🩺 Scrub In: The Motivated Med Life

One of the most frustrating parts of being a medical student isn’t lack of knowledge; it’s knowing exactly what to do, yet still struggling to follow through. I’ve been trying to lose weight for years, but even simple things like going to the gym or tracking calories often feel like climbing a mountain.

It’s the same in other areas of life: I know how to knit a sweater, but I’d rather scroll through YouTube than pick up the needles. I know I need to see my doctor regularly, but I keep putting off the call to schedule an appointment. The problem isn’t knowledge; it’s action.

Recently, I decided to revisit something I used to love: running. In high school, I was a cross-country runner, but I haven’t laced up in 20 years. I asked ChatGPT how to get started again, and the advice was surprisingly simple:

• Start small: mix walking and short jogs.
  
• Go easy: run at a conversational pace, not your teenage pace.
  
• Build gradually: increase time and distance little by little.
  
• Listen to your body: soreness is normal, pain isn’t.
  

That reminder, that I don’t need to be who I was in high school to start again, hit me hard. Sometimes progress isn’t about complicated plans. It’s about taking the smallest step forward, consistently.

I’ve started using ChatGPT not only for fitness advice but also to organize projects and even spark ideas for posts like this one. Tools help, but at the end of the day, it’s me choosing to show up for the life I want.

As I ruminate on my struggle to be as successful in life as my knowledge makes me feel I should be, I realize I have to be honest with myself: knowledge is not ability, nor is it motivation. Knowing how to run, knit, diet, or study doesn’t make you a world-renowned knitter, dietitian, trainer, or doctor. But with planning, support, and perseverance, knowledge can go a long way.

So I may not be running any marathons, let alone winning one, any time soon. But I can start. I can plan for the days when motivation is low. And over time, my choice to run “every now and then” can turn into habits I fall back on, woven into my routine. Habits and routines are what carry us forward, week to week, month to month, year to year.