The question “what do you do for fun” comes up a lot in the
medical field. I think people genuinely believe it’s important to have a hobby
outside the walls of the hospital, which I obviously believe strongly in. When
we’re in a group people will often say golf, running, my kids, what have you.
It comes to me and I say, jiu-jitsu. The standard response is “oh wow I better
back up and not make you mad”. (Which, ok was funny at first, but also sort of
ridiculous. If I’ve been working with you for several weeks what are the odds
that I’ll attack you out of the blue because you now know I train? They’re zero.)
The second response
is always “how do you find the time?”
So let’s break this down. A day has 24 hours. On a standard
day most 3rd year medical students are working 10-12 hours. That’s
50%. You sleep about 6 hours, that’s 25%, so that leaves you with 25% of your
day. Sure, you can include travel to the hospital for an hour of that so you’re
down to about 21%. A two hour jiu-jitsu class only takes a little over 8% of
that 21% leaving me with 13% of my day to study still.
Jiu-jitsu (or a 2
hour workout of your choice) is only 8% of your day! How do you not have the time
to make that a priority a few days a week? This applies to anyone, not just
medical students.
So spend that 8% wisely. Sure, a nap would be wonderful
sometimes after a really long, hard day in the OR. But is that nap getting you
any closer to your goals? I have some really amazing classmates who run
marathons – are they going to be good at those by napping instead of running?
Of course not! Same goes for jiu-jitsu. I know there are some days where your
couch and a pint of ice cream sounds MUCH better than getting beat up on the
mats, but is the first option making you into a champion or even a better
person? Of course not.
Life is all about choices. I guarantee that after dragging yourself
to a tough workout you never regret it afterwards. Most days, it actually makes
you feel rejuvenated. So choose to use
your 8% to better yourself, if you can. Because champions are not born, they
are made.
Labels: BJJ, BJJ for women, exercise
