August is National Wellness Month, a time to pause, reflect, and take proactive steps towards a more balanced, healthier life. Wellness encompasses more than just physical health; it includes mental, emotional, and social well-being. These aspects of health are interconnected, and achieving balance among them is essential for overall wellness.
This holistic approach to wellness is particularly relevant in medical education, where the pressure and demand can be extraordinarily high. Medical students face unique challenges, including rigorous academic demands, long hours of study, and the constant challenge of mastering complex medical knowledge. Although this journey is immensely rewarding, it can also be incredibly stressful and taxing on students’ well-being. At St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, the well-being of students is a top priority. The university believes that the foundation of a successful medical career is built on both academic excellence and the holistic health of its students.
SGU reached out to a few of its recent graduates to hear their experiences and gather their insights on maintaining mental health and well-being during their studies. Their stories and advice offer invaluable guidance for current and future medical students, reinforcing the university’s commitment to holistic health.
Yat Ching Fung, MD’ 24 graduate from Hong Kong says, ”Medical school is a marathon. Striking a balance between arduous work and my personal life is a combination of effective time management, self-discipline, and efficient study methods. I set goals for the day or week for where I want to be (catching up with lectures, preparing for small groups, exams, etc.) and then prioritized personal time when I felt like I was not in the headspace to focus. I would go out for a walk, hang out with friends, or treat myself to a nice dinner or a movie before returning to the materials. I usually spent a Friday night off every week to make sure my brain and soul were refreshed, and I had something to look forward to every week. This kept me extremely motivated and got burnt out far less easily.”
Eric Teye Otumi, MD’ 24 graduate from Ghana says, ”My advice to students is to build a strong support network of peers, family, and friends. Surrounding yourself with people who understand and encourage you is crucial for maintaining mental well-being throughout this demanding journey.”
Nanditha Guruvaiah, MD’ 23 graduate from India says ‘I’m a stickler for schedules and I try my best to complete my tasks for that day. On the other hand, I try to devote at least one hour a day to something other than studying that will make me happy like watching a TV show, going for a walk, or listening to an audiobook. This small but important habit goes a long way in avoiding burnout.”
As we celebrate National Wellness Month, the insights shared by the SGU graduates underscore the importance of maintaining a holistic approach to health and well-being. Their experiences portray that while the journey through medical school is demanding, achieving a balance between academic responsibilities and personal wellness is essential. SGU’s commitment to supporting its students’ mental, emotional, and social well-being ensures that they are not only prepared to succeed academically but also excel as compassionate, resilient healthcare professionals. Let these graduates’ experiences serve as a reminder to aspiring medical students that prioritizing wellness is essential to a successful medical career.
