Lifestyle Hacks to Streamline Your Life In CRNA School
Ashley, CRNA
CRNA
In This Article (5 sections)
Lifestyle hacks to streamline your life in CRNA school include efficient meal prep, outsourcing tasks, and maintaining a structured schedule to save time and reduce stress.
Let’s be real, between back-to-back clinicals, endless didactic demands, care plans, exams, and the sheer mental load of keeping your life semi-functional, things in CRNA school can get chaotic fast. I learned quickly that the key to survival was to streamline everything possible! Below are the lifestyle hacks that have truly saved me time, money, and stress during this wild time.
Take what works for you, skip what doesn’t, but I promise even setting up a few of these can make a huge difference. The CRNA Club suggests using tools like shared calendars and meal delivery services to save time and reduce stress. If you’re just starting out and want to know what schools are really looking for, we actually talked about this on the podcast (Ep 1: "What CRNA Schools are REALLY looking for in an applicant" on Apple Podcasts).
Quick Answer
Students in all 154 CRNA programs tracked by The CRNA Club face the same time crunch between clinicals, coursework, and daily life. Batch cook twice a week, use grocery pickup, and outsource meals during your hardest rotations to protect the hours you need for studying.
How Can You Make Meal Prep Manageable in CRNA School?
The last thing you need is decision fatigue at 8 p.m. after a 12-hour study day or clinical shift. Batch cook 1–2 times per week : Personally, I am not one who likes to cook. Simplify it as much as possible: protein + carb + veggie.
Done. Use pre-cut veggies and frozen steamables . One of my absolute fav hacks.
They save time and dishes. Grocery pickup is a big deal. Saves SO much time and my favorites are already pre-loaded for me whenever I go to purchase a new order.
Don’t want to cook? Don’t! There’s no shame in outsourcing food when you're in survival mode.
I personally did this for one of my busier clinical sites and LOVED the ease! Pre-made meal delivery : I love services like Factor , Tempo , or even local meal prep services (and these are usually cheaper than the big name companies!) Grocery delivery through Instacart or Amazon Fresh are other alternatives!
What Should You Outsource in CRNA School?
You can’t do everything. Your energy is precious in CRNA school, so preserve it where you can. Hire a dog walker or use Rover during long OR days.
It eases the guilt and gives your pup some joy while you’re gone. I’ve loved my Rover walkers! Laundry service or house cleaning are other services I’ve seen SRNAs use.
Whatever lightens your load! (pun intended) Don’t have time to hit the gym every day? Invest in a fitness app , a virtual trainer, or short at-home workouts . YouTube is also great for free workout routines! If you’re curious about what requirements you’ll need to meet as you prepare for school, check out our detailed guide on CRNA School Requirements.
How Does Structure Help You Survive CRNA School?
Systems save you when your brain is full of induction meds, pathophys, and 4 a.m. alarms. Here’s what helps keep me on track: Use a shared Google Calendar : I color-code my life. clinical (red), assignments/exams (blue), social time (purple), workouts (orange). Sync it with your phone and never miss a beat.
Extra hack: sync it with family members to get everyone on the same page. Set chore days and non-negotiable time with loved ones . Protect your joy and connections.
You need them! For more tips on setting up your life before school even starts, I shared some things I wish I’d done differently on the podcast (Ep 2: "3 things I would have done differently BEFORE applying to CRNA school" on Apple Podcasts).
How Can Frontloading Schoolwork Improve Your CRNA Experience?
If I could shout this from the rooftops, I would: GET YOUR CLASSROOM WORK DONE ASAP. Clinical days are draining, and trying to squeeze in assignments afterward feels like torture. Frontload your studying and homework early in the week or knock out tasks the same day they’re assigned.
You’ll thank yourself later when your only job is to show up, intubate, and sleep. If you want to see how CRNA salaries can impact your future lifestyle, we broke it down recently on the podcast (Ep 4: "CRNAs make HOW MUCH?!" on Apple Podcasts).
Streamlining your life in CRNA school isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being intentional. If you’re considering this career path, our How to Become a CRNA guide is a great place to start.
For more information, check these trusted resources: American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Our Final Thoughts
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