The importance of self-care

Merry Christmas and Happy (almost) New Year!

Thankfully, during M3, we get a 2 week winter break that encompasses Christmas and New Year’s Day. That means for the past two weeks, I have been chilling. No clerkship obligations, no required readings, no nothing. It’s been a beautiful change from the hustle and bustle of being on the wards.

First off, I’ve had a chance to catch up on some sleep. And oh did I sleep. I’m talking sleep in until noon, take an afternoon nap, and then go to bed early lol. (I was exhausted! Third year will snatch all of your energy.)

I spent my waking hours binge watching great TV (Game of Thrones, Grey’s Anatomy, and Law & Order) and my guilty pleasure shows (90 Day Fiancé and Toddlers and Tiaras). I browsed Pinterest for recipes and room decor. I indulged in mani/pedis, at-home facials, and delicious food. I also did some retail therapy, a little bit of painting and some reading that didn’t include textbooks/UptoDate articles. (Current read: Rupi Kaur’s The Sun and Her Flowers).

But best of all, I spent most of my break surrounded by my parents and my younger sister. We ate, drank, and were merry all break. We laughed, had family movie nights and visited extended family as well. My little sister almost convinced me that I could become a vegan (mmmm maybe not quite lol). It was so nice to be at home and in their company.

While I certainly could’ve taken advantage of this extra free time and studied for my upcoming shelf exam, I purposefully did a minimal amount of studying during break. And I mean minimal. We don’t get many breaks in medical school, so I really wanted to enjoy this one without feeling obligated to study. After all, I spent the majority of my winter break last year studying for Step 1, so I wanted to fully enjoy the holidays with my family and friends without worrying about studying or falling behind on schoolwork.

When you’re in medical school, not studying can be a lot easier said than done. It’s easy to feel guilty about not studying because in medicine, there is always something to learn! But, spending time away from the books is important to give yourself a chance to relax and to keep yourself from feeling burned out. Taking time to lounge around and enjoy my break was important to me to make sure I can go back to the wards rejuvenated and ready to work!

I haven’t made a list of New Year’s Resolutions for 2018, but this year I hope to make sure I’ve got plenty of self-care in my routine. I hope you find ways to do the same, whether it’s through exercise, art, or Netflix!

Happy Holidays!

-S