3 Tips for Medical Students Who Want Healthy Relationships
Your journey toward becoming a doctor has been both fulfilling and draining. Yet, you’ve heard horror stories about relationships going south because of the rigorous med school life. And you’re worried.
So, how can you maintain a healthy social life that fulfills your emotional needs… and still thrive as a medical student?
You can you know…
We spoke to some of our students and our physician instructors to find out the do’s and don’ts of medical student relationships. They shared some interesting info to help you keep your relationships intact while in medical school.
For busy students like you, relationships can be tricky to juggle. This is especially true during clinical rotations, residencies and exam-prep time. All types of relationships can suffer… from spouse to parental… from siblings to friends… from causes to networks…
Sounds overwhelming?
Here are five things to remember to help you maintain a healthy social life during your time as a medical student:
1. A Medical Student Can Have a Social Life
As a student in a medical program, your life is very challenging and demanding. One way to keep your social life going without spreading yourself thin is to incorporate the people around you into your life.
You’re surrounded by like-minded people every day. Many of the students surrounding you are in the same classes and have the same exam schedules as you. Here are some tips:
- Make friends out of study partners
- Show up at post-lecture happy hours
- Host and attend post-exam parties
Pretty simple huh?
2. Categorize Your Friends
Remember, you’re joining new circles filled with people who love talking about all things medicine. You’re like the crew of interns on Grey’s Anatomy now.
That means you all speak a language your other friends don’t understand… and frankly, don’t care to. As a medical student, keep in mind that answers to simple questions like, “What did you do today,” need to be filtered.
Never answer simple questions from your non-medical friends with complex medical jargon and tasks. Their feelings could travel anywhere from horrified to shocked, disgusted to downright bored.
What’s the answer?
Draw a line between your personal friends and your medical peers. Be mindful of the topics you discuss and how you discuss them.
3. You Will Suffer Heartbreaks
Most people get into medicine because they want to “help” people or causes in some way. They want a career that involves saving lives.
But it’s very important that you understand that there won’t always be a happy ending. Some of your patients may never fully recover. And sadly, some may not even survive.
Good doctors are empathetic to their patients. That means some patients will tug at your heartstrings. Rotations in certain units, such as cancer wards for children, can leave you heartbroken.
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Many patients need your emotional support as much as your medical expertise.
How to Survive:
At the end of the day, you have to let go of the tears to avoid depression. That means having people in your life that help you escape.
Don’t try to take it all in by yourself. Turn to your loved ones and allow them to be your support system. Talk, cry, laugh, dance, party, workout with them… whatever it takes to let loose in a healthy way.
Atlanta Test Prep for Medical Students
Are you a medical student studying medicine in the Atlanta, Georgia area? MedSmarter is an industry leader in the US medical exam industry. We offer review courses, mock exams and 1:1 tutoring services on our Suwanee, GA campus.
If you’re worried about preparing to take your USMLE or medical certification exam, MedSmarter is here to help. Learn from physician instructors in very small class sizes. Or get one-on-one tutoring sessions based on your schedule and needs.
Click the link below to learn more about MedSmarter’s test prep services for medical students.
