Exercise and a healthy diet are often challenging to fit into our busy schedules. However, there are easy things you can do to maintain your health as a medical student. Take advantage of the opportunity to start over this new year and remember that you can only assist your patients if you are well and content yourself.
Here are some New Year’s resolutions to consider:
Drink Plenty of Water:
Staying hydrated helps to avoid headaches and stomachaches, but it can be difficult for medical students to remember to carry a water bottle. One tip is to drink at least one glass of water with breakfast and keep a water bottle nearby while you’re studying.
Bring Snacks for brain power:
Days can be longer anywhere you are, so it can be helpful to keep some nutritious snacks or fruits on hand. Examples might include cheese sticks with apple slices, peanut butter, celery, or a banana. Protein bars are also easy to keep in your pocket for a quick snack.
Do some exercise:
You don’t have to run a marathon every day to get in some exercise. As a medical student, you can try taking the stairs instead of the elevator in the hospital or finding other ways to stay active.
Take Good Sleep:
This can be one of the hardest things for anyone to adopt on a regular basis. However, sleep is very important for the brain to refresh, so try to establish a good sleep routine. Most adults need at least 7-9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best, although the ideal amount can vary based on factors such as age, lifestyle, and individual needs.
Minimize Screen Time:
As medical students, we often spend a lot of time staring at computer screens, whether in the hospital or at home studying. Try to take regular breaks and stay away from bright screens as much as possible before bedtime In this new year’s resolution. You can also use anti-blue light glasses to reduce glare and prevent headaches or modify the screen settings on your phone or computer to warm up the display after a certain amount of time.
Do more outside of medical school:
While studying and patient care takes up the majority of our time in medical school, it’s important to pursue other activities outside of our professional lives for our physical and mental well-being. This could be anything you enjoy doing for yourself that has nothing to do with your career, such as cooking, playing sports, or participating in a hobby. While these activities may cut into your time for studies and professional development, they can also help you stay happy and prevent burnout.
Don’t compare yourself to others:
This final piece of advice may be difficult to follow For the New year resolution, but it’s good for your mind and body to resist the temptation to compare yourself to others. Focus on your own path and try to find ways to support your fellow students and the teams on the wards. Medicine is a team sport, and everyone wins when one person succeeds. Don’t get caught up in trying to be exactly like the person next to you because we are all on our own paths to our future careers.
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