“You’re travelling again?! Don’t you want to focus on your career?”

Ah yes — the classic question I’ve been asked more times than I can count (usually right after I post a travel photo). Apparently, being a doctor and booking flights aren’t allowed in the same sentence?

Here’s the thing — I love to travel. I mean, who doesn’t? There’s something magnetic about new places: the culture, the food, the green hills, the chaos of a new city, and of course, the irresistible pull of the blue, blue ocean. It fills me up in a way that’s hard to explain. Since I’ve been lucky enough to afford it, I’ve made it a priority to squeeze in adventures — sometimes big, sometimes small — and just soak up the world.

But every now and then, I get those raised eyebrows:

“How are you traveling this much?”

“Are you even serious about your career?”

“Isn’t being a doctor, like… intense?”

Short answer: Yes. Very.

I work full-time as a doctor in the UK, and like anyone in healthcare will tell you — it’s no joke. The job is demanding, emotionally and mentally. There are exams, constant learning, people management, problem solving, 12-hour shifts, and on-the-go empathy reserves. It’s a career that asks a lot of you, and one I genuinely love.

But here’s the thing — I also travel. Often. Not because I’m neglecting my responsibilities, but because I’ve learned how to make time for what keeps me grounded. It’s how I recharge, reset, and return to work with more compassion, more energy, and more perspective. It keeps me curious, grounded, and most importantly, human.

But how do I even do this? Simply put- planning ahead. It’s the only thing that makes this possible for me.  I have used annual leave strategically, make the most of long weekends, and sometimes even swap shifts months in advance (a true Olympic sport in the NHS). I study on flights. I’ve revised for exams in airport lounges (pass medicine has probably seen so many parts of the world from my phone alone) and typed reflections in hotel lobbies.

And guess what? It works. Because for me, travel isn’t a distraction — it’s an investment in my own wellbeing. It gives me space to breathe, reflect, and return to work sharper, more energised, and (let’s be honest) just a little less grumpy.

Yes, I take my career seriously. Yes, I also take my joy seriously. And I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive.

So the next time someone asks how I manage to be both a dedicated doctor and someone who catches flights… I’ll just smile and say: “Time management, baby.”

Because at the end of the day, what kind of doctor would I be if I didn’t believe in a bit of preventative medicine — for the soul?

We talk so much about burnout in medicine, and yet we still side-eye anyone who dares to prioritise rest, fun, or (heaven forbid) a beach holiday. But here’s my take: taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury — it’s part of the job. Because a doctor who’s had a chance to live, explore, and breathe? That’s a doctor who’s showing up as their best self.

So here’s to finding balance. To chasing dreams — in scrubs and in sneakers. And to anyone wondering if it’s possible to have a career and a life?

It is. I’m doing it.

And I’ll be booking my next flight in the process.