Medical school is a demanding journey, where taking care of yourself can get pushed way down the priority list. However, neglect can seriously impair performance and lead to burnout. Fortunately, there are small changes you can make daily to support your wellness. Let's go through four tips for maintaining good physical and mental health throughout your medical education.

1. Get Enough Sleep

Med students have demanding course loads and schedules, so the temptation to squeeze extra studying into late nights is understandable. However, you must recognize sleep as a non-negotiable priority for your long-term success. 

Sleep-deprived people are at a higher risk of issues like poor mental health, obesity, and diabetes. Not catching up on rest also leads to behavioral and attention problems and, ultimately, poor academic performance. You can function your best during the day when you’re adequately rested, allowing you to maintain an invigorated mindset and fresh appearance, which is especially important when getting an ERAS headshot.

2. Stay Physically Active

As a medical student, much of the day involves sitting – whether in long lectures or meticulous studying. This lack of physical activity can lead to negative health effects like back pain, weight gain, and cardiovascular problems. 

To offset such issues, you must make exercise a regular part of your routine. Not everyone can take out dedicated workout time daily, so look for other ways to stay active. For instance, you can opt to take stairs instead of elevators and go for short walks during breaks. Even just standing up and moving around while watching a video lecture or taking phone calls on your feet can provide benefits. 

3. Eat Healthy and Hydrate

What you eat determines your health and well-being. It can be easy to grab sugary or carb-heavy snacks as fuel for long study sessions. However, whereas processed foods full of empty calories may give a quick rush, they'll leave you feeling drained in the end.  Instead, it’s best to opt for wholesome snacks rich in nutrients. Things like nuts, fruits, and vegetables supply steady energy. A healthy diet provides many benefits, such as improving brain functioning, memory, and mood.

Drink plenty of water instead of sugary drinks like sodas. Those sugary drinks may taste good but contribute to dehydration. Even a dehydration of 1% to 3% of your total body weight can negatively impact brain activities and thinking abilities.

4. Manage Your Stress 

Student life can be really stressful, so it's important to find healthy ways to deal with it. Make sure to take some time every day to do something relaxing like deep breathing, yoga, or meditation. Pursue your hobbies or hang with friends; taking a step back to do something fun helps you re-center and feel refreshed. 

5. Stay Away From Alcohol and Drugs

Using alcohol or drugs can lead to poor grades, hangovers, addiction, or other health issues. For some students, substance use starts as a way to deal with underlying mental health concerns. You might resort to substances to feel better in the moment. However, this often turns into a vicious cycle that's incredibly tough to break free from. 

Endnote

While moving towards a healthy lifestyle may require some initial effort, it reaps immense rewards in the long run. Maintaining balance is core to avoiding fatigue, illnesses, and other problems.