Maintain the physical and mental wellbeing that sustains focus, energy, and resilience.
Health and wellness is the ongoing practice of maintaining physical fitness, sleep, nutrition, and mental wellbeing so you have the energy and focus to perform consistently, both during intense placement preparation and across a long career. It is a foundational skill that quietly supports every other skill on this list.
Regular movement, even light exercise, to maintain energy levels and reduce stress hormones.
Consistent, sufficient sleep, which directly affects memory, focus, and decision-making the next day.
Regular, balanced meals instead of skipped meals or excess caffeine during intense study periods.
Recognizing early signs of overwhelm and having healthy ways to recover, including asking for support.
During two months of intense placement preparation, a student initially pulled multiple all-nighters and felt increasingly foggy and irritable during mock interviews.
They switched to a fixed sleep schedule, added a 20-minute walk between study blocks, and kept regular meals, which noticeably improved focus during practice sessions and left them calmer and sharper by the time real interviews began.