The Real Truth About Staying Motivated...

I decided to use my "first day of medical school" picture here because I wouldn't have gotten to where I am without constant motivation. But what most people fail to realize is that motivation isn't something you get one time and it lasts you for life. It's like gas for your car; you fill up on it when you're low and it lasts for a while, but eventually you have to fill up again. I can't count how many times I felt like throwing in the towel during undergrad...it was hard! And with my first week of medical school coming to a close and classes having started, I'm not ashamed to say that I've already reached the point of wanting to give up. But I always find motivation in the most challenging moments because that's when I need it the most! Here are a few outlets that I use to get motivated:

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1. YouTube

Yes, you read it correctly. YouTube is definitely my biggest motivator when I'm in the library at 11:30PM, and I have an entire module left to do before I go home. And I'm not talking about watching educational videos. Medical school vlogs and luxurious house tour videos are my biggest motivators! Why? Because it helps me see my future a little bit more clearly. Watching current 3rd and 4th year medical students balance their clinical rotations with their everyday lives helps me see that it is possible; very difficult, but very possible! Seeing people's expensive homes enforces the vision that I have for myself. I want to be able to live that lifestyle, so I'm going to do everything I can in order to get there. And I know that I have to do well in medical school to reach my goals.

2. Decompression

After a long, treacherous week of medical school (even though I've only gone through a week so far) I absolutely NEED to decompress my brain; whether that's binge watching episodes of The Office on Netflix, or going to the club for happy hour on Friday. Sometimes we become unmotivated simply because we are mentally drained. This can happen, no matter what your profession is. Finding time to wind down and relax will allow your brain to return to a normal functioning state, and you'll have a little more brain power when you pick back up with your work.

3. Self - Pep Talks

One thing I do every morning is tell myself "You got this girl". And that alone helps me get out of the bed and be excited for the day ahead. If you constantly doubt yourself or tell yourself that something is impossible, then it will be! You have to be your own motivator at the end of the day. Give yourself a pep talk every now and then; doing this will boost your outlook on each day, and eventually, on your whole life!

4. Family and Friends

Trust me, I understand that sometimes it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But this is why we must surround ourselves with people that care about us. Your friends and family should be your biggest supporters, and you should be able to lean on them for motivation when you can't depend on yourself for it. Sometimes, I call my family and friends just to talk about how hard things get, and every time they say 5 words to me: "It's going to be alright". It helps to hear that from somebody else, because other people may see something in you that you don't even see in yourself. My supporters always motivate me and give me encouraging words, and most of the time, that's the only boost I need to keep going.

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I used to always watch videos and read articles that would portray motivation as something that will last you a lifetime. So I thought that if I got motivated to do something one time, then that was enough. And I quickly found myself becoming upset when I couldn't complete a task. But you have to be constantly motivated and re-motivated. I have to motivate myself EVERYDAY to study all the material that's being thrown at me right now. I also have to motivate myself EVERY TIME I go to the gym, because I never feel like going!

So remember what I said in the intro: Motivation is like gas; you have to refuel. But you also don't want to wait until right before you reach "Empty" to fill up the tank. Refuel on motivation as soon as you start to feel a little discouraged, and it'll make your life so much more positive!

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~#DoctorBae