There are days when I wake up and feel like I can take on the world. I’ve got to-do lists color-coded, my MCAT flashcards ready, and my future so close I can almost taste it. And then there are the other days. The ones where just getting out of bed feels like climbing a mountain. Where I stare at my notes for hours and absorb absolutely nothing. Where I question if I’m even meant to do this.
This post is for those days.
Losing motivation hits hard, especially when you’ve built your whole identity around being the person who always pushes through. The pre-med grind doesn’t leave much room for being tired, distracted, or just not feeling it. But that’s the reality. I’ve sat in front of my laptop feeling numb, scrolling aimlessly, pretending to study because I couldn’t admit to myself that I was struggling.
Sometimes I know exactly what’s throwing me off. I’m overwhelmed. I’m anxious. I’m comparing myself to everyone else on Instagram who seems to be thriving while I’m over here eating cereal at 3 PM and wondering if I’ve peaked. And sometimes the lack of motivation just comes out of nowhere. No big reason. Just a fog that won’t lift.
The mental battle isn’t always something I win. I’ve had weeks where I didn’t touch my MCAT book once. I’ve ignored emails, skipped workouts, and completely dropped the ball. I’m not proud of it, but I’m not going to lie about it either.
But here’s the thing I’ve learned. Motivation is fleeting. You can’t rely on it. What keeps me going is discipline, and even that is a muscle I’m still learning how to flex. Some days I show up because I know I’ll feel worse if I don’t. Some days, I bribe myself with snacks. Some days I just do one thing, read one page, answer one flashcard, take one deep breath, and call it a win.
And when I can’t push through, I try to be gentle with myself. I remind myself that I’m not a machine. That rest is productive too. That I’m still worthy even on the days when I get nothing done.
So if you’re reading this and you’ve been in that same fog, know that you’re not alone. It doesn’t mean you’re lazy or broken or failing. It means you’re human. And being human is already hard without the weight of a med school dream on your back.
Motivation will come and go. But your purpose doesn’t disappear just because your energy does. And on the days you can’t feel that purpose? Borrow mine. I’m still here. Still fighting. Still figuring it out one imperfect day at a time.
