Balancing Academics and Personal Life

As a university course and career, medicine can quickly feel like it is taking over your life. There is always more to learn or practice and your personal life can be pushed to the side. However, having a fulfilling life outside of medicine will keep you motivated and uplifted through the tougher times, as well as providing happiness and relaxation. The following blog will explore different ways of figuring out your priorities and balancing this with medicine.  

Create the time

A lot of people say that they will prioritise their health or fun ‘when they have the time’. However, there is always more to study and this will continue to swallow up all of your time, unless you make the time for yourself. Some people find it helpful to revise before placement, so they have evenings for other activities. Other people dedicate Saturdays to studying so that they can take Sundays off for social activities. It may also be helpful to use app blockers to prevent you from scrolling on your phone to help you focus and manage your time. 

Plan ahead

It is common among medical students to feel guilty for taking time to rest or for things they enjoy. It goes without saying that you should never feel guilty for resting, as it is something essential rather than something earned. A top tip to support those who feel like this is to plan ahead and schedule in time to relax or for things you enjoy. If you plan time for working and time for your personal life then you know you can enjoy yourself without feeling guilty that you’re not working, because you have a plan to ensure the work gets done. This ensures that you can strike a good balance between studying and relaxing. 

Prioritise mental health

While medical school can be very rewarding, it can also be intense and stressful at times. Ensuring that you prioritise your mental health even when things are good ensures that you have good techniques to look after yourself even when things become tougher. Learning how to manage your own mental health is an essential skill that remains important after medical school and beyond. Prioritising it early builds a good foundation that can support you for many years down the road.

Pace yourself

There is a very common saying that ‘medicine is a marathon, not a sprint’. This means that it is a long course that requires endurance and perseverance, rather than a sudden, unsustainable burst of energy. It’s better to study little and often than to pull all nighters right before the exam. Making time to rest will also increase your motivation and energy, benefiting your academics in the long run.

Create a life outside of medicine

In medical school it can be very easy to let your whole life revolve around medicine. Many people live with medic housemates, spend their day in lectures or placements and then go to medic societies in the evening. While it is important to maintain a support network within medicine, it is also important to balance this with time away from medicine. This may be a personal hobby, seeing family or going to general university societies. Find something that works for you and keep it as a reminder that there is a life outside of medicine. 

Focus on your own priorities

It can be very easy to get swept away with the crowd, but it’s important to figure out your own values and priorities and focus your time on these. For some people, sports will be a priority and they may spend lots of time doing this. For other people, socialising will be their priority and they may spend lots of time seeing friends and going out. The important thing is to not compare yourself to other people and focus on doing what makes you feel good. 

Hopefully this blog has given you some ideas on how to balance academics with your personal life. The main take home message is to focus on what works for you as an individual. It’s okay to use trial and error to figure out the right balance and you can start over as many times as you need.