Hey everyone, it’s Medicine Mondays again. Let’s talk about “The Week Before the Match”.

The Week Before the Match

For some, you might be on a pretty difficult rotation and not even have time to think about the Match.

However, for many of you, you will be on pretty relaxed rotation with lots of time off or perhaps you’re even on vacation this week. For you, this may be the longest week of your life as you sit there waiting for Match Day to come. It’s especially difficult because your whole life you’ve been a “doer”, someone who tries to make things happen with the belief you can change things by working harder.

Normally this is true. However, right now as you wait for Match Day to come, there is literally nothing you can do in order to make it happen faster.

So what can you do?

People will try to tell you “just don’t think about it” or “try not to think about it” or “do something to take your mind off of it”.

Sure, it sounds easy, but I think it is much more difficult when you’ve lived your whole life going through all those years of schooling and then tacking on medical school at the end. You want to know what the next step is, you want to move forward.

It’s very frustrating. I know and I understand.

So, I wrote a post about it before and I think you should read it:

Then I wrote on specifically about waiting for Friday:

I wrote that post in 2017, but everything still pretty much holds true. Just switch up some of the “older” things with their new variations. For example, “Logan” is kind of old now. Go watch How To Train Your Dragon 3, or Captain Marvel or The Lego Movie 2. I heard Alita: Battle Angel was pretty good too, but some people have had some trouble getting over her enormous cyborg eyes.

Or… just watch them all.

It may sound weird, but don’t be a medical student John or medical student Jane for this week. Go back and be “College John” or “College Jane” and try to revisit the hobbies that may have fallen by the wayside since you were in medical school.

If you’re a meat eater, maybe learn to cut your own tenderloin or try some ribeye cap.

The long and short of it is just do things not related to medicine. I’m not going to tell you to “don’t think about it” because it’s impossible. However, the best way to pass the time is to do things that are enjoyable to you in good company, with either family or friends (or both).

TL;DR

The Week Before the Match may seem like it drags on.

Try to remember “College John” and “College Jane” and revisit those hobbies and activities you enjoyed that may have fallen by the wayside.

-Sensei

Agree? Disagree? Questions, Comments and Suggestions are welcome.

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