It can be easy to feel overwhelmed and tired by the busyness and change in environment during clinical placements, but it is vital to continue prioritising your physical and mental well-being by staying active.

I am going to share some of my tips and what I have learned so far from my experiences on placement.

Peripheral placements

Going for a walk or run is a great way to explore the town or area you are in for your peripheral placement. I enjoy walking every day, so this is how I explored the different areas I was sent to during my clinical rotations. One of the nicest towns I visited was Enniskillen. Most mornings we would drive to the hospital, but some days after being in the hospital, the 40-minute walk back to the hotel was an excellent opportunity to clear your head, get some fresh air and get your steps in for the day.

Many towns have walking, running or cycling tracks, so I recommend making use of these too. In Enniskillen, there is a walking track around the lake by the castle which I used daily. I prefer going for walks in the evenings, so this is where I went for mine.

I also enjoyed walking through the town if I finished a bit earlier in the hospital that day. It is a brilliant way to explore the town you are in and to get to know the people you are on placement with. Grabbing a coffee, going for a walk and having a chat are great for decompressing after a day in the hospital and giving your brain a break. If you like to attend the gym, being on a peripheral placement can be an adjustment. RCSI tries to recommend gyms in the different towns where you can be placed at a reduced rate, although I did not avail of this myself in Enniskillen. I found that exploring the town on long walks suited me best while I was there. There are also many at-home workout videos available on YouTube if that suits you.

Dublin-based placements

I have found that sometimes being on a Dublin-based placement can make it harder to keep up with your physical activity.

My favourite tips

• Go for walks or runs – a great way to keep up your physical activity and explore the towns you are in
• Use the RCSI gym (RCSI can also recommend a gym close to your peripheral placement at a reduced price)
• Continue attending your normal training sessions (rugby, GAA, soccer, hockey and so on)
• Try at-home workout videos