Balance. A finicky word to manage in medical school, yet it has been central to my success and motivation to this point, and something I see as I move forward. Going into medical school, I knew that there were certain things I would not want to lose – one of these being my love of fitness, powerlifting and maintaining hobbies and interests outside of medicine.

Studying was a chore, certainly but it was made better by knowing I had an outlet for my stress. Looking forward to going to the gym or a run got me through many of my days, even as I progressed from the books to the wards. I recall especially not feeling like I could manage the time to do so during my UPRSN ring, not feeling that it was really possible to do so. I did not go to the gym for 3 months or so, and felt terrible for it. In retrospect, I realized that it was possible – I just had to continue to refine my efficiency and time balance in order to find time to go. I became better at studying for the wards, making the most of free time in general and also being more flexible about how much time I wanted to spend in the gym. It was never going to be the ideal 5-6x a week for 60+ minutes each time (as during M1/M2 year), but it would certainly be better than not going at all. I was unhappy because I was so inflexible and simple-minded in how I wanted to do things.

The video here is of me at my current strength – a warmup set of 5 reps of 315 pounds on the deadlift. It has taken me years to get here, and though there have been hiccups along the way, progress is just that – progress.

The importance of this balance is something I have found cannot be understated. I often hear many residents and medical students lament their unhealthy lifestyles. And I can sympathize. Having been there before, it is incredibly hard to make time for it. But I have found that if one deems it important to their life and overall wellness, it will all be worth it.

The photo below is me and my now-girlfriend post-Columbus half marathon approximately two years ago. In keeping with my theme of reducing inflexibility, fitness and stress relief need not be just weightlifting – running can work as well, not to mention the multitude of other activities I enjoy: cooking, baking, listening to music, reading, etc.

More than that, having the determination and habits to maintain this has allowed me to develop a determined personality when it comes to progress, improvement and most importantly personal wellness. I have seen wellness personified in many different ways – residents and attendings all speak of the various ways they unwind. Whether it is running, cooking, binge-watching Netflix, or reading I see how their faces light up when they can enjoy their lives outside of a hectic work schedule.

While I do realize that as residency begins, time will only become more difficult to manage and balance may have to shift a bit. But in the end, residency is finite and I believe that my interests are things that can, for the most part be sustained decades down the road. Indeed, taking time to promote this balance within my life and identifying the things that make me happy has been a trial and error process, but a worthwhile one and will continue to serve me well down the road.

Practice-Based and Lifelong Learning:

• Identify one’s own strengths, weaknesses, and limits; a) seek performance feedback, b) maintain an appropriate balance of personal and professional commitments, and c) seek help and advice when needed.