Hobbies in Residency

[EggPLANTman]

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Any current or recent residents:
I've asked a lot of people at my institution about this, and they tend to agree that you would have a few hours a week to do some hobbies or outside interests. But my sample size is ~6, so not the best, and I'm looking for more input. Any current or recent residents have a few hours a week for some hobbies (i.e. maybe you like to mountain bike, or you're very involved with your church, or you enjoy theater acting for fun once a week)? I have some things I would like to do, that would probably only take 6-7 hours a week, but I don't want to do them if it makes me worse at taking care of my patients or less knowledgeable...thoughts?

 

[gutonc]

Any current or recent residents:
I've asked a lot of people at my institution about this, and they tend to agree that you would have a few hours a week to do some hobbies or outside interests. But my sample size is ~6, so not the best, and I'm looking for more input. Any current or recent residents have a few hours a week for some hobbies (i.e. maybe you like to mountain bike, or you're very involved with your church, or you enjoy theater acting for fun once a week)? I have some things I would like to do, that would probably only take 6-7 hours a week, but I don't want to do them if it makes me worse at taking care of my patients or less knowledgeable...thoughts?

If it's something you can do by yourself, any time of day, regardless of weather, you can probably keep it up during residency. If it's something that requires a schedule made by somebody else, it's not happening very often.

 

[LoudBark]

If it's something you can do by yourself, any time of day, regardless of weather, you can probably keep it up during residency. If it's something that requires a schedule made by somebody else, it's not happening very often.

Exactly. I wanted to play in a basketball league, as I played in high school and have always loved to play.

Unfortunately, the league would not schedule games around my call schedule and my rotations on weekends.

No basketball league for me.

 

[gutonc]

Exactly. I wanted to play in a basketball league, as I played in high school and have always loved to play.

Unfortunately, the league would not schedule games around my call schedule and my rotations on weekends.

No basketball league for me.

That said, I have a friend who is a surgery resident who plays in a volleyball league and plays ultimate frisbee. The teams are big enough that she can show up when she's available and not be there otherwise and it's not a huge deal (but everyone on the team is aware of it). She's playing pretty much every game this year during her research year, but most of the time she plays half the games or less.

 

[jdh71]

You'll really only have time for ONE extra hobby. I like and lift. Making it to the gym isn't too bad but you often have to MAKE yourself. Running can be problematic when the weather get ****ting and you want to slit your writs if you have to do another treadmill sesh. Also, you seriously won't have the time to traing properly for long distances you first year, and probably your second. But if you're happy just doing 5 and 10 k's your first few years, then no bigs.

 

[NYCMD8]

Drink, heavily, but not before work.

 

[DocDanny]

I paint civil war miniatures for dioramas and war games.

It allows me to relax, use my hands and be creative.

 

[thecgrblue]

RC planes/boats/helicopter/car is something I've found takes as much time as you want it to and doesn't tire you out.

 

[SoFarBehind]

So since finishing medical school I've gone on this insane work out binge with my friend who is a personal trainer (he lets me work out with him for free). We're doing 3 hours a day and I've never looked so good in my life. It sounds like there will def be time to keep hitting the gym (6-7 hours a week better than nothing), but is this enough to maintain my current gains? Any weight lifting IM residents out there who can answer this?

 

[jdh71]

So since finishing medical school I've gone on this insane work out binge with my friend who is a personal trainer (he lets me work out with him for free). We're doing 3 hours a day and I've never looked so good in my life. It sounds like there will def be time to keep hitting the gym (6-7 hours a week better than nothing), but is this enough to maintain my current gains? Any weight lifting IM residents out there who can answer this?

6-7 hours per week is optimistic at best, try 3-4 hours per week and you're starting to get a little more realistic.

As far as your current gains - it really depends on what you mean by "gains" here . . . and what your physiology type was to begin with.