Relaxation and Mental Health in Medical School

Medical school can be an awful lot of hard work, just as any serious study in any profession can be. Unfortunately, there is a temptation by medical students to completely bury themselves in the study, see little daylight, and become very socially isolated. As the statistics tell us, this process has a severe detriment to mental health. Medical students are four times more likely to commit suicide than the general population and are at an increased risk for developing several mental health conditions. These revelations are extremely troubling, and it is vital that you don’t forget how to relax and unwind whilst you are in medical school, just as how you needed to unwind from time to time while preparing for the GAMSAT exam.

There are numerous, easy steps that you can take in your studies to ensure you not only remain academically sound but more importantly, very healthy. Obviously, there will be times when exams or assignments are coming up that relaxation and fun may go out the window, but these should be exceptional times – your well-being should always come first. Here are a few tips that you should observe during your time at medical school:

• Timeout for you: The beauty of reading a NON-MEDICAL book almost brings me to tears when I haven’t seen one for ages! This is where I find time for myself. This could include computer games, or engaging in particular hobbies for yourself – just don’t give up doing the things you love!
• Keep active: Exercising and/or playing sport is extremely important. As they say, healthy body, healthy mind! As future doctors, you need to practice what you preach and set an example for your patients. Exercising really helps loosen your mind and keeps you relaxed and feeling well.
• Healthy eating: Just as above, you can’t preach to your patients about eating well if you don’t do the same! If you haven’t already, start getting into cooking healthy meals for yourself, and then having left-overs for a few days to reduce future time spent in the kitchen. Make sure you get plenty of fruit and vegetables!
• Socialising: Although many students don’t find this hard in medical school, this doesn’t just mean wild medical parties but also having some relaxed downtime with friends. Meeting for dinner, catching up for coffee should all be in your weekly routine
• Family and old friends: This is VERY important. You might not understand this now, but you will get awfully sick of people constantly talking about medicine, and being able to connect with family and friends who will be disgusted by your dinner-table conversation is vital. They will give you some perspective on reality, and bring you back down to earth!

These are just some tips to encourage you to take some time out of medicine and enjoy yourself! You should also check out our article on GAMSAT stress management strategies for more tips. You shouldn’t have to feel terrible in your chosen profession, and there is a huge temptation to lock yourself indoors for the entirety of medical school and study – as there are certainly enough things to study! Make sure you follow the points above and be engaged with the outside world. 

If you're still in the process of applying to medical school, check out our guide on Australian Graduate Medical Schools - Admission Requirements.