The Funniest Excuses Medical Students Use to Avoid Studying

Why Medical Students Are Experts at Making Excuses for Not Studying

Medical students are some of the most hardworking, dedicated, and intelligent people you will ever meet. But when it comes to studying? Suddenly, they become world-class excuse makers, creative storytellers, and master procrastinators.

Despite the fact that every lecture is 300 slides long, exams are always lurking, and the sheer volume of information could crash a computer, med students will find any reason to justify not opening their books.

Here are some of the best, worst, and most creative excuses medical students make for not studying. If you recognize yourself in these, don’t worry—you are not alone.

1. "I’ll Start After I Get the Perfect Study Setup"

• First, the desk must be spotless—because obviously, a clean workspace = better retention.
• The lighting must be ideal—not too bright, not too dim.
• The perfect playlist must be chosen—classical? Lo-fi? Or maybe rain sounds in a coffee shop in Paris?
• The laptop must be at the perfect angle, the snacks arranged in the optimal order, and the study materials organized by color.

Two hours later: Still no studying.

2. "I Deserve a Break Before I Even Start"

• "I had a long day." (Even if it was just watching lectures in pajamas.)
• "I should eat first." (Because obviously, an empty stomach = zero productivity.)
• "I’ll rest for 10 minutes and then begin." (Spoiler: That 10-minute rest turns into a two-hour nap.)
• "I just need to relax before I get serious." (Then the entire evening is spent scrolling TikTok.)

3. "I’ll Just Watch One Episode and Then Start"

• That one episode turns into three seasons.
• "This show actually teaches me about medicine." (Even if it is Grey’s Anatomy, House, or The Good Doctor.)
• "I’ll study during the commercial breaks." (Except streaming services have no commercials.)
• "I study better when I’m relaxed." (Yes, but maybe not that relaxed.)

4. "I Can’t Study Until I Have the Right Resources"

• Even with textbooks, lecture notes, Anki, UWorld, Sketchy, Pathoma, Boards & Beyond, and YouTube videos, somehow, "I don’t have the right material."
• "I need to find that one PDF that everyone is using."
• "I’ll start after I download all the notes from that Facebook group."
• "Let me just check Reddit for the best study schedule."

Four hours later, still downloading resources—but not actually using them.

5. "I Need to Optimize My Study Method First"

• "What if there’s a more efficient way to study?"
• "Maybe I should switch from notes to flashcards?"
• "Let me watch a YouTube video on how to study before I actually study."
• "I should test out five different study techniques before committing to one."

By the time they finish researching study methods, the exam is tomorrow.

6. "I’ll Start Early Tomorrow Morning"

• At 11 PM: "I’m too tired. I’ll wake up at 5 AM and study then."
• At 5 AM: "I need more sleep to function well."
• At 8 AM: "Might as well wait until after breakfast."
• At 12 PM: "I’ll start after lunch."
• At 3 PM: "I’ll just wait until the evening. I focus better at night."

Repeat. Every single day.

7. "My Brain Works Best Under Pressure"

• "If I study too early, I won’t retain anything."
• "I need the stress of an impending deadline to be truly productive."
• "I always do my best work last minute."
• "If I start now, I won’t feel motivated enough."

Fast forward to 1 AM the night before the exam, and suddenly, panic studying kicks in at full speed.

8. "I’ll Just Take a Quick Power Nap First"

• A 20-minute power nap somehow turns into a full 4-hour sleep cycle.
• Wakes up at midnight, confused, and wondering what year it is.
• "Well, guess I’ll start tomorrow instead."

This cycle repeats indefinitely.

9. "I Have More Important Things to Do Right Now"

• "I should clean my entire apartment before I study."
• "Let me reply to every single email and text message first."
• "This is the perfect time to start my meal prep for the week."
• "Maybe I should reorganize my bookshelf first."

Every small, unnecessary task suddenly becomes urgent the moment it is time to study.

10. "Studying Right Now Would Be Inefficient"

• "I need a fresh mind, and I’m tired right now."
• "I’ll be more productive later today."
• "The best time to study is at night, so I’ll wait."
• "Let me just relax so that I can maximize my efficiency later."

Result? Later never comes.

11. "I Studied Yesterday, So I Deserve a Break Today"

• "I did a full four hours yesterday, so I earned this rest."
• "I don’t want to burn out."
• "If I study too much, I’ll start forgetting things."
• "Recovery is important for memory consolidation."

Next thing you know, two weeks have passed with no studying.

12. "If I Just Read About How to Study, I’ll Be Ready"

• Spends hours reading about different study techniques.
• Watches productivity videos instead of actually studying.
• Downloads study planners and templates.
• Researches "how to overcome procrastination" instead of actually overcoming procrastination.

At some point, meta-studying replaces real studying.

13. "I’ll Study When I Feel Motivated"

• "Right now, I just don’t feel like studying."
• "I’m waiting for inspiration to hit."
• "I can’t force myself to study when I’m not in the mood."
• "Once I feel that rush of motivation, I’ll get so much done."

Reality check: Motivation is a lie. Discipline is what gets things done.

Final Thoughts
Medical students are not lazy, but they are experts at making excuses. Why? Because studying medicine is exhausting, overwhelming, and never-ending. The brain will do anything to avoid the discomfort of tackling that next textbook chapter or review session.

If you see yourself in this list, congratulations—you are a true medical student. Now, close this post and go study.