"What’s the Strangest Piece of Advice You’ve Gotten in Medicine, and Did It Actually Help?"

"What’s the strangest piece of advice you’ve gotten in medicine, and did it actually help?"

I’ve gotten a lot of advice over the years, some of it brilliant, some of it questionable, and some of it so odd that I didn’t know what to do with it at the time. Here’s the funny thing: the weirdest pieces of advice are often the ones I carry with me the most.

The first came from an upperclassman who told me, “Always keep snacks in your white coat.” At first, I laughed. It sounded like something your grandma would say before a road trip. But she was absolutely right. Snacks have saved me more times than I can count. Not just from my own hunger, but from the chance to offer a granola bar to a classmate who hadn’t eaten all day, or a nurse running between patients. It’s not really about the food. It’s about the reminder that small things matter, and kindness is contagious.

Another piece of advice I got during rotations was: “If you don’t know the answer, just take a breath before you say anything.” Simple, almost silly, but life-changing. I used to panic when I was cold-called by an attending. My brain would sprint in ten directions at once, and I’d spit out half an answer that made no sense. Taking that tiny pause gave me enough space to remember what I did know, and it gave me the strength to admit honestly what I didn’t. That pause turned out to be more powerful than any textbook.

And maybe my favorite odd piece of advice: “Find one thing to look forward to every day, even if it’s small.” At the time, I brushed it off. I was like, sure, I’ll look forward to my 15-minute lunch break. But then I tried it. Some days, that “thing” was my favorite overpriced coffee. Other days it was a walk outside after rounds or FaceTiming my mom. Those little anchors made even the hardest days feel more doable.

What I’ve learned is that the advice that sticks with you isn’t always the profound, perfectly polished kind. Sometimes it’s the messy, random, passed-down tips that remind you medicine is human. Keep snacks. Take a breath. Find something to look forward to. None of those show up on board exams, but they’ve been just as important in keeping me afloat.

So, if you’re just starting out, don’t underestimate the weird advice. Collect it. Try it. See what sticks. Because often, it’s the small, strange things that carry you through the biggest challenges.

And if you need one more to add to your list: call your mom. Trust me on that one.