My Regrets about Quitting Medicine

After 8 years as a medical student and junior doctor, this time last year I decided to completely quit medicine. It was a tough decision for me, so in this video I reflect on that decision one year later, and how I'm feeling about it all now. Enjoy x
The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd: geni.us/pathlesspath
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00:00 Intro
01:04 The backstory
07:14 The good parts - Money
14:31 The good parts - Fun
18:05 The good parts - Autonomy
20:32 The bad parts - Career anxiety
22:58 The bad parts - Insecurity
26:53 The bad parts - Usefulness
30:16 Recommendations
38:19 Being a creator as a career path
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WHO AM I:
I’m Ali, a KZbinr, podcaster, soon-to-be author and ex-Doctor working in London, UK. I make videos that explore the strategies and tools that help us live happier, healthier and more productive lives. I also have a weekly podcast called Deep Dive (kzbin.info/door/hfo..., and I write a weekly email newsletter that contains some quick thoughts + links to interesting things (go.aliabdaal.com/subscribe-su....
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[@aliabdaal]

If you enjoyed this video, you might like my weekly newsletter, where I share actionable productivity tips, practical life advice, and high-quality insights from across the web, check it out here: go.aliabdaal.com/subscribe-sundaysnippets

[@DrBrunoRecipes]

👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@karandahare3711]

Please attend Sandeep Maheshwari seesion

[@khalilahd.]

Definitely subscribing! Your productivity advice is always so helpful!

[@Martina_E]

This is relatable, inspiring enjoying these type of videos.☘️🍀

[@miroslavstoyanov4462]

Why is your channel name not Dr Ali Abdaal? 😂

[@rachelxin155]

All the junior doctors clicking into this video trying to find some comfort for continuing medicine. HAHA

[@Aliabdaal10]

📞📞📞

[@kostasmira2933]

😅😅

[@Aliabdaal10]

@@kostasmira2933 ↖️↖️💬💬

[@mohaelmi067]

😂😂😂😂😂😂including me 😂😂😂

[@lordgawain]

😂😂😂 Guilty

[@AlexandreHenriquePinheiro]

You mentioned about feeling useful, because medicine is about saving lives. I just wanted to let you know that through your videos, you did indeed saved mine. I'm a 26 years old architect from Brazil, who always dreamed about being an airline pilot. Because of your videos, I felt like it's something worth trying, so now I'm doing flight training and chasing that dream. You did save me. You saved me from this sad death bed moment, when people regret about undone things. I don't know if that's going to work for me, but at least I'm trying. Thanks for you channel!

[@HenriqueBuiu]

Avante, camarada. Que Deus abençoe a sua jornada.

[@matheuskalin7228]

Greetings, Brother :) How's the flight training going?

[@AlexandreHenriquePinheiro]

​@@matheuskalin7228 12h of flight experience now. I'm currently running into some financial issues but still trying to make 1-2h per month

[@Ziyadmuhamad]

the most truthful man in youtube ever , the only one who doesn’t want to sell something to you when he talks.

[@anmoltripathi9021]

I kind of sheepishly feel good that even Ali has insecurity of "what would happen if this thing doesn't work out?". This honestly gives me some confidence that I'm on the right path.

[@CherryBlossom-bc1pv]

Same

[@michael-dy7pn]

​@CherryBlossom-bc1pv you want him to do you on the washing machine

[@ActressNikiHart]

🍀Don’t underestimate the lives you are saving by being an impactful teacher.

[@fadhshukor]

True

[@c.a.a.d.d]

This man has legit saved my life

[@sm24572]

True

[@You-TubeUser2836]

Sycophant

[@user-vx4zx6tf7s]

I was so confused about my decision to study medicine, and I had so many questions that I couldn't find answers to, but now after I've watched your videos; I feel everything become more clear to me, thank you for sharing your experience and for being honest! 🍀

[@JeanSeptember25]

🍀 Thanks for taking the time to share about your feelings on the decision you made, Ali. I find myself nodding to most of the things you shared because I had similar experiences and took similar steps as well as having similar explanations behind the actions I took. Cheers! 🥂

[@aribloom]

These types of "looking back" and assessing past decision deep dives are always so interesting, thanks 🍀

[@octaviawalker823]

Interesting for sure.

[@khalilahd.]

Your story is truly inspiring. It’s really humbling to see how far you’ve come and where you started. It makes me feel like I can do anything 🙏🏽 we’re all so proud of you!

[@campaspe810]

Seriously?

[@user-xb6zu6hh3w]

ㅂㅐ

[@yourmomsdiary]

Gurl why you are everywhere

[@AnniePaige-iq5qp]

@@yourmomsdiary probably trying to grow her channel by commenting everywhere?

[@wishingonthemoon1]

I really love the videos where you open up. Hearing your life experience as the context for videos is really helpful and inspiration to me.

[@selfhelpchampion9664]

"Passion will move men beyond themselves, beyond their shortcomings, beyond their failures.” Joseph Campbell

[@khalilahd.]

Needed this 🙏🏽

[@donkeythedetectivecat4590]

Not men, HUMANS!!!!!!!You forgot about woman!!!!!

[@a.r.8987]

@@donkeythedetectivecat4590😆

[@femalejaysfan]

I quit medicine as well, right after earning my MD, also to be an entrepreneur. Sometimes I have regrets, but ultimately, I have more relief than anything. Had I stayed in the field, done residency, and gotten hired, I think I'd have felt trapped forever.

[@ezinneerhirhieneeukaogo1439]

I feel trapped

[@toexplorewithromeobocala4816]

Man right. We go to school to get the knowledge and working the workplace. But when we put our feet in the door and saw the things. Fuck this and walk to the door.

[@DownhillBoys]

Just out of interest, can I ask what kind of business or startup you went for?

[@angelprincess818]

What business did you start-up? I'm a doctor too, hoping to venture into business, but i feel clueless about it.

[@vladb7727]

@@angelprincess818 Following

[@DrViolette]

This is so inspiring and your insights are definitely helpful for so many of us. Thank you Ali for being willing to be vulnerable and real to your audience! 🍀

[@ashwathsingh]

I find it incredible how open you are about everything you have done; thank you so much for making these kinds of videos because they probably help many people thinking about making such decisions! Thank you for all the help you have provided me with in this year, and also motivating me to make KZbin videos. Happy holidays Ali and Team!

[@aliabdaal]

happy holidays :)

[@Ari_diwan]

🍀 I didn't enjoy clinical medicine and decided to shift to pharma and clinical research / medical writing and I'm loving it! There's so much one can do within medicine!

[@amruthareshi2719]

Hey, I’m a doctor in India and looking for alternatives. What’s medical writing ?

[@rumouredsimmer]

Hi I'd like to transition from clinical medicine to non clinical medicine. Interested in research and writng. Any advice

[@lifeisbeautiful2k23]

How to enter clinical research and whats medical writing???

[@nafissanafissa557]

Tell us more please

[@joannelee2501]

🍀 thank you so much for always being so real and genuine with your answers Ali! you rlly hammered the idea of skills -> optionality -> one step closer to desired life. keep doing what you are doing !!

[@helenahu]

Thank you for keeping it real and being so open and honest! Don't ever change. Happy 2023!

[@chrisbasford1536]

Your best videos are when you share how you make decisions that don’t have simple answers. At the end of my career, I still try to add to my skill set each day.🍀

[@joshuaomote810]

🍀 Loved it, thank you for being so honest!

[@nicoletaborcos]

Listening to your videos is refreshing and inspiring, i dont have much to add, besides the fact that you are on point and i can resonate so much with your way to approaching issues. 🍀🍀🍀

[@CityViewtours]

Yes you are right.

[@_notsaf]

For all those who left/opted out of medicine: this is so comforting

[@lydiacordero5245]

Yes

[@pagesbynika7627]

Thank you so much for your transparency Ali!! super appreciate it

[@christineteo6623]

I feel like you carry the weight of the world when you talk about your decisions.. you take so much responsibility for it - you definitely deserve all the happiness, and freedom that comes with it 🤗

[@Aliabdaal10]

🔼🔼🔼

[@Aliabdaal10]

📞📞📞

[@kkewsuk]

my sister is going down the business route and I'm doing medicine. we hope our interests will one day support each other and become something great. Interestingly, my best subject in high school was business studies; because of my reserved personality, I chose science. p.s this channel is both inspiring and mind-opening, thank you for sharing your life stories. I wish you much more success :)

[@alostunicorn]

It's opposite in my case. My brother is an entrepreneur and I'm a doctor. We too hope to support eachother. My fav subject was maths. I believe in destiny hence i believe in its plan. 💜

[@TheSarosheffendi]

🍀🍀🍀 Thanks for sharing your journey Ali. Love to listen, reflect and ponder about my actionable takeaways.

[@egemenogredik9056]

Even though I don’t even consider studying medicine I knew there would be bits of information for me too and it didn’t disappoint, that’s the beauty of this channel that it can provide different points of view about anything 🍀

[@thandosilinda2590]

🍀🍀🍀Thank you.. I'm thinking of possibly going into med school later on in life. It's cool to see these perspectives! You are an amazing teacher!

[@masterninja7195]

Thank you Ali, your honest nature was recurrent throughout this video. Subscribed! 😀

[@MagdaA245]

Your videos are always inspiring ✨️. Thank you for sharing your journey and keeping your videos with honest and straightforward vibes. Happy 2023.

[@scientist1239]

Your videos are inspiring bro, i especially enjoy the podcast with you and taimur. Keep them coming

[@drazensalopek2677]

Thank you Ali for this video. You are good person and I think that many people thinking about quit their yobs but they don't enough courage and determination.

[@HikAri-iw7xe]

🍀 I really like the honesty and the logical dissection of every decision and thought you make I just find it hard to project it on my own life

[@aichazampalegre]

🍀Love watching your videos! You're always honest and transparent, and create amazingly useful content, thanks loads.

[@stevesimmons6500]

Once again another great vid (talking from your heart always at your best when you do ali) .🍀. happy 2023

[@Onalenna_Thobega]

I absolutely love your content. I quit my nursing job too and I'd worked with Doctor's that quit eventually as well. Some of my friends are still in health of course, but I agree with most of your reasoning for leaving. One can make more money outside of our conventional jobs. I think I'm also big on work being fun and also owning my time.

[@meriamnjah8633]

🍀I really appreciated all that you shared in this video. Hoping I can extend the warmth that it warmed my heart with to what I'd like to do next with my life 😌

[@cheewanng6138]

Thank you so much for your sharing. It really helps us having similar circumstances

[@jessicafan6221]

🍀Thank you for making this video and talking openly about every aspect of the decision. Sometimes it's a bit sad that things you love aren't what you do best, but acquiring new skills is definitely going to open up more options for one's life❤

[@DawitBayulgn]

Why did u type leaf?

[@jessicafan6221]

@@DawitBayulgn watch the full video to find out ;)

[@atumultintheclouds]

Thanks for your donations to effective charities Ali! You're saving and improving real lives that way, and I for one appreciate it :) 🍀

[@raylubin]

I might not have started my youtube channel if it weren't for you. Thank you so much for what you do Ali!

[@sherrymartini_]

Always love the honesty in your videos! 🍀 looking forward to your next book review :D

[@alirezza9773]

🍀 Your 2 recent long videos are so much better and intimate than other videos in 2022

[@nazeefahnaj8000]

🍀 Thank you for sharing your story and your thoughts!

[@raihyder1263]

Thanks Ali.... This video helped me alot in choosing my career path and making the rational decision which I will not regret in future. Love your work. It really inspires me alot. Keep growing 💙

[@cjay2074]

I got so much value from this video, very inspirational 🍀❤

[@smurfie4]

🍀 this video came at the right time. Thank you!

[@Anna-vesper]

really like how you measured your impact through saving lives in the usefulness segment

[@Hummingbird25]

I really admire the path you created for yourself. You not only inspire others but teach others how to do the same.

[@sherbetstraw8605]

I"ve only just started this video so can't comment on the content yet, but just had to say... your skin is GLOWING Ali!

[@khomotsoegbuonu3041]

🍀🍀 Thank you amazing teacher Ali. Your authenticity is amazing!

[@SAb-tt4kz]

You saved more lives sharing this video with us

[@AlexJ1]

🍀☘️🙌 Love these long rambling ones. I chuck them on while doing work. It's nice.

[@rumit9946]

When you start to regret leaving medicine just join clinical work again and you’ll immediately feel that leaving was the right choice all along

[@aliabdaal]

haha

[@mohammadrayyan7851]

😂😂😂😂

[@abdullahba54]

When you left medicine, you knew what your goal and passion were, and you had the ability to do it, but others like me do not know what their passion is and what their goal is, but they must study in order to make money. My question is how do I find my passion and how do I find who I am ?

[@sasanmanprinceofpersia1233]

This is exactly my dilemma

[@TimTim__]

Same!!

[@Lmab-qs1kr]

Haha same

[@dappa0000]

Ali really enjoy watching your videos and I believe one should always do what is best for themselves well done. 😊

[@flatbrokeatfifty]

I just finished reading So Good they Can't Ignore You and I am still deeply thinking about it. Great book for everyone to read.

[@rapfarsibaza]

🍀 Keep it up Dr.Ali I love your videos like this in which you just express all your thoughts and feelings about your experiences Very helpful and interesting stuff 😉

[@annaspeaks373]

Ali thank for your transparency, I am final year medical student and this is too relevant to me and also I just started this KZbin thing, hope I can succeed in internet career thing.

[@annaspeaks373]

☘️

[@CarolineJuneee]

🍀 great video. I always find them helpful and insightful, even if it triggers reflection, it all helps with steps in the right direction 🙂

[@Amin_Rezaei]

Thanks for doing this video. You're Awesome!

[@enoculum]

🍀very enlightening, there are so many options that we fail to see sometimes. Thank you for the video.

[@shambhaviprasad1387]

Thank you so much, Ali. I cannot express how grateful I am to you. You are the only person who has ever given me a good piece of advice. I am from India and I am 15. I feel pressured by my parents and relatives to pursue medicine. You have given me the courage to take a stand for myself and pursue my passion which is teaching.

[@natruizperez]

☘️thank you! Listened to this as part of my morning routine and I feel ready for the uncertainties ahead.

[@YoonAlbert]

Inspirational and we don’t get bored watching such long talking head video. Engaged all time and inspired me to continue on my KZbin Channel 🤘🏻

[@mrhobbis96]

Will you do an end of year business update like you did last year? I found it really interesting talking through your business’ performance, structure etc.

[@sara134n]

🍀 enjoyed watching this and listening to your reasoning through decisions

[@dizzylbnt]

🍀 Loved this video! Thanks for uploading!

[@deboralima3913]

You helped me so much with this video. Thank's ! ♡

[@topthinkug]

Love what you are doing to put food on table or start doing what you love 💕💕

[@iamdanielsamuel]

☘️ this is good stuff, Ali! It was great to hear your thought process in moving from Medicine to full time content creation.

[@theuruguayanpolyglot8706]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing Ali!

[@Pearladjavon]

🍀🍀🍀Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us. It has got me actually thinking picturing what an ideal life would look like for me. It's a good feeling to know that we don't have to stick to the career decisions we made when we were young.

[@Vlog_Media]

similar thing progressing towards my 4-hour week. Great post @Ali Abdaal 👍🏻

[@nicolekhimushina1250]

Hi Ali I've been watching your videos for some time now and wanted to thank you for the informative and engaging way you present valuable information! I am a medical student who is half way through the course and starting to have doubts about the decision I made at 18 to become a doctor. I am still very interested in the career but I fear the sacrifice may not weigh up to my values in the long term. Could you please make a video on actionable steps students can take to equip themselves with skills valuable outside of clinical medicine and tips on how to find opportunities outside of clinical medicine as a student? Thanks again for all the effort you and your team put into creating fantastic videos! 😊

[@lifelessons841]

🍀I appreciate your logical approach to compare options, which can be translated to other career alternatives.

[@beruniy_21]

Thank you for explanation and the recommendations: 🍀

[@ellan0r]

🍀 thank you for sharing your journey!

[@thetoo6691]

Really happy for this content😍😍😍

[@KnittingJoy]

As a GP currently getting all the paperwork in order for a "career break," I really identify with so much of what you've covered in this video. I really don't think i will return to medicine, but thought applying for a career break would be a good trial of life away from medicine, rather than going the whole hog and resigning! Autonomy is a huge factor for me. I was shocked at how little control i had over my own life as a junior doctor. It didn't get much better as a GP. Huge respect to you for making it work.

[@aryans9334]

Out of curiosity, what are you intending to do? Good luck for your future endeavours!

[@muzammil743]

Nice reflective and introspective video man 👍🏼

[@moreminerals]

🍀 thanks Ali for the tips. I enjoy your videos and they always fill me with hope and motivation to find my way to happiness. Saludos desde chile (south america)

[@aurora6310]

So proud of you ali❤

[@stellamakrigianni608]

Kudos, you are an inspiration no matter how!

[@Aliabdaal10]

↗️↗️↗️

[@Aliabdaal10]

🔼🔼🔼

[@s200401091]

Was listening to this in tandem to doing medicine questions and stressing about exams~ Thanks for so many ideas and definitely will be popping the question of I might or might not be enjoying medicine now but have you found enjoyment in your position that is 10 or 30 years from where I am now🍀

[@Henry-rn5yl]

🍀 past trauma RN turned entrepreneur and successful building my business 🙌🏼 thank you for this video!

[@plugga4u972]

How did you heal with it bro?

[@ZXIN313]

🍀 Inspiring teacher as usual 👏🏽

[@beckymcfadyen4125]

🍀 Great insights! Thank you for sharing!

[@kendrajohnson6535]

🍀 "What makes your heart sing? What makes your spirit come alive?" Two questions I am not certain I know the answer to... Time to do some thinking. Thank you Ali 🙏

[@mosesmuyembe4595]

Enjoyed the video especial on the part of developing skills which give you optionality on what you can actually do☘️

[@Aliabdaal10]

✔️✔️

[@DillonN]

I really enjoy these long talks

[@rogerjohnson898]

Ali, there's no doubt that u r "born" to be doing what u r doing now & u do it brilliantly!!!

[@fatifatitu9320]

Thank you for sharing Ali🍀🍀

[@Ana-ye9rx]

☘️ needed to hear this!

[@dr_hebaahmed]

🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀thank you Ali, I always enjoy listening to you

[@mysticvision001]

Hi Ali , I love watching your vids ❤️ you are the biggest inspiration for me -An aspiring medical student

[@maxwellahiabor3794]

May God help u 🙏🙏

[@mysticvision001]

@@maxwellahiabor3794 Thank you 🤞

[@thecripkeeper1713]

@@mysticvision001 preparing for NEET, aren't you?

[@mysticvision001]

@@thecripkeeper1713 yess 🔥

[@hey...hithere6302]

@@thecripkeeper1713 metooo !!

[@MedicHero]

love the video ! Another inspiration for me starting youtube ( idk if that was even english but you understood)

[@dghindmarsh]

🍀 really interesting video. Thanks for sharing your in-depth thoughts!

[@barneymd12]

🍀 thanks for this🙏 more power to you

[@wissamalmandili2315]

I’ve enjoyed every minute in this video 🍀