Life outside of Medicine

Being a fourth-year medical student can feel really overwhelming at times. With so many different clinical specialties to cover throughout the year, it has been quite stressful. I can’t lie, but there are days when medicine seems to take up almost every thought I have. From completing clinical skills on placements to preparing for exams and projects, medicine had really taken a lot of time. It is easy to let that become my whole identity, but I’ve learned that I need a life outside of medicine.

For me, life outside medicine is about spending time with friends and people that I cared about. Having a warm homecooked meal at home friends’ place on Friday nights has been one of my favorite social events over this year. (Maybe age has caught up with me). We can literally spend the entire night discussing things that are ‘pointless’ and ‘irrelevant’. However, it is indeed these simple yet precious moments matter because they remind me that I do not always need to be productive. It is okay to just relax sometimes. Your role as a teenager is just as important as your role as a medical student. I have also joined multiple societies such as ARTE and UBMS Basketball club. They acted as my social platform and at the same time allow me to do things I enjoy since young.

Other than spending time with friends, I think it is very important for you to spend time with yourself. I have built a routine over the last 4 years, where I will hit the gym right after getting back from placement. I feel that exercising helps to clear my mind and release some of the stress from studying. It acts as a little mental break that allows me to focus better for my evening studying session. I also enjoy playing console games on weekends and going for walks in my headphone. (Cannon Hill Park is goated).

When I first started medical school, I felt that I am always running out of time. I never feel that there is sufficient time for me to study and I am always playing the catch-up game. The truth is this feeling is unlikely to go away. As there is always so much to study. So, adjusting your expectation become very important.

At this stage of medical school, I think it is especially important to protect your work-life balance. It is tempting to feel guilty for taking time away from studying, but I’m learning that resting is non-negotiable. Looking after myself makes me a better student, and I believe it will make me a better doctor too. If I don’t have anything outside medicine, then I risk losing perspective on why I started this journey in the first place.

Life outside medicine does not need to be extraordinary. For me, it is about the ordinary things that make life feel fuller and more human. In the middle of a demanding degree, those things matter more than ever. As cliché as this may sounds but #YOLO, live in the moment. Medicine is not everything!