Hello again readers! I'm so excited to write this post/update as an RD-to-be/Dietetic Intern! My Dietetic Internship (DI) officially started a few weeks ago with a two-week orientation that was jam-packed with projects, assignments, and learning all about what's to come during the internship. In case you're reading my blog for the first time, I'm currently a Dietetic Intern and on my way to becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). The process of getting accepted into an internship was extremely competitive (my internship has an 11.8% acceptance rate!). Not only was the application process competitive, but it was also stress-inducing, and time-consuming because I was working on my master's thesis and working full time as I applied, so I'm elated that I even get to call myself a Dietetic Intern. Still confused as to what the DI entails? The DI is a commitment of supervised practice in a variety of rotations, such as clinical/hospital settings, long-term care, community nutrition organizations, renal/dialysis centers, and specific areas of nutrition/dietetics in order to train graduates to enter the field as health professionals (Registered Dietitians/Registered Dietitian-Nutritionists).
I started my first rotation this week at a Long Term Care facility gaining experience in institutional food service management. It's been so interesting to learn about food service management and how much work goes into budgeting a menu, planning, overseeing a kitchen, and keeping guests happy.
While I'm not going to share too much details about the specifics about what I've been doing while in the internship, I will share how I've been managing my time/stress levels and trying to remain sane outside of the DI. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know that I love running and yoga, so I've been making it a point to continue doing these things to manage stress and keep fit during this crazy process. I've also been sticking to a food budget and meal planning for myself (...or trying to) because the DI is an unpaid program and a girl's gotta eat, but also watch her wallet (and waist!).
One thing that really stood out to me during orientation before the rotations actually started was some advice from the DI director-- she advised us all to practice self-care in order to help us de-stress. I really believe self-care and relaxation are so vital to health. I also think it's important to make time for friends, relationships, and family, especially because life is so much more than just school + professional commitments. A few weeks ago my boyfriend and I went apple picking and it was such a a nice way to spend the day while enjoying the outdoors and getting some delicious, locally-grown fruit. How do you stay sane during busy/stressful times? I hope whatever you're working towards also brings you happiness and (some) time to relax. I'll be sure to keep this blog updated throughout the internship, so stop by soon for another post 🙂
-Jess
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