Can you make time for another interest?

[dedicate]

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When in medical school, especially third or fourth year, is it possible to make time to study/learn about an outside interest? Obviously, I'm not talking about 3 hours of this everyday, but closer to the line of hobby than workstudy.

Interested in peoples' take on this...

 

[WellWornLad]

Of course you can. I've had more free time my first two years than when I was working full-time. Third and fourth years are less flexible, but as long as your hobbies can wait and don't have to be scheduled I don't see why not.

Time management issues only get worse after med school. If you can't make it work now, you never will.

 

[J ROD]

I think you could work in some less time-demanding hobbies.

Maybe working out...

3rd year it might be hard to do extra stuff on certain rotations.

 

[TexasPhysician]

No problem at all

 

[ChubbyChaser]

Im only a first year, but I seem to have a lot of free time. I probably go out 3 or so times a week, always make time to workout/do intramurals. I watch tv, download crazy youtube videos, etc.

 

[DrYoda]

I've found myself with more free time than I was expecting (I guess SDN set my expectations low). I'm only an M1 though.

The M2s and 4s I know also all seem to have time for hobbies and fun. I pretty much never see the M3s.

 

[RoyBasch]

Im only a first year, but I seem to have a lot of free time. I probably go out 3 or so times a week, always make time to workout/do intramurals. I watch tv, download crazy youtube videos, etc.

This sounds a lot like my life right now. However, I'm only at the beginning of M1 so the material so far is a lot of review. I think it's going to change soon. But I know 2nd year students who never miss IM soccer and go out once every week or two. I even see 3rd year students at IM stuff from time to time so they have some freedom (it depends on the rotation tho, surgery and medicine, foggeddaboudit). The 4th year students seem to have an unpredictable schedule sometimes it's pretty light.
-Roy

 

[ChubbyChaser]

This sounds a lot like my life right now. However, I'm only at the beginning of M1 so the material so far is a lot of review. I think it's going to change soon. But I know 2nd year students who never miss IM soccer and go out once every week or two. I even see 3rd year students at IM stuff from time to time so they have some freedom (it depends on the rotation tho, surgery and medicine, foggeddaboudit). The 4th year students seem to have an unpredictable schedule sometimes it's pretty light.
-Roy

Some of the MS2s i know go out more then I do.

 

[jtlc2345]

If it's important enough, you'll make time for it.

Jonathan

 

[MilkmanAl]

I usually make time to go out each weekend night. You have to stay sane somehow. There's also enough time to cultivate a hobby or two if you like. You don't have to study all day, every day to get through.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

My opinion is that you not only CAN make time for an outside interest, but that you MUST. If all you do is study, study, study, you WILL burnout. If all you do is hang out with other medical students (around doctors,) not grounding yourself in the real world, you WILL become a social ******.

 

[psipsina]

I think during third year it can be difficult to keep up with hobbies. Just trying to see my non-med friends and husband have proved challenging. For example I'm on the next two weekends so I'll have three weeks with no day off. I'm at the hospital around 6:30am and get home around 5-6pm. After dinner, any errands I need to do, laundry etc I only have an hour or two for some reading on my patients or preparation for small group/presentations and then I pass out. I have a shelf exam at the end of that three week period so I have to study when I get home. If I was trying to keep up with a hobby it just wouldn't work these next three weeks. I'm sure this won't be the last time my schedule ends up like this. For L1/L2 its definitely possible but I think L3 and intern year its not always going to work out.

 

[PSUtoMD]

. For L1/L2 its definitely possible but I think L3 and intern year its not always going to work out.

Did you suddenly transfer to law school? 🙂

 

[fourchambered]

I am now a drummer in a band. I didn't even know how to play drums when entering med school.

I feel people come to school feeling like something is wrong if their entire life is not entirely consumed. Don't let the reputation of medical school become a self-fulfilling prophecy if it doesn't need to be. Use your judgment, get your work done, and be efficient. You've got plenty of time to live if you let yourself.

 

[psipsina]

Did you suddenly transfer to law school? 🙂

Sorry, I go to LSU so we call our years L1 . .. . I sometimes forget when on SDN to convert to M1 . . . lol.