Sleep? Ain't nobody got time for that!

Now that I'm in the thick of intern year, I've come to the realization that there just isn't enough time for adequate sleep. We all know that studies have shown that 8 hours of sleep is best for optimal functioning but as a resident, that's not realistic whatsoever. Now that I'm waking up at 4am, I am learning how to go to sleep rather early. If I get 6

hours of sleep a night, I consider myself very lucky. Logistically speaking, getting

adequate sleep is just not possible with the hours we put in during residency.

Not until this month did I realize how my personality changes when I'm severely sleep deprived. Granted the changes in my personality have been few, I am very aware of the instances when I'm not my usual self. I know when I'm cranky, irritable, and easily frustrated. The addition of inadequate sleep to the stress of being a brand new intern creates the perfect recipe for intermittent emotional breakdowns. Although I've been doing my best to keep it together, some days are filled with frustrations and shedding of tears. During this time, it is easy to isolate yourself and spend majority of your time catching up on sleep but it is important to find that work-life balance. Time waits for no one and to quote one of my friends, "you can spend residency being tired and sitting at home or spend it being tired and having fun." I've chosen to go with the latter option and with the little free time I do have, I try to have some fun and explore this new city I'm in. Sometimes, it's as simple as meeting up with my co-residents or grabbing drinks with a friend who will listen to me vent about residency, striving for balance is the key to survival. In the midst of the tough times, I've learned to remind myself that there are better days ahead. Yes, waking up early is brutal right now but I can take solace in knowing that I have a more relaxed schedule coming up and I look forward to waking up 6AM #blessed!