Over the summer I found myself with itchy feet. It’s probably down to the demanding workload, busy schedule and general fast-paced nature of the veterinary course that when everything grinds to a halt at the end of exam season for several long months, I find myself at a loss for what to do.
I might be exaggerating here, in truth I’ve managed to keep myself pretty busy in the hiatus between terms – jobs, work experience, friends and family – all pretty normal when it comes to summer holidays. But I think it’s the lack of a real challenge I’m missing more and more each day.
Missing the madness
I don’t know if it’s just me, but the things I miss most in my time off are those things I find a little stressful and that really test me…
No, I’m not crazy. I don’t crave total anarchy in my life at all times – and, yes, it is nice to switch off and unwind from time to time – but I’ve been challenging myself mentally ever since my GCSE years when I looked down at my chemistry mock to see a “D” staring back at me and thought: “Hmmm, just a little way to go then…”
Knowing there’s so much still to cover and in such a short space of time doesn’t help either. It sort of makes me want to get ahead of the game – and I know as soon as the term starts, everything begins to speed up again and I find myself constantly on my toes, I’ll look back and regret wishing away the time I had with my feet planted firmly on the ground.
Time to relax
I like keeping busy, being occupied – and although I think this is probably a good thing in respect of the line of work I’m heading into – I have to keep checking myself with self-reminders to appreciate the pauses life is offering me RIGHT NOW and enjoy them as much as I can.
I know it’s not healthy to always be operating at 110%, and it’s a slow lesson I’m learning, but I’m really trying to enjoy this down-time without feeling guilty, like I should be doing something, or that I need to be studying something.
I’ve had friends that struggled with this feeling in the summer between A-levels and friends who, like me, are struggling with it now. When your course is so demanding, when there will always be something more to know, it can be difficult to get the idea into your head that you’re allowed a break. But take it from me – you are.
Stop and smell the roses
I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to shake my itchy feet entirely – I like to be going somewhere, and I’ve never one for sitting still – but I’m doing my best to take advantage of every day before I go back to university.
It’s important to check in with yourself from time to time and to be kind to yourself. We deserve breaks and lazy days, and to forget what day of the week it is in that disconcerting-but-oddly-freeing way the summer seems to induce.
There will always be time to work, but do try to stop and smell the roses.
Leave a Reply