**How a Three-Time Olympian and Medical School Student Deals with Burnout: “I Know the Signs”**
Kat Holmes has been to the Olympics three times and is now in medical school. She has a busy schedule because she is training for Paris 2024 and getting her degree. Since she was 15, Holmes has been fighting on the international fencing circuit. Now that she is 30, Holmes uses a paper planner to keep track of her time.
Holmes’s way of managing his time is easy to understand and works well. She carefully keeps track of her time with her planner, which has every due date and job written down for as far into the future as possible. “I write down every due date as far in the future as I can,” she told CNBC Make It not long ago. “When I’m done, I cross it off and I know I don’t have to deal with it.”
Her planner helps her get through a day that is full of classes, workouts, tests, and long study sessions. She can picture her obligations this way, which helps her stay in charge of her busy life. Crossing off things that you’ve done gives you a real sense of relief and achievement.
Holmes knows that her busy routine makes it nearly impossible to avoid burnout, even though she tries hard to stay organized. It takes a lot of hard work and commitment to balance the demands of medical school with training for the Olympics. Holmes has learned to spot the early signs of stress and take steps to lessen their effects over the years of experience and self-awareness.
There have been some hard times on Holmes’s path. She has pushed herself to the point of tiredness in the past, but these times have taught her important lessons about taking care of herself and keeping a steady pace. She stresses how important it is to pay attention to her body and mind and give herself time to rest and heal when she needs to.
Adding time to relax and unwind to Holmes’s busy plan is one of her most important strategies. This could mean taking small breaks while studying, doing light exercises that focus on recovery, or just pausing for a few minutes to breathe and clear your mind. It helps her stay focused and full of energy all day by giving herself these small but important breaks.
Holmes has also built a strong network of family, friends, trainers, and mentors who help lift her spirits and understand her situation. She knows how important it is to ask for help and rely on others when things are really hard. This network helps her stay grounded and motivated by giving her both physical and emotional support.
Holmes also thinks it’s important to set goals that are attainable and keep expectations in check. She knows that she can’t be perfect and that it’s important to enjoy the little wins along the way. Focusing on growth instead of perfection helps her keep a positive attitude and keep going, even when things go wrong.
Finally, Kat Holmes shows how careful planning, knowing yourself, and having a strong support system can help you handle a very busy schedule. Her commitment to both her academic and sports goals is admirable, and her tips for avoiding burnout are useful for anyone who has a lot of responsibilities. Holmes is still a great example of how important it is to be strong, follow through, and take care of yourself as you prepare for Paris 2024 and move up in your medical job.