach 80 hours, but again - what is considered work? For us, it literally means getting work stuff done. And I cannot see how that is regulary 80 hours, let alone 100 hours, regularly. Mathematically, it just doesn't add up to me

[@abcd649KKK]

hey bro, answer if you feel like it, and sorry if am being rude but how much do you earn a year like 14hrs work each day is A LOT

[@okeyluke1354]

I have a question, sir. Does becoming a doctor mean I will be working for 100 hours a week? I thought the required working time for all jobs was 40 hours, except the person decides to go over it. Did you choose to work that long or is it required?

[@deusvultpictures6550]

Why are all these productivity KZbinrs always young and good looking despite working themselves into the ground?

[@Doxsein]

Selection bias. You are only seeing the ones who are able to do it. We aren’t usually aware of the vast majority of KZbinrs who are productive and DO burn themselves to the ground

[@user-jx3kr5pr8h]

The circuits for mosfets on the cover of one of your books page you display is so intimidating show something more simple not intimidating such as bipolar transistors page.I found bipolar transistors more interesting change that page you show electronic circuits yo have open all the time.

[@abcd649KKK]

approx., 14hrs work each day, 7 hrs sleep, and 3 hrs free time literally no free time practically dude also has to eat and get ready like maybe he gets 2hrs for himself each day

[@Event_Horizon14]

Whatever you do, DON'T do what you're doing! Your heart will thank you later.

[@tansiblaise6621]

Another Zach Highley video 🤩🤩🤩

[@ZachHighley]

Thanks for the watch!

[@Manodragon]

Just finished my 14 Hours in the hospital and on my way home. I just want to sleep. How the heck can you do this all the time?

[@crish10030]

You should take some rest bro you look very tired, not everything is about your career and your goals, you gotta take care of yourself too.

[@chiyungwong3774]

Zach’s MIT, get a haircut or buy a hairband! Seriously though, a great video!

[@balochsarparah5237]

I feel very lazy tell me an effective idea to avoid laziness during study

[@ZachHighley]

Try doing just 2 mins of work, then if you stop after that it’s ok

[@balochsarparah5237]

How to avoid the pressure of the test. That makes me exhausted 😩

[@BiologyWkhizar]

Hey guys, let me tell you something that I’m sick of hearing a 2nd year med student in Pakistan we usually follow Med school syllabus thought in the United Kingdom, I had 99 percentile in Mcat and I scored 2 distinction in biochem and physiology. The reason I’m able to study a lot is because of F****** habits that my parents drilled into me during my childhood and this also applies to my friends here. It’s like getting a mayo dip when ever you visit Pizza Hut. You feel uncomfortable if you don’t most of the time I’m even nit conscious that I’m studying, I’m just studying it’s a habit. For those looking to build good habits star from smaller steps such as studying 4~5 hours something that you can do regularly and overtime it becomes habit. If you guys think some how some day lighting struck to us and we started studying than that’s bull shi* most of the time I’m ain’t even conscious it’s like I wake up and start studying it’s like natural reflex and I’m not even responsible for this my Asians/ brown parents were. Soo please stop following this bullshi* guides do something you guys can regularly and it will become a habit once it becomes habit you guys will get result no matter what.

[@Nonsense116]

It terrifies me how much doctors work. Yall are trusted to be at the top of your game all the time or someone could get hurt. There's absolutely no way that is possible on 100 hour weeks. You aren't as sharp and fresh on hour 95 than you are on hour 5. Horrifying.

[@TalaAhmad-qc7gn]

#free_paleatine

[@TheWema2]

100 hours of work?!! Are you sure is what you want in your life ?

[@AndresGarcia-qo8is]

For such an organized and methodic person you should also take care of yourself and find time to schedule your color and hair appointment. It is not vain, just self care.

[@ZachHighley]

Agreed…

[@SilverHawk214]

A haircut is low on the list for self care. A shower, working out, eating well are all way more important. Don't get me wrong, you feel good when you look good but sometimes you have to prioritize other things that are more effective forms of self care. We all only have 24 hours in a day. Cut him some slack.

[@yugankgupta207]

You are so cute n polite not to forget so handsome and smart , surely with all your hurdles , you will succeed. PS I say this as a guy , I would love to date you if you are up for it coz looks with brains are a rarity and boy do I love to devote my time n energy to such rarity .❤❤😘 . Let me know your thoughts ❤❤

[@ZachHighley]

Thanks for the nice words! Let me forward this to my KZbin dating manager

[@yugankgupta207]

@@ZachHighley 🤣🥳😎✅😘

[@gh-sb1dy]

when do u think youll quit being a doctor since your making 10x more from youtube in time?

[@TalaAhmad-qc7gn]

#blockout2024

[@tkaefring]

Zach is really sexy and smart but doesn’t seem to lend his focus to either of those.

[@onmywayup94]

100 hour work week LMFAO

[@mistresshecker4240]

It is probably a bit exaggerated but being a doctor is rlly hard I don’t get the point of this comment 😅😅

[@everetwiszniak9102]

Can you show less chest hair please? Lol.