Olivia M.
Photo provided by Olivia M.
If you’re reading this, it is okay to stop and smell the roses.
Growing up, I always kept myself busy and the pattern was always the same: school, extracurricular activities, studying, and sleep. I never understood how to relax, and I would continue to add on activities to keep myself busy until I reached the eventual part of burnout leading to a breakdown. I thought that if I would keep my mind busy by devoting my energy to everything else that I would not have time to think about how I feel, and it would make me invincible. Turns out, I was wrong. Every time I fell into my repetitive pattern, it caused so much tension and I could never be proud of myself, but only felt that I needed to do better.
Medical school is extremely difficult. It is a full-time job with so many overtime hours dedicated to studying for exams and the eventual Boards. It is so easy to deviate and cross the blurred lines of how much I need to do because I feel guilty about not spending my time studying. Every single Monday as well as some Fridays, I have an exam in a different class. Beginning medical school, I realized how hard it would be to break my current cycle of school, extracurricular activities, studying, and sleep. I felt the pressure of having to succeed in examinations to prove that I belong in medical school, and this meant the difference between the extra hour of studying versus an hour to do something completely unrelated to school like calling a family member or friend.
While stopping and smelling the roses may seem different for everyone, for me it is about learning the balance of when to step away from my schoolwork. It is realizing that it is okay to take some time to relax or to go to sleep earlier. It is realizing that it is okay to not always have to feel isolated from other people. It is realizing that my routine does not have to be so robotic and that I do not have to feel guilty or upset if something does not go according to plan. Lastly, it is realizing that I do not need to hold the burden of stuffing every feeling inside until a breakdown and that it is okay to be able to talk to family, friends, professors, and classmates. Medical school is a long journey, but it is also important to enjoy the journey and to not regret those little moments of life.
Olivia M., First Year Medical Student
Q: How do you cope with the stressors of medical school?
A: Every morning, I wake up and go to the gym or go for a run to clear my mind! I love starting the day doing something for myself and spending at least an hour away from the school mindset. Physical activity is so important, and it also allows me to have some time away from campus.
Q: What is your motivation when medical training/education gets hard?
A: When medical school tends to get hard, I always try to remember my why. I like to look back at one success I had and remember why I chose to go to medical school and why I did not want to do anything else. Furthermore, I think about my future patients and the impact I will one day make in their lives.
Q: What advice do you have for incoming medical students regarding mental wellness?
A: The biggest advice I can offer incoming medical students or medical students of any year is to have a “non-negotiable”. A non-negotiable is something that you do for a minimum of thirty minutes every single day and does not involve school in any way. For me, this is going to the gym in the morning, but this can look different for anyone! Similarly, it is important to set a personal goal for yourself that is unrelated to medical school. Whether it is a long term goal or multiple short term goals, it gives you something to look forward to. As part of my goal for this semester, I am running the New York City Marathon with my older sister! It has been so nice to have something to look forward to, and to also check something off my bucket list. While medical school can be really isolating it is important to continue to stay in touch with your support system to help keep yourself grounded.
Several studies have revealed that medical students, physicians, and healthcare professionals experience mental health symptoms at rates significantly higher than the general population. Stethos[Cope] is a chapter of IfYoureReadingThis designed to help medical students and professionals cope with the unique stressors of medical training and change the narrative of mental health in medicine.
To read more letters and interviews from students, and to learn more about mental health in the medical community, visit the Stethos[Cope] home page.