Life on the Wild Side
A new grad trying to figure out life after school. |
" How do you have time for that?" A question I often get asked, and I often ask myself. As a pre-veterinary student, the idea that there is no time to do anything besides study in veterinary school is a common theme. I often got asked how I had time to work (about 25-30% of veterinary students work based on an unofficial poll of vet students at UC Davis), how I could take care of my two dogs (most veterinary students have a pet of some kind), and if I was ever able to see my friends (yes, multiple times a week/month). Time-management is an important concept that is preached over and over again. Here are some tips that I've found useful in managing my time (both in and out of veterinary school): 1. Prioritize: Things with a hard deadline should be done first, with the things that are due first taking priority over things due later. Tasks aren't always enjoyable, but if they have a deadline, you should always try to meet it. 2. Don't procrastinate: Long, multi-step projects that aren't due for over a month shouldn't be put off until the last minute. Doing things in little pieces makes the task seem less daunting. Working on one part or for one hour a night actually gets the task done quicker. 3. Focus on the task at hand: Often times, people get distracted by Facebook, TV, Netflix, texting, games etc. This makes doing tasks take longer and often times, you lose interest in the important things in favor for the new show or exciting thing your friend did today (trust me, been there done that!) By focusing on the task, you not only get things done more efficiently, you will find yourself having time for those other things you want to do. 4. Schedule self-care: Mental health is extremely important, especially in our profession. Schedule time to hang out with friends, to watch your favorite show when it comes on TV, or to walk the dogs in the evenings. By carving out time to take care of yourself, your mind will feel refreshed and you'll be more energized to do important things that are maybe less exciting. In veterinary school, I managed to work 5 jobs, serve as president of multiple clubs, maintain a social life with my close friends, snuggle with my dogs every day, and keep up to date on all the important news and new Netflix shows. Here I am, a fourth year veterinary student, and I find myself spending all my days in the hospital (even weekends). I still manage to find time to snuggle my dogs (Zeus is curled up next to me serving as a great reminder of that as I type), see my friends (anyone want to join us for trivia night?) and pick up new hobbies (I've recently started to fence). Our profession is hard (in the next blog post, I'll tell you about my experiences on Oncology, one of the most emotionally difficult rotations I've had yet.) It's the little things that we do each day for ourselves that keep us afloat. Remember, this concept of "free time" isn't just a figment of your imagination, it's totally possible to be able to do the things you love in veterinary school!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorKatie is rotating intern at Atlantic Veterinary College in Canada. She graduated from veterinary school at UC Davis in 2018. Archives
November 2018
Categories
All
|