Problem: Article: Being selfish has a very negative connotation in today's society. We're supposed to be looking out for the common good and having everyone's best interests at heart. Heads up: being selfish and caring for others aren't mutually exclusive. You can still be the best person you can possibly be and be selfish and make others happy. Selfishness is not using others, or making them serve you, or removing yourself from people. Selfishness is being primarily interested in your own goals. Selfishness has everything to do with other people - a selfish person who hurts others does so unknowingly or possibly knowingly, but is never in the habit of considering how their selfish actions may hurt others. A selfish person is concerned with their self, and in rare cases has a need to hurt others. With the possible exception of your parents, no one else is looking out for you (and your parents may get it wrong sometimes, even if they have good intentions). That means that you are the only one really on your side -- so it's your job to put you first! That's not being selfish -- it's being logical. Before you can go about acting in your own self interest, you have to figure out just who your self really is. If spending hours on end each day telling the world to shove it and becoming a recluse in your home wouldn't make you happy, there's no point in being selfish and doing it. If you're gonna be selfish, do it right! What makes you happy? What makes you tick? Are you the person you want to be right now? Are you a people pleaser? A doormat? Bossy? Your disposition going into this process will determine your behavior. It's only the stuff that matters that you need to be selfish on! The rest can be handled depending on your mood. Maybe that day you'll feel particularly giving and willing to make a self-sacrifice. But if, say, you're desperately trying to save money for a new computer and your friend asks to crash on your couch and eat your food for a week, that's where you draw the line. Priorities! Life is a series of compromises. You won't be selfish about everything, but you should be selfish on what would make you the best person you can be. If you don't want to sacrifice your health, money, time, or possessions, think about whether or not they're that important to you. Are you fulfilled by them? If so, put your foot down. If not, reconsider. Another part of maximizing your rationale when it comes to being selfish is identifying what's stopping you from where you want to be. It's all fine and good to take the last chip at the party table (just don't do it twice), but it's the real stuff we're talking about here. What's keeping you from being happy? That stuff needs to be gotten rid of, even if it's at the expense of others. If a person or thing or place isn't jiving with you, ditch it. Your boyfriend is moving to New York and you have a sweet gig lined up in California? Your mom wants you to stay at home and become a kindergarten teacher? Your best friend thinks you two should get matching haircuts? You know what would make you happy; you know what you would regret for the rest of your life. Do things for yourself -- not because other people want them. Numerous studies show that being selfish can actually lead to us feeling happy -- so long as we don't feel guilty about it. And most of the time, we shouldn't. If we're only being selfish about what truly matters to us, only being selfish to create our best selves, then there's nothing to feel guilty about. Case closed. Make sure you're going about it the right way, though. If you are uncompromising about it, you'll lose friends quickly. No one wants to be around the girl who demands she be thrown a birthday party, complains that the cake wasn't good enough, but then doesn't let anybody eat any of it because it's all hers. That's not selfish, that's obnoxiously selfish.
Summary: Redefine the word. Figure out you. Define what's important to you. Identify obstacles in your path. Don't feel guilty.

Problem: Article: Whether you study in your room or in the library, make sure you choose a place where you will not be disturbed. Your study area should be free from distractions like loud noises or people coming and going frequently. In addition, you should keep your study area free from clutter and you should have enough room to spread out your books and notes. Everyone learns differently. You should know whether you learn best by studying in a visual, auditory, or hands-on style, or whether you do best by reading and rewriting information. If you learn best in a visual style, make sure to draw diagrams and use pathways to connect ideas in your notes. If your strength is auditory learning, record the lectures that you go to and listen to them while you read through your notes. If you prefer hands-on learning, consider keeping models of the organ systems so you can hold them as you read about their different functions and diseases. Don't rely on memorization. It's important to fully understand the material, rather than just to memorize it long enough to pass the test. Both block exams and the USMLE are conceptual in nature, meaning you have to take the information and understand how to apply it. Sometimes hearing something from another person's perspective can help you understand it in a new way. In addition, having another person ask you questions will help you determine where your weaker areas are, and you'll know to spend more time studying these. A thorough, well-organized schedule can help you study by keeping you on task. First, write down all of your classes. Next, plan your study times, and assign a specific topic to each day's study session. You can break the session into two subjects if they don't cover as much information. Include any scheduled study groups, and don't forget to leave time for meals, exercise, and sleep. Update your schedule at the start of each week. This way you can adjust how long you spend on each subject, allowing you to spend a little more time on areas where you're less confident. Medical school can be really stressful, and many students experience burnout. Do your best to take care of yourself. Try breaking your studying into smaller, more manageable chunks, and schedule time for eating healthy, getting plenty of rest, and exercising regularly. Try scheduling a 15-minute break into a long studying session to take a walk outside and get some fresh air. If you can, plan to stop studying 30 minutes early each day so you can go for a run or stop by the gym on your way home. Keep fruits, nuts, and raw veggies on hand for a healthy way to snack while you're studying.
Summary: Find a peaceful, quiet place to study. Match your study habits to your learning style. Study the information until you really understand it. Find tutors and study groups to help you test your knowledge. Create an organized schedule and stick to it. Take care of yourself by getting plenty of exercise and rest when you have time.

Problem: Article: Place them in a pot filled with water and bring it to a boil. Then, let them simmer for 15 minutes or until they're cooked through. Peel the skins off the potatoes and cube them. Combine 1 lb. of frozen hash browns, 3 chicken bouillon cubes, 1/2 tsp. of pepper, 1 tbsp. of celery flakes, 1 tsp. of celery seed, and 1/8 cup of diced onion in a pot. Cover the pot in just enough water to cover the ingredients. Add one or two pinches of salt to the water. Boil the ingredients until they're tender. Combine 2 cans of Cream of Chicken soup and 2 cans of milk in another pot. Stir the mixture until it's smooth. Add the cubed russet potatoes, 1 cup of diced ham, and 1 tsp. of garlic salt to the soup. Heat it until the ingredients are blended and cooked through. Taste it to see if it needs more garlic salt or pepper. Sprinkle cup of shredded cheddar cheese, 4 strips of chopped and fried bacon, and 1/8 cup of chopped green onions onto the soup. Enjoy this hearty soup as a main course or as an appetizer.
Summary:
Boil 6 medium-sized russet potatoes. Place several ingredients in a pot. Combine the chicken soup and mix in another pot. Add the potatoes, ham, and garlic salt to the soup. Heat the soup on low for 10-15 minutes. Garnish the soup. Serve.