"The Importance of Vacation" by MSIH rising second year student Dvora Feinblum

The Importance of Vacation


     As a medical student, I know all about taking breaks; there’s that five-minute mid-studying need-a-snack break, the ten minute take-a-walk-my-brain-is-turning-to-mush break, and the big I-need-an-hour-long-nap break. But for many medical students, myself included, the idea of taking more than a few hours, or (gasp!) even a day or two off, is unthinkable. I cannot leave my computer idle, question banks unanswered, or abandon my anatomy flashcards for fear that my momentum will decrease, study schedule will be completely thrown off, and that I will fall behind. While this might sound insane to those who are not medical students, it is in fact quite accurate. Medical school requires constant and persistent effort, and unless mandated by the school (for example winter or spring break), day- or week-long breaks are rarely afforded. So, at the beginning of first year, when I looked at the schedule and saw that we had six full weeks off for summer break, I was a bit intimidated. How would I fill the endless days of summer? I even felt a certain amount of dread about being schedule-less and without structure, floating in a sea of R&R, feeling useless without an exam to prepare for or a PBL to discuss.

Life as a med student...
By the end of first year, though, I was feeling incredibly burnt out. After taking courses spanning from epidemiology to hematology, spending 16 hours a day prepping for exams, and on top of that living in a foreign country alone and having to take care of myself, I was exhausted. Don’t get me wrong – it was an amazing year! The material was interesting and exciting, living in Be’er Sheva was a real adventure, and studying for exams was very rewarding. However, burnout still seeped its way in. Unsurprisingly, I am not alone in this experience; in fact, in a recent study of medical students, 50% had experienced burnout, and 32% met the criteria for alcohol or substance abuse. Thankfully, my burnout came at an opportune moment, right before a six week break from school. When I hopped on the plane at Ben Gurion Airport in July, I can assure you that my initial feelings of dread toward summer break had completely evaporated.

Taking in a Broadway show with my fiancé
Now that I am at the tail end of my vacation, I can safely say that these few weeks of R&R have been exactly what my tired brain needed. I ended up travelling to Australia, where I had many wonderful new experiences and adventures (the highlight being getting engaged to my now- fiancé). Using my brain in a different way this summer allowed the medical student part of me to have a good rest, and to get ready for the uphill climb that is second year. While in the future, taking six weeks off from a busy career as a doctor is unrealistic, the importance of being able to take vacations when they are needed is a lesson I will take with me from this summer. As a medical student, I won’t leave you with just my opinion on the matter, but rather, I’ll bring some science to back me up:
  • Vacations relieve stress by ensuring that high cortisol levels are allowed to drop.
  • Vacations may lower your risk of heart attacks, with men who take regular vacations being 32% less likely to suffer a heart attack, and women being 50% less at risk.
  • Vacations help with focus, because chronic stress reduces the brain’s capacity to complete goal-driven activities and to remember things.  Taking a vacation may actually make you a more productive worker!
  • Lastly, and most importantly in my opinion, chronic stress can cause alterations in brain structure, contributing to anxiety and depression. Taking a break from that stress can make you happier and less anxious.



Exploring the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia
Hiking the Yarra Valley in Victoria, Australia
As I ready myself to get back into the swing of things in medical school, I urge you all to think about the importance of taking vacations. Push yourself to do well, and work as hard as you can, with the knowledge that soon enough, when you need it the most, you’ll be lucky enough to have the rest you need. It will make you a better student, and your future patients are sure to thank you for it!

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