switching off.

Med school. From the moment we get here, the necessity of a good work-life balance is drummed into us. It's the hope that the scales will align, that our schedules will be juggled sufficiently enough to prevent the pressures of the course causing nervous breakdowns before we even enter the medical profession.

Like most things, however, it is easier said than done. Whilst juggling impending exams & deadlines, attempts at a healthy lifestyle and a social life can become a little...weak. And with all the time spent hunched over textbooks and your laptop, trying to figure out what yet another acronym means, mental breaks can get few and far between.

I'm definitely not the best person to be preaching this, but I definitely believe that sometimes, you do just need to disconnect. It's definitely easier said than done, but sometimes all you need is to take a day to yourself. Whether you spend it with friends, or glued to a book - or even just doing nothing at all, thinking about something other than your education can do wonders to recharge your batteries.

I'm a firm advocate of organisation being the key to success; both academically and emotionally. It enables you to juggle far more than you thought you were capable of, and can help you to plan a healthier lifestyle. But it's important not to compartmentalise every minute of your day. In doing this, your life becomes separate segments - not the integrated complexity weaved together that you are. The fibres of your being are infinitely weaker separated out than they are knitted together.

I'm not quite sure of the purpose of this post. Call it intense procrastination - whatever. But sometimes, I think it's important to stop being a student, and just be. We all need to forget about work every once in a while. And who knows - maybe the work-life balance will follow.