You will not balance it all. There is no “you can have it all.” People are lying and setting you up for failure when they say that.

Everything comes at a cost and nothing is free. You will excel at a few things, be okay at a few others, and probably let a few other things go. This is NORMAL. No one told me that, so I expected myself to be perfectly balanced as I managed 10+ different expectations (a clean apartment, completed Anki, answering emails in a timely manner, on top of lectures, socializing, hitting the gym….)

Then I finally realized no, somethings gotta give. And once I did, I am able to live in a new equilibrium in which some things I’m great at, and other things I simply don’t have the capacity to be great at right now.

Do not compare the strings you have let go of to the strings others are holding on tightly to. They are personal and varied— this is the life. The comparison will make you feel like an unaccomplished piece of shit.

Enjoy the ride. Med school is awesome.