A reflection: one down, nine to go!

Today we finished our first rotation for the year, and the first out of the ten total that we have to successfully complete before graduation from medical school.

When I think about the rotation, there are a few things that come to mind. 

We needed to study and learn, but because we were seeing the content in the context of real life, it was infinitely easier to understand and retain. Due to this, I didn't need to study as much as I did during the first two years of the course. I still studied, but my retention rate was higher.

There is no such thing as a perfect rotation, even if it is an area that you are keen on. In truth, this was no surprise, as I did not come down in the last shower and haven't lived a happy little life completely devoid of boredom and pain. 

You can only get as much out of something as you are prepared to put in. If you hang around expecting to be taught but don't see any patients, ask any questions, treat people with respect or ask questions, you will learn nothing. 

I always kept in mind that staff don't get paid for teaching us, and that we are not their main priority. Staff were lovely and apologised when they had to put urgent work ahead of teaching us, and I really didn't even think twice about this - seriously, I'm going to be here for weeks and there is really nothing here that I can't learn later. Plus, if there is urgent work that I can observe or being involved with, I may just learn something different in the meantime. :) 

I am a much happier person undertaking practical activities and talking to patients and staff rather than sitting down with a textbook in a room by myself (in spite of being an introvert), so I find being on prac much less stressful. Plus, the fact that we no longer have huge exams every six months is a godsend.

Anyway, these are some random reflections to celebrate the end of my first rotation. (Yes, I loved it, yes, I want to be a psychiatrist.) I am looking forward to the start of my next rotation, but for now I have a week off. Such luxury! I should enjoy being a student while I can. 

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Time for another drunken post . . .

. . . huzzah!

There is nothing quite like going out to dinner with friends and having a fine time, even if (as it was this evening) for no reason in particular apart from celebrating the successful end of another day.

I think that we should all concentrate on living in and celebrating the here and now much more than we seem to. I don't think any of us are personally responsible, but I have a theory that we are all conditioned by society and the media to focus on the negative.

Have you ever noticed when you turn on the news or pick up a newspaper that the majority of the content is very negative? It is something of which we should all be consciously aware. I believe that if we take too much notice of it, it can get us down.

There ARE terrible things going on in the world, and we should be aware of them and care. But spending a lot of time being miserable because of a combination of the evening news and of the little mundane things in your life that get you down is simply going to waste your time.

I have mentioned in a post before that I believe that we should enjoy each day as it comes and not wish our lives away, and I am going to say it here, again. Partly because I really believe it very strongly, and partly because I had a glass or two of nice wine with dinner.

One of the most relaxing holidays that I have ever been on involved going to a place that had no televisions, newspapers, radios or mobile phone reception. It was in the middle of the rainforest, had lovely food, luxurious surroundings, and a spa bath in every suite. It was so relaxing to just be able to focus on what you saw arround you, all in the present moment.

Life is stressful enough without all of the added worry that the evening news brings. Try switching it off for a week and see how much more relaxed you are!

You don't have to be unaware of what is going on in the world - reading the internet news can keep you informed. There is just something about the uncontrolled content, pictures and presentation of the nightly news that can be stressful.

Anyway, if there is nothing else of value in this post, please go out to a nice dinner with friends and have a glass of wine or two, not for any particular reason, but because you want to and you value a good time and good company. Life is too short to need excuses to enjoy yourself!

New Year's Resolutions

Yes, it's that time of year again.

I honestly prefer to plan what I am going to change during the year and get on it right away rather than establish a list of things and then suddently try to set about doing them. However, as the following year is due to change so very much, I thought I would write a quick list and we'll see how I go.

1. Keep up with study. Yes, my plan is to keep up with the study from week to week. I'm not a crammer, and I'm too afraid that I somehow got into medical school by some statistical errror (stupid impostor syndrome strikes again) so I really need to keep up with things. Plus, I'm studying to be a doctor, and with this comes great responsibility. One day I will be like those doctors I work with who are incredible fonts of knowledge and full of kindness, patience and care for the patients that they work on and the people they work with. There are a few of you, and you are rarer than gold and more valuable.

2. Make time for family and friends. Make sure that relationships don't deteriorate at all. I'm not a regular visiting/phone contact person anyway, but it's important to me that I don't lose touch with people. I don't even send Christmas cards. Really, I'm very slack. So this resolution should read that I'm "not to get any more slack in my personal relationships." Why is it even here? Hooray, an easy one!

3. Stick to my budget. Hahahahahaha!!!
No, seriously. We have been pretty generous with the planned budget here, and I'm a big fan of beans, rice and fresh veggies, so it shouldn't be too hard. All I have to do is stay away from clothing stores and I'll be fine. Honest.

4. Join that running club and run that half-marathon I've been thinking about for years. This is probably the one I'm keenest about but am least likely to do. All it has taken in years gone by is a couple of broken toes and midnight encounters with thirty-something women who have had MI's (myocardial infarctions) and subsequent hypoxic brain injuries resulting in death, which were brought on during fitness kicks, and I have been put off. I need to pull my finger out and join a running club. Full stop.

5. Don't shave my head. Because we all need one resolution that we are really very very likely to stick to without any effort.

A Happy New Year to you all, and good luck with your resolutions! I'll be playing board games and drinking with friends, and eating whatever I can be bothered throwing together tomorrow morning. Honestly, I'm tired of cooking. Which, for me, is VERY new.

Celebrations!

The best thing that happened today is that I started this blog. I'm far from computer-illiterate, but this has been a challenge that has taken a couple of hours to try to get going. Just the passwords and log-ins alone have been a nightmare!

But on the bright side, it is done.

It is a beautiful day here, and all I can think of is how overwhelming everything is at the moment. I am about to leave one career and embark upon study for another. The frightening part is that I'm moving into something new, where it is going to be VERY challenging, and I am not entirely sure that I can do it.

I passed the MASSIVELY difficult exam, flew through the interview and have accepted a place in the course. But I'm not sure that my brain is actually big enough to cope!

I found an interesting description the other day that accurately describes what I am feeling. It is called Impostor Syndrome.

Basically, it describes the fear that I feel when I wonder whether the people who interviewed us have made a mistake letting me into the course, or whether there was a mistake on the exam that led to me passing without us actually being smart enough. People who I think of as being MUCH smarter than I am didn't pass the exam, or at least get a mark good enough to get an interview. Yet I did.

When I am logical, I can tell myself that I did well because I worked my arse off for a year getting ready for it all, and making sure that I would do as well as possible. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into this little venture. It is this fact that reassures me that I will do well during my studies. No matter how hard it is, I'll work to the best of my ability to make sure that I do as well as my little brain allows.

So here goes. Wish me luck! And happy beginnings to this new little venture!