Vet school is early mornings with lectures and labs, followed by late nights of studying. With all the stress and pressure we put ourselves through, the only way to keep it all together is to find activities outside of vet med that make you happy! For some people, it might be reading one book a month that isn’t classified as a textbook, going to the gym, or hanging out with non-vet med friends and family. My activity is doing dog sports with my dogs!
Once a week, my dog Cherry and I go to agility class, which she and I both love! We are pretty new at this sport, but we are learning together. So far, I have been able to teach her all of the obstacles, and we have started on pattern sequencing. We have done other sports (like lure coursing), and we have shown quite a bit in conformation. Doing agility is a first and has always been one of my lifelong dreams.
Maybe the best part about taking a couple of hours each week off from vet school is that I come back refreshed and rejuvenated. I don’t feel so much burnout, and it gives me something to look forward to, no matter how badly my day or week may have gone.
No matter what your ‘thing’ is, you need to take some time to relax even though you are in veterinary school. Some of my friends have a favorite TV show that they take time out of each week to watch, and some of my friends get up super early to make time for the gym. Whatever you do, make sure you are making time for yourself even though you’re in veterinary school!
