Looking after your wellbeing as a medical student

December is perhaps the busiest month of the year, full of holiday cheer, catching up with friends and attending festive events. And that’s without revision, sitting exams, and for those of you who started F1 this year, possibly even working shifts over the Christmas period.

When things get busy, taking care of yourself becomes even more important. Here, Italia-Rosa Leech, fifth-year medical student, shares some of the ways she prioritises her wellbeing…

I’m Italia, a fifth-year medical student at the University of Leeds. After having also completed an intercalated degree, I’m well-versed in the stresses of university and medical school, so I want to share some tips with you on how to prioritise your wellbeing.

Pressures as a final year medical student

With all the demands on you as a final year medical student, it can be difficult to organise your time and prioritise the small things you enjoy.

Some of the stresses you may face include assignments, job applications, exam revision and other commitments you have outside of medical school. It can certainly be overwhelming!

My friends and I find doing the following five things can help to keep us sane, as well as maintaining our wellbeing and ensuring we’re the best versions of ourselves:

• Getting organised
• Making time for family and friends – plan the fun stuff first!
• Being kind to yourself
• Prioritising your physical health
• Saying ‘no’ to things

Getting organised

Planning your time well can really help maintain your wellbeing. Always be aware of university deadlines and commitments, such as lectures and placements, as this will allow you to plan your daily life and still make sure you have time to enjoy simple pleasures.

It’s also good to give yourself a timeline for the months and years ahead so that you know what to expect, especially when the deadlines start creeping in. Leaving things until the last minute will certainly add to your stress levels.

Family and friends

Planning the fun stuff first is always the approach I take. I find having little things to look forward to gives me that extra bit of motivation to get through my revision and study periods. This can include simple things like going for walks, getting a coffee or grabbing a bit to eat. These small things can feel like a nice reward for being productive too!

Being kind to yourself

There have been many times where I have come home from a long day of placements or lectures and felt like doing absolutely nothing. This is fine – be kind to yourself and listen to your body. Take breaks when you need them and don’t be afraid to have a ‘lazy day’. We all need time to reset.

Physical health

When looking after your wellbeing, it’s important to prioritise your physical and mental health – I find eating well and exercising help me to let off some steam!

If you can make some time to get moving and eat nutritionally dense foods, you’ll feel better for it, even if it’s only 30 minutes here and there. As a medical student it can be hard to find the time, but any movement is better than no movement!

Saying no

I can be guilty of taking on more tasks than I’m capable of. There are lots of activities and committees you can get involved with during university – but this can sometimes be overwhelming!

Don’t be afraid to say no to things, know your limits and keep in mind that you’ll have the chance to return to these opportunities. There’s no rush. Once you start saying no to things, you’ll feel much more able to prioritise other things in your life that give you satisfaction.

Ultimately, there are many things you’ll need to juggle as a medical student, but your wellbeing and happiness should always be priority. Make time for the things you enjoy, the people you love and the places you like to go – everything else will fall into place.