Physician In Numbers – Page 39 – A female primary care physician opines on money, travel, fitness, and other topics to be determined

Rising Tides

In the past few months, I have been checking my investment portfolio, and seeing it increase. A lot. This has sparked thoughts of retiring much earlier.

After working many weeks in the hospital this winter, I am quite tempted. The thought of staying home, sleeping in, not worrying about COVID exposures from people who can’t be bothered to wear their mask properly–it’s all quite alluring.

Maybe I can think about retiring soon? My nest egg is growing on steroids this year. And yet…

Fitness Log #130 And Friday Firsts

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for over 2 years, and plan to continue doing so.

I started the Friday Firsts sections as a way of keeping track of some of my “firsts” as I dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. Things seem to be settling down, but I will keep it for now–more as a way to be aware and thankful of what is happening in my life.

What Is A Good Budget For Intern Year?

It’s that time of year: Match Day has come and gone. Congratulations to all the students who matched!

Now it is time for a large number of graduating seniors to make decisions related to their first year as doctors.

If you stopped here for this post, then I am guessing you may have some concerns about making a budget for your internship year.

Though that time is long passed for me (I won’t say thank goodness, as it was a very exciting time), this question of what to budget in your first year as a doctor is something that I keep chewing over. I have written about it before, but am still trying to put things together in a better way. We will see if this year I can do better.

To read my prior attempts at answering this question, please see:

Fitness Log #129 And Friday Firsts

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for over 2 years, and plan to continue doing so.

Turn That Frown Upside Down!

During my recent vacation, I was overwhelmed by grumpiness. There was a big gulf between my usual expectations for vacation and what went down.

Fitness Log #128 And Friday Firsts

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for over 2 years, and plan to continue doing so.

Running On Empty

Today is day 1 of a vacation, one I have been looking forward to for about a month.

I knew I still couldn’t go anywhere (thank you, COVID), but I made big plans for my 4th staycation in 2 years.

Oh, the plans I had! Walking, tidying, decluttering, taking care of lots of postponed business. I wrote a list, and I got tired just writing it down.

Fitness Log #127 And Friday Firsts

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for over 2 years, and plan to continue doing so.

Fitness Log #126 And Friday Firsts

I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for over 2 years, and plan to continue doing so.

A Year Of Decluttering

A few weeks ago, one of my patients who is also a doctor came in for a physical. As I was asking about drinking (drinking has gone up quite a bit during the pandemic), he said something I found quite interesting: At the end of this pandemic, people are either going to be a lot healthier [exercising more and eating better] or much unhealthier [substance use and exercising less]. He is totally right.

One year ago, I returned to the office after a meeting (one I attended remotely because of concerns about this new virus out of Wuhan) to a new hospital, one preparing for an onslaught of very ill people with a disease we might catch and die from. Stay at home orders had been issued. It was the real beginning of the pandemic for me.

I did a little more drinking last Spring, to be sure, but as I spent more time at home, I looked around and decided it was really time to deal with the messes I had been ignoring as I rushed to work each day.