IM-PCP – Page 49 – Physician In Numbers

Future Me, January 2020 Follow Up

I started this series of posts at the end of October 2018, when I cut back my hours from full time to 90%. At the time I was dealing with overwork and atrophy of my personal life; I worried that I would waste the extra time I was buying myself with my pay cut.

I started with 10 Steps to Future Me. In mid-February 2019, I reviewed my goals from October, and came up with some new ones. In May of 2019 my father’s illness derailed my regular life, and I was pretty forgiving about missing most of my goals in the mid-June update. The work load over the summer was hefty, and again my September 2019 update had many missed marks.

I had planned to follow up at the end of the year, so it’s time to revisit September’s goals and see how I stand with them.

Monday Melange: Fun Vs Money

I have been reading personal finance blogs for a while. I love the breadth of subjects: frugality, meal planning, travel ~~hacking~~ planning, geeky number posts comparing traditional and Roth IRAs.

One of my issues is that they all, every one of them (it seems), glorifies the side hustle.

You know, the other job, the one you do after your regular one is done. It doesn’t pay as much, yet, but helps you diversify your income sources.

Even doctors are supposed to have a side hustle, I hear.

Fitness Log #64

Just because I am a doctor, and encourage patients every day to exercise, doesn’t mean that I don’t have my own issues with getting sufficient exercise. Long hours, tiring days, family obligations, illness: they are all stumbling blocks, no matter what your occupation.

I have been recording my exercise weekly, mostly to keep myself accountable for reaching my goal (sometimes this works, sometimes I miss). If anyone reads this, I hope they will take this as encouragement to keep going, acknowledgement that it isn’t always easy.

Tempest Fugit

Today was not one of my regular days. Instead of going to the hospital, I participated in an off-campus event for the morning.

Once I was free, I decided to walk home, as it was a bright, unseasonably sunny day. I almost pulled out my sunglasses, kept in my purse in perpetual optimism, in case I can actually get outside during daylight.

Financial Future Me 2020

This weekend I spent a little time going through our expenses for last year, after having calculated our net worth for January 1. I’m not planning to reveal all our numbers here–Mr. Physician in Numbers (despite his suggesting the blog name) doesn’t want our numbers revealed on the Internet. But I will say, overall, we did pretty well in 2019.

We spent a little less than the year before, almost entirely due to reducing spending on travel. Our net worth went up ridiculously, almost entirely due to the stock market, over whose performance I have absolutely no control.

My New Year’s financial tasks completed, it seems fitting that I formulate some goals for 2020.

Fitness Log #63

Happy 2020!

I hope this is the beginning of an excellent year for you. And for me too, frankly.

Today is going to be a social day, and I plan to enjoy it before I go back to the regular work schedule tomorrow.

However, there are a few financial tasks I do every year around this time, which I still haven’t quite finished. I think they are pretty helpful, and would recommend them to anyone.

2019 In Review

This is the time of year when people make resolutions for the next year. Usually there is talk of losing weight, saving more, getting ahead.

Before I consider resolutions (or plans) for 2020, I would like to look back at 2019, and think about accomplishments I can point to with pride. I find it is healthier for me to concentrate periodically on things that have gone well, rather than always pointing out what needs to improve.

Fitness Log #62

Christmas 2019

This is the first Christmas I haven’t worked in quite a few years. I plan to enjoy myself. My plans are pretty decadent: sleep in, putter around the house, finish off my charitable giving for the year (my check book will be getting a work out).

I hope your day is as much fun as mine should be, whether it’s a slow day to catch up on things, or a busy day seeing family, or celebrating the day religiously.

Here is some art to brighten your day, in case you need it.