“I am NOT CRAZY” *holds knife up* 😂 that’s my kinda energy lmao

Rachel, I GOT INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL!!! You've literally been my biggest inspiration/motivator, thank you!!!

Rachel this vlog is not pointless! It helps us to see the reality of what being a resident is really like. Thank you for showing and speaking your truth. To those who think all of this is easy, please take into consideration what Rachel is doing: her job in addition to taking the time to vlog to show what she is going through day and night in and out, and being real about it. This is reality y'all, please show respect. Rachel you keep doing what your doing, bringing in new life into this world. We're sending productive and positive thoughts to you, we got your back!!! 😊🎉

love how prepared you were for an intruder, I’m always prepared for the worst and overthinking so this is the outcome. We’re not crazy 🫣

Not a pointless vlog! It’s nice that you show the ups and downs of becoming/being a doctor.

Thank you for letting us follow your journey. I've been subscribed since your MCAT retake and I just received my first acceptance to medical school! You're a constant reminder that though the work is hard, you can reach your goals through dedication and passion ❤

I can’t even comprehend the feeling of getting off of a 24 hr shift and thinking an intruder is in the house. That’s terrifying 🤧

Hey Rachel. I totally agree with you about needing time to yourself after interacting with people. Us introverts need our time to regroup and recharge. It's super important to just take care of yourself after a long shift like that and just recharge for the next day of work.

2nd year med student here, I really appreciate your honest and open look into the life of a busy resident in a demanding specialty. I still want to be a doctor with all my heart, just as you did, but it helps to get a dose of reality and know what I’m signing up for. You’re totally right that it’s not worth it unless you love it. Thanks for your tireless hard work

Seeing your vacuum lines made me smile 😊 reminds me of med school Rachel!

I’m glad your mum came to see you. I have also been worried about you. Sending you love and support.

My son was the victim of a crime and was left paralyzed. His wound care surgeon lives in the hospital and after watching you I know have an idea of why he is always roaming the halls. Talk about dedication. Thank you for what you do. I so enjoy spending time with you and like you I like being home alone.

I’m not even in healthcare, but am so motivated by your drive. I too am introverted and NEED that alone time to recharge my battery, especially after work or social events. I, too, also need a clean space to have a peaceful mind after a long day. Easier said than done sometimes, but I admire your dedication to honoring yourself and your needs. Thank you🤍 -a recent subscriber

i get the worst headaches when I wake up after 24h shifts.. I actually slept till 19h yesterday ! I was that tired. Its so horrible! Sometimes what I do… and call me crazy, i know… is that when I arrive home I drink a bit of coffee just avoid that caffeine withdrawal headache 🤣 and it actually works… im so freaking tired that I’d sleep anyways 🤯

love you Rachel! keep it going, you got this

Your doing amazing Rachel!! ❤❤❤

I'm so proud of you Rachel, I loved this littel vlog :) thank you

you're doing great hun, love all of your videos💖

I’m so proud of you 🩷 I love being a part of the herd

Loved this vlog you’re doing amazing girl keep it up ♥️

We appreciate you for continuing to post! I’m a first year med student and I love seeing your content in residency

Your videos are such a comfort on Saturdays! 💕

I enjoyed this video! 😊 It’s nice just to see you reset - motivating! 💪

Im excited to see your Step 3 vlog later this month. You're gonna crush it!

i appreciate your videos so much. i used to watch them years ago but just got back into them. seeing you go from med student to resident has been crazy. where did the time go. keep it up!!! youre seriously an inspiration to me

love it.Thank you for uploading❤❤

We use the same socks! At least they look like the ones I use. I'm very particular about my socks and my pens, Pumas and Pilot Precise V5 RT lol 🤦‍♀ I'm introverted (and high-masking autistic) and unapologetically selfish with what little free time I have. I have to be. I mask all day long at work and I'm damn near almost non-verbal by the time I get out lol. Sometimes driving home in silence is all I need to regenerate. I'm grateful that my schooling is all online otherwise I would've self-destructed a long time ago if I had to attend in-person classes after work.

This vlog is not pointless! I love how real you are with us! Sending you lots of love and prayers!

It's so nice to watch your vlogs, thanks for letting us into your life like this!

love you Rachel, you are my motivation, keep doing what you are doing

YOU ARE AMAZING RACHEL ! ONE DAY YOU'LL LOOK BACK AND REALIZE HOW STRONG YOU ARE AND WILL FOREVER BE!

Loved this vlog! You’re incredibly inspiring🩷🩷

I love this vlog!!

You’re amazing, Rachel! Keep going; I’ve watched your videos since you were in medical school, and you’ve been SUCH an inspiration to me. I’m currently applying for residency, and seeing these has helped me keep my chin up. Keep yours up too, you’ve got this! We’re all rooting for you 💛

Honestly one of my favorite vlogs :)

You are amazing!! Your work ethic is insane and I love every single video of yours

I’m OMS1- 10 weeks in!!! I made it TEN weeks I can’t believe it!! I watched your medical school vids over the summer to try and prep and I really loved watching you grow and learn :) I’m always looking forward to watching your Saturday videos while I’m at the gym. Thank you for everything 💜

Thank you Doc for the informational Intel 😊

Hi Dr. Rachel! Not boring at all. Give yourself the TLC you deserve.

I look forward to seeing how your week went! Thanks for checking in with the herd!

Love your videos. You are so naturally pretty!

Rachel I look forward to each and every vlog you post. As a mom myself I know how your mom must feel seeing you work so hard at being the best doctor you can be. You will always be her baby. That’s how I feel about my grown son. Bless you and stay safe

I'm EMS, so I understand those exhausting 24 hour shifts and the caffeine withdrawal. Hope you're doing well and get some rest Rachel! 🧡

I got into medical school this month and you kept me going through the whole process! Wishing you the best of luck during residency, I know it’s hard! Just know you’re inspiring other people in the midst of the craziness

Hi Rachel, I remember once at work I had to work 21 days straight due to a computer project that went awry and I have to say it nearly broke me. I've also slept at work for a couple of hours each night and remained there for 3 days to finish an upgrade I was doing so I completely understand the sacrifices we have to make in our chosen professions. I'm also a bit of a loner and would never go out during the week and only would venture out for about 4 hours for a couple of drinks with friends on a Friday night and that was my social life in a nutshell. It's okay to want to be alone and I highly recommend it for those of us who need to recharge after a day of "being out there" lol. Anyway I hope you had a good sleep and feel refreshed and renewed for your next day at work.

It's been a long time since I watched any of your video's. I remember when I was doing my major and had like the worst 4 years of my life because of it, I used to watch your video's and I felt better because I didn't feel alone anymore and knew that there are many people out there like u struggling and fighting too. After watching this video I felt kind of nostalgic. But really, THANK U SO MUCH for making the time and doing effort to make video's like this and share it because they are so inspiring! I'm really thankful ❤❤

I’m a 4th med student right now and have been loving/needing your videos to help me mentally prepare myself for what’s to come lol. Even these days when im legit not doing half the work an intern does I keep asking is this worth it? Honestly Im taking each day as it comes, the good and bad but thankful for my health. You’ve been an inspiration from the very beginning of my journey and I hope you know how genuine and incredible you are - thank you for letting us be part of the journey and make us all feel less alone as we go through this crazy rollercoaster that is medicine lol. Sending you love and good vibes 🙏🏽💕

Rachel I’m so close to starting my externship for my MA program, and I really hope my physician is as passionate and caring as you are! Also, your hair looks so pretty 🫶🏻.

That was sweet - mommies are the best!

Such a cozy vlog🤍 sending positive vibes your way🩵🫶

Good morning Rachel happy Sunday morning and I loved your vlogs and you are amazing Supporter and I'm proud of you

Hi Dr Rachel, I think you are doing a great job trying to maintin your mental health while in residency. You have such an inspiration for the past few years and I really hope everything works out for you. P.S the intruder thing is SO real lmao

YESSSS the return of the vacuum lines!!!!!! Love it!😍😍

Hang in there Rachel we are rooting for you! Also sometimes the AC suction can cause doors to open/close, it was like that at a rental I stayed at before and it would spook me so maybe that could be the case!

This is not a pointless vlog. I really enjoyed it. I start med school in July if all goes well and I think I want to do OBGYN. I really enjoyed watching this ❤

I was waiting for new video so much and i am so happy for watching you again! You are a huge inspiration for me. THANK YOU. I will pray for you 😊. God bless you. Goodnight.

Love a nice reset day 🫶🏼

I do love your vlogs Rachel 😍❤️❤️

That was super interesting! Would love to see more post shift content. BUT, your mental well being and health is more important honestly. So take care of yourself and do whatever you feel like when you feel like doing 🙂♥Thank you for your time and energy.

Rachel your are an inspiration for me❤

Sending you love, hugs, and sleep time tea! You got this! It's a whirlwind and probably a blur at times. This may be an unpopular opinion, but consuming isn't bad. I'm a behavioral health clinician and have worked graveyard shifts in the ER. If coffee helps you function, don't cut it out of your life. Just drink a little more water on your time off.

thanks for showing us the real behind the scenes of a resident! its rare to see what happens beyond the hospital and really helps to see what you're getting yourself into that I think most people do not understand when deciding to pursue medicine. thanks Rachel, you helped me decide medicine was not for me LOL

Love watching your videos ❤❤

Hey Rachel, just wanted to let you know that I admire your ability to be honest about struggling and to lean on your mom for support. As a mother myself, I can tell you that it’s all we hope for when we have adult children.

Another great vlog. I’m super late watching. Sounds like you definitely have to have these days to recharge your battery. I enjoyed watching and thanks so much for doing my suggestion!

Im currently in nursing school wanting to go into L&D! Your videos are so inspiring and I just love your energy♥

it's amazing that you're still putting out content every week with your schedule!!! I love being able to watch what my future holds whether its a chill day off or a hectic 24 hours shift, you're doing great things ♥ Do all residencies work about the same number of hours per week? Or does it vary depending on the specialty?

Hugs Dr. Rachel!

Love the vacuum lines that what I love when I vacuum! Take care of yourself 🇦🇺💕🎬🥰

I know exactly what you mean by being selfish with your free time. I covet alone time as it allows me to not only RELAX but also allows me to recharge in an emotional way. I am an introvert through and through. So, from one introvert to another, I salute you using your off call time for you. Hang in there. You are loved. ❤

I’m not in medicine but you motivate me :) Thank you for continuing to post even when you’re exhausted.

Wishing you a kind week ahead Rachel! ✨💕 In Canada its Thanksgiving Weekend - feeling thankful for you and this corner of the internet! 🥰

My favorite thing ever is to sip some coffee and watch a Rachel Southard vid.

Ahh Rachel I don’t know how you do it! I work nights as a nicu nurse and sometimes after working multiple shifts in a row I am so tired that I can’t help but cry when I wake up from sleeping after a shift. Working thru the night throws my body and mind for a loop sometimes! Hope you are hanging in there!

Back like I never left. Checking in From Baltimore MD. Glad to Be here again 😎.

I’m going through student teaching right now, and I think of you and what you have to do as a first year resident to help motivate myself. This past week has been the most difficult for me so far since beginning student teaching mid-August. It was like the exhaustion and stress of the past 2 months finally hit me. When I felt like I was going to have a panic attack yesterday, I honestly thought of you and how you keep pushing forward despite the exhaustion and stress. We’re both working towards our career goals, and although we have have very different career paths, I look up to you a lot to remind myself “If Rachel can work a 24hr shift as a DOCTOR who is literally in charge of people’s lives, then I can show up to a high school for 8 hours and teach.” I’m hanging in there and trying to remain positive. Your channel and honesty is helping me more than you know ♥️ rooting for you, girl!!

Hii!! I’m new here and I definitely look forward to upcoming vlogs/videos!🤍🤍 first of all I appreciate your hard work🫡😅 I’m not medical student but I grew up watching greys, scrubs,house and always admired and kinda glorified the work that you guys are doing and now that I have seen the truth I am in awe and more amazed then I was before. This is almost inhuman😂 you are so strong and I’m motivated to study harder now! Thank you❤🥹 (I’m Turkish, sorry for my english. Oh and I study econometrics, hate it 😂😂)

I knew residency was tough, but I never have seen it 'live'. Love your videos!

That is definitely scary. I don't blame you especially what you had to go through over the years. It's amazing you did all that stuff on your day off too before going back to the grind.

Best of luck studying for your boards :) you got this!

As always, it was a great video. Thank you for sharing your journey with us! I hope it residency gets better for you 🥰 I have a somewhat of a strange question. What is the vacuum you are using in your video? I just moved into a place with carpet and I need a good vacuum cleaner that leaved those satisfying marks on the floor 😂

I felt that. Sometimes I get more tired from social interactions than I do from work itself

You are the sunshine

When working shifts, my next day was similar except for all the cleaning. Suggest taking a self-defense course for women. Since your specialty is female dominated, maybe your department or hospital would be willing to host it. Typically, an intruder or assailant will be a man larger, heavier, and stronger. Most likely he will be able to take away a knife then use it on you. A much better weapon is sand which can be thrown in the eyes and mouth. The right instructor will point out the best areas to stun, immobilize, or knock out someone. You'll love this since it's all about anatomy.

Hang in There!

You need to get outside for 20 mins and relax. It will help. Otherwise I see nothing wrong with a rest and recharge day. I agree 24 hr shift is not safe or reasonable. It's abusive and unproductive. No one should be making life or death decisions on such little sleep. And no one is learning anything after 12 hours of work.

Those long nights and shifts r still prominent in my mind. I seemed to always have a caffeine headache. One day a coworker gave me something called a BC powder and a cup of coffee. She said it was how conductors got through the long nights driving a train. She was right. It was amazing. On occasion I’ll will still indulge and it works every time. It does get better. U know that. By design the program has hurdles and the worst r always first. Ur nearly half way through then ur gonna watch the first years come in and think… get ready cause this is hard. The passages from one year to the next pushes u for the day u step out on ur own.

The knife in the bathroom 😂 the editing of you picking it up as you clean 😂

thank you for this :)

Great video

Thank you so much for sharing! What does your schedule look like over a few months? Interested to see a full breakdown of the amount of shifts/hours you work 😊

I’m at work right now and can’t wait to go home, shower, get in bed and read😊 Hugs to yOuuuu.

Not a med student or anything related, usually a silent watcher but since you said you look forward to reading the comments thought I’d drop by. I’m really glad someone is speaking out about the difficult side of medicine and residency. I’ve been watching you since med school days and really respect your hard work and dedication. It sounds so tough but do take care as much as you can and we’re rooting for you! Until the next vlog :D

I have a weak or small coffee before sleeping post-call and I feel better when I wake up. It doesn’t keep me up because I’m so sleep deprived

@GAIN should sponsor you, I love that song that goes on in the background, It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to! Another awesome video/Vlog Dr. Southard! ❤

I would probably sleep for 24 hours after a 24 hour shift, lol. Im always amazed by the work that people in the healthcare field do. It takes a special person to be on their feet all day helping others.

I totaly feel you it is same here❤

Oh girl, you're scaring me. I'm premed and I wanna go into gen surgery but I'm getting more scared of the residency the more I watch your vids 😮

If this isn’ t me after work then I don’ t know. Just complete silence or music but no talking, words or anything 😅 and bed and organizing everything I have control over 😂 love xx