Doing Nothing? That sounds really odd! Right? No one wants to do nothing, we all want to do something, Sadly, this is exactly how medical student burnout begins quietly, as we postpone rest until it’s too late.
For medical students, however, rest seems like a punishment, who will read the remaining 646 pages of anatomy that I am yet to read? When will I “cover” biochemistry?
Yet, the truth is this, we have tricked ourselves into thinking reading is the only way to live.
It is like a veil that has covered and blinded many of us.
Rest seems like something we will handle later, maybe after exams end or after clinical rotations wrap up or once we become full consultants, but it never happens.
The Odd life of a Medical Student.
Remember that physiology class?, when the lecturer talked about rest and its critical importance in mental health and proper body function? You probably nodded in affirmation while taking notes.
Moreover, we advise patients on balancing work and life. In fact, we research on the effect of medical student burnout and mental stress among medical students.
Yet, we are the ones that will endure the physical daily stress of classes, practical and wardrounds and begin an all-nighter without catching a break.
Nobody brings up the hard truth: That way of living cannot last forever. I have seen medical students develop banging headaches and migraines, some end up burning out of medical school.
The Trap of Always Being “Productive”.
Let me paint you a familiar picture: Imagine a Saturday evening, you just made it through another tough week of tiring lectures and unending ward rounds.
Your body begs for a break, but your mind says no, It flashes through that endless to do list.
You think you should crack open that medical textbook, since everyone around you is trying to ‘cover’.
The anatomy exam is on its way, and you are far behind in medical biochemistry. You sigh.
So you try a middle ground. You get into bed with your phone nearby. One eye scrolls TikTok and the other pretends to scan Keith Moore. Amidst that, you feel sleepy. Your body demands rest.
Three hours pass by, you end up with nothing done and nothing learned. You feel even more drained than before.
Consequently, exhaustion sets in, your mind is chaotic, you gradually crumble towards a medical student burnout.
At this moment, what do you do? How do you come out of this haunting loop?
What Doing Nothing Really Involves.
Doing nothing does not equal being unproductive, rather true rest helps you avoid that crash after you push too far. Infact, It means you set aside time on purpose. You just exist in space.
Leave the textbooks behind and skip the study apps entirely. Stay with yourself, be in the moment and let your brain recharge for real.
Grab a proper lunch break, sit down as you enjoy your meal. Focus on nothing else for those fifteen minutes. Your anatomy pages wait patiently, biochemistry is not going anywhere for now, chill.
Take a walk without your phone, leave it back in your room. Stroll around campus. You could pick a spot. Sit down and let thoughts drift free. Stress melts off during those simple wandering steps.
Look out the window and zone out. Watching the world move past is therapeutic. No need to analyze or pull lessons from it.
The whole idea is not to be nonchalant or lazy, but there are times when you really need to unwind and float freely without any constraints or burdens.
This is how you prevent a medical student burnout, by giving yourself permission to simply be.
And in that moment, you feel a peace you haven’t felt in a while, your sanity gradually restores
and once again, you are recharged.
The Friends That Help You Stay Balanced.
Let me leave you with this truth: you see that friend who always makes you laugh? That friend who sees you as you really are. With this particular person, there is no pressure to prove anything.
Spend time with those people. The ones who make you laugh hard enough to ache.They see you beyond exam scores.
They get it when you need a full nothing day. No judgment comes from them.
Medical school pushes hard already, It’s like a battlefield of sweat and scars.
However, medical student burnout thrives in isolation.
Therefore, find your circle and stay in there.
Finally, Rest Does Not Come as a Prize.
You charge your phone regularly, right? No one forgets this.
Cars need fuel to move so refueling happens often.
Similarly, Rest isn’t a trophy you get after working hard enough. It’s what keeps you human.
In the midst of the chaos, there’s still you, a person who laughs, who gets tired, who just wants a
bit of peace.
So today, give yourself that peace.
Close the books and breathe for a minute.
Take a walk, drift freely, enjoy the cool breeze of the evening.
Got a friend? Make a call. Gist about random things and laugh hard.
You’re not lazy and you’re not wasting time.
You’re simply recharging, preparing to give your best again.
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