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When I’m in need of a cheer up and some extra energy, my Bollywood playlist never fails to put a spring in my step! A sing-along and dance around my room (ofc which no one else sees!) seems to fix my mood. Which got me thinking, with upcoming exams and deadlines, what different things can help to destress and bring a little bit of positivity? 3 Idiots was the last soundtrack I listened to, so I thought why not explore some ‘free-time = me-time’ habits with a little zoobi-doobi twist? On a slightly more serious note, this film made it evident how important it is to deal with failure, expectations and stress. Joy and Raju certainly made me emotional, but also got me thinking about how we can deal with these feelings and situations.
Work hard play hard – something I frequently hear about med students which I am learning to acknowledge more and more! Personally, one of the things I am slowly learning is that there is always something else to study, to research, to learn. For anyone else who is a bit of a perfectionist, maybe you’ll also have that constant need to keep going? But having a work-life balance is so crucial. In 3 Idiots, Farhan continued his passion for photography alongside completing his degree. ‘Everything in moderation’ is, I think, a nice reminder to keep doing all the things you enjoy. So yes for more movie nights, coffee walks, and facetime catchups (– and after all this lockdown fun is over, dinner dates and city escapes please!) It’s a nice habit to be able to both work hard to achieve your dreams, but also factor in time to make memories, as well as putting yourself and your happiness first! Let’s remember that if Rancho could ace his degree but also make some lifelong memories with his friends – so can we (maybe minus the breaking into his prof’s house tho!)
Sometimes when you’re feeling overwhelmed, the best thing to do is surround yourself with friends and family. Whether that be to rant about everything going on, or to do something to try and distract yourself and take a proper break – it’s so key to know who your close support network are. If there is one thing that we can learn from Raju, it is the importance of family – they always have your back!
As human beings, we constantly question ourselves – ‘am I good enough and is what I’m doing in life good enough?’ But who is going to answer these questions? And against what criteria? It’s so key to remember that there are no answers, and that sometimes ‘good is good enough’. Remember that you are trying your best and overcoming all the challenges you face. Headmaster Virus, whilst being an absolute terror, always pushes the students and puts them in uncomfortable situations! We should be thankful for the obstacles or emotions that are brought upon us because it’s an opportunity to work through them, and then, at the end of the day, you become a stronger and better person! Journaling can help to create a distance and observe the voice inside our heads, almost giving you an outsider’s perspective of yourself. There is no right or wrong way to journal, which is part of the beauty of it! Just writing down whatever comes to your mind. It could be answering a question you ask yourself, or writing a list of things you a grateful for, or even just a single quote that has sparked something in you. A safe space where you can express yourself! Alongside this, meditation can be a great way to refresh your mind and help you to relax. Our recent BIMA ‘Introduction to Meditation’ session helped us learn that even 3 minutes a day can help you to develop these beneficial habits.
Back to 3 Idiots – I’m sure we were all hooked when they delivered dear Virus’ grandchild using a vacuum cleaner and videocam?! Whilst this was very innovative, I doubt any obs+gynae docs would be overly in awe… That being said, being creative can be a great way to distract yourself and destress. Whether it be spending some time drawing or painting, starting a little project, or even just changing up the ever-changing doodles on the kitchen whiteboard (we can’t be the only ones with this?!) – anything to add a bit of fun and relax!
Whilst many of these things seem like small or insignificant tasks, factoring them into every-day life can be so valuable! So remember – however hectic life seems, however long the to-do lists get, and when you feel like you’re about to burn out – there’s always a few little things that can make a big difference! ‘All izz well’ – we got this!
Sneha