lifestyle
Make Healthy Happen in Medical School: Body Edition
When you're spending hours seated at a desk learning everything you possibly can about the human body, taking care of your own body can easily fall by the wayside. Research shows that exercise actually improves memory, reasoning skills, the quality of your sleep, and other things that boost your study game (more info here x), yet it's one of the first things to fall to the bottom of the to do list when times get busy! I'm certainly guilty of it! There's no one way to go about it and you don’t have to be a gym rat, a cross-fit pro or a professional yogi to reap the benefits. You just have to find ways to move your body!
Oftentimes, the hardest part of getting active is getting started. I think it's pretty safe to say that no one ever regrets a workout once it's done. Need some tips on getting over that hurdle? I got your back!
Oftentimes, the hardest part of getting active is getting started. I think it's pretty safe to say that no one ever regrets a workout once it's done. Need some tips on getting over that hurdle? I got your back!
①Start small & get active with your everyday activities: Studying for hours on end in a chair at a desk? Try a standing desk! Working in a hospital or clinic? Take the stairs instead of waiting for that elevator! These are small changes, but they're definitely a step in the right direction!
②Make it a priority: Whether you decide to get active at home or at the gym, make sure that it remains on your to do list instead of being on of the first things that gets knocked off when you run short on time. Instead of thinking of it as something that is taking time away from your studies, think of the many ways it enhances the time you spend studying! Not only does your brain need a break, getting that blood flowing makes you sharper!
③Accountability is key: & it can come in many forms! You could try working out with a friend, tracking your progress/goals using a fitbit or an app, or signing up for local classes. When I was trying to get back into yoga during my STEP 1 dedicated study period, joining a studio instead of practicing at home really helped because honestly, I didn't want to waste the money! That was enough to get me away from my desk and to make the workout a part of my routine.
④Do YOU: You don't have to be a marathon runner, cross-fit pro, or a pilates guru. Do whatever feels good to YOU and do it often :)
How do you stay active in medical school?
Med School-ing: 3 Quick Tips for Adulting While Med School-ing
Adulting (v): to do grown up things and hold responsibilities such as, a 9-5 job, a mortgage/rent, a car payment, or anything else that makes one think of grown ups. (urban dictionary)
Let’s face it, medical school obviously isn’t your standard 9-5. As a matter of fact, it can often feel like a 6am to 11pm! You’re in that #twentysomething category, but sometimes you feel like you’re stuck in this strange adult-like purgatory where you’re in the 18th grade while all of your friends climb their career ladders.
What can you do to get on the right track!? I've got you covered!
① Budget, Budget, Budget: Money management is NO JOKE. If you’re on financial aid, most programs disburse your $$$ for living expenses twice per academic year, once at the very beginning and once more midway through. Since it’s such a large amount each time, it can be a recipe for disaster if you’re not careful. This is such an important section that this tip has some subtips coming your way!
· Set aside your rent/utilities/car payment, etc: Running out of money for your rent and other important revolving payments would be stressful and is totally avoidable. I always multiply the payment by the number of months and set it aside in my savings account to avoid any mix ups. This way, I know I have it tucked away and I just transfer it each month when I’m ready to make a payment!
· Work Those Numbers: With what you have left, decide how much you want to spend on groceries, gas, clothes, make-up, Netflix, the gym, and other daily expenses. It would be wise to set aside some “savings” for a rainy day because you never know what may come up! I track some things on a weekly basis (ex: $40 per week on groceries) and others on a monthly basis (ex: $5 /month for Apple Music).
· Keep Track: The apps that are available these days make keeping track so much easier! The most popular one seems to be Mint, but I’ve really taken a liking to an app called Daily Budget. I’ve discovered that I’m really bad at setting and sticking to discrete amounts of money for categories like clothes, entertainment, and eating out. With Daily Budget, I can input the total I’m able to spend each month and my important recurring charges such as rent. It takes the remaining funds and divides it amongst the number of days in the month to give you a “daily budget”. If you don’t spend your full “budget” for the day, it rolls over to the next day and continues to do so throughout the month. I like it because it’s a more realistic view of my spending and I can easily balance the times I spend very little with the times I spend more.
· Practice Good Spending Habits: Instead of buying coffee every day, make your own. Meal prep/Cook at home. Make a grocery list. Buy your toiletries in bulk. Avoid impulse buys. All of these little things will save you money over time!
② Plan Ahead: Use your calendar! Med school is chock full of lectures, labs, interest group meetings, and more. When you have to schedule meetings, (your own o__0) doctor’s appointments, oil changes, or time off for your best friend’s wedding, your life will be so much easier if you keep track of everything in a calendar. I also put in alerts for my bills and credit card payment deadlines so I never forget them! Double booking something or missing a payment is no fun, but it is so easy to stay on track with a calendar! Make your life even easier by using one that syncs across your phone, computer, and tablet!
③Take care of yourself: There will be easy days and there will be really hard days. It is so important to recognize that taking care of yourself is just as important as your academics/adulting at any given point. Take breaks. Naps are still a thing. Practice some serious #selfcare. Your mind and your body will thank you!
Reflecting On This Year
What a year! In these 365 days, I moved all the way across the country, began medical school (which was a moment I had been waiting for my entire life), learned a ton, and made countless amazing memories. Since this year is closing out, I thought I'd do a little reflection post by sharing some of my favorite moments/memories from this year.
♢Traveled to Hawaii for the First Time
In April, I had the chance to travel to Hawaii and I was so excited! After an 11 hour flight from NY, we arrived in Kihei, Maui, where we stayed in a low key condo complex close to the beach! It was such an amazing and restorative vacation. We went to the Old Lahaina Luau, snorkeled with sea turtles, watched surfers (I chickened out of getting a lesson! lol), traveled to the 10,023 feet above sea level to the peak of the Haleakalā volcano at sunrise, drove the Road to Hana, and so much more. I really hope to visit again sometime soon. If you'd like to see more pictures from the trip, I shared a photo journal here!
♢Finished AmeriCorps
I spent my gap year as a health educator in a Community HealthCorps at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). I don't want to rehash too much of what was in my post about the whole year, but I still look back at the experience as one of the highlights of my life. For one, I couldn't have had a better group of coworkers to spend Team Fridays, Galentine's Day, and evenings devouring Lucy's Pizza with. I also miss teaching everyday and forming such special bonds with my students. I hope to get back to teaching in some capacity in the future!
♢Moved Across The Country
In early July, I got on a plane with two suitcases and took a one way flight to California! It was just as nerve wracking as it was exciting. Prior to my interview at this medical school, I had never even been to Cali. I grew up in NY and went to college there too, so I had never been that far from my family either. The transition was much smoother than I thought it would be and I settled in very quickly! Somehow, I made a blog post about this too LOL, so check it out here.
♢Started Medical School
I'm sure you're probably tired of hearing about this by now! It's been 5 months now and I still feel like I am living the dream. Each and every day, I am amazed by just how much there is to learn about the human body, I am eager to take it all in and excited that I get to keep learning for my whole life, I am inspired by the people I am learning from, whether they be my professors or my classmates, and I am thankful that I get to make this commitment and pursue this profession. Of course, there are challenging days and days where I'm not as motivated to study, but its never been something a FaceTime call home or a little dose of #treatyoself couldn't fix! Here's to being a 12.5% MD!
♢Firsts
-first "grown up" blog ;)
-first galentine's day
-first time at smorgasburg in brooklyn
-first time traveling to hawaii
-first time moving to a different state
-first stethoscope (caribbean blue Littman Cardiology IV!)
-first (and second) white coat (x)
-first time on the beach in Cali
-first time seeing the Hollywood Walk of Fame
-first time taking someone's blood
-first time in anatomy lab
-first time doing a skin biopsy
-first time interacting with a standardized patient
-first time performing a physical exam
In the short 8 months since starting Purely Positivitea, I have met some of the most incredible people through social media and had some pretty cool opportunities. I want to thank you for following along and letting me get to know you. It has truly been a gift! 2016 was one for the books, but I'm sure that the best is yet to come in 2017! Happy New Year's Eve everyone♡