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How can I, as a med student, honor my passions and still give myself permission to rest without guilt? Any advice or strategies would mean so much — I really want to find a balance that works. 💛

I’m a med student, and I’ve made up my mind that any spare time I have, I want to put effort into my other passions — filmmaking, writing, acting, and ambassadorship. But saying it out loud now makes me wonder… will I even have space to just relax? I know my free time will be so limited, and I worry that if I take a moment to rest, I’ll feel guilty for not being productive. These passions are such a big part of who I am, and I want to honor them even while I focus on becoming a doctor, but I also want to be able to rest without constantly worrying that I’m wasting time, running out of time, or not using my time wisely.

I’d be so grateful for any advice or tips on how to honor my passions while also giving myself permission to rest and recharge without guilt. Your guidance would mean so much to me and really help me find a balance that works. 💛

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James’s Answer

Every human has to get the rest they need, and even medical schools know that. It absolutely can be difficult, and the long hours actually get worse in many cases during residency (and fellowship, should you choose to sub-specialize). Taking some time to do the other things that bring you joy actually recharge your energy and make it easier to tackle the academic and clinical challenges of medical school.
How might you work with your school to combine your passions? It seems they might love to have someone like you help create educational videos, for patients or care providers. Internationally minded organizations might be thrilled to have you create something to promote their health-related work around the world.
The experiences you obtain during medical school create wonderful human moments for future stories, films, etc. (of course you must be very careful about HIPAA and fictionalize reality).
You will have to prioritize school to succeed, yet you should be able to find plenty of moments to pursue your other interests.
Also be certain you get actual sleep, healthy food, and meaningful social interactions.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for this. Reading your words felt really comforting and grounding. It helped me breathe a little easier knowing that rest and joy are not things I have to feel guilty about, even in a demanding journey like medicine. I’m especially grateful for how you reframed my passions as sources of energy rather than distractions. That perspective means a lot to me. Your ideas about creating educational content and using medical experiences as future stories truly inspired me and made me feel hopeful about the path ahead. Thank you also for the kind reminder to take care of myself — sleep, nourishment, and connection. I’ll hold on to this advice as I move forward. I really appreciate your kindness and wisdom. 💛 Adaeze
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Hwal’s Answer

Adaeze,

I also have lots of passions like you and I think I can relate. Although in my case, the dilemma no longer moves beyond recognising there's a bit of a seesaw action amongst priorities and passions. I explore and engage in as many of my passions as possible, and some of my strategies might be helpful to you as well.

First, when I feel the need to rest, I let myself rest, no questions asked. For example, I had over 90 exams and tests to study for in the didactic year of PA school, and whenever I felt like I couldn't read or study anymore, I would stop studying and give myself some downtime. This could simply be closing my eyes while sitting down or going for a quick walk outside. Then, I always found that I could be so much more efficient with study after that downtime. As for engaging in other passions, I would encourage you to make the time and space for you to nurture that other part of your life. For me, community service and volunteer activities are one such passion, and I use evenings and weekends to plan and carry out suicide prevention training or smoking cessation outreach, for instance.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any specific questions I can help with.

Good luck!

Hwal
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for this — it honestly means a lot. Hearing how you handled PA school while still honoring your other passions is really reassuring. I love what you said about letting yourself rest without guilt and how it actually makes you more efficient afterward. That’s something I really want to learn to do too. Your approach to balancing your passions with your schedule gave me a clearer picture of what’s possible, and it’s comforting to know I don’t have to pick just one part of myself. Thank you again for taking the time to share this with me — it really helped. 💛 Adaeze
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Rita’s Answer

I really don't know what to tell you. If you are in medical school right now, you already know how much time it takes to study. When you take a break, that's probably the only time you will have to engage in hobbies and other activities.
Thank you comment icon Thank you for sharing this perspective. I appreciate the honesty, and it helps me set more realistic expectations. I’m still learning how to be intentional with my breaks — both for rest and for the things I enjoy — and your response was a helpful reminder of that balance. Thank you for taking the time to reply.🙂💗 Adaeze
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