Physician In Numbers – Page 55 – A female primary care physician opines on money, travel, fitness, and other topics to be determined

Fitness Log #46

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 themselves; acknowledgement that it isn’t always easy.

Re-entry

There’s an old joke about a man in the golf club locker room, hitting his head against the wall. Another man asks him, “Ron, why are you hitting your head against the wall?” And Ron answers, “because it feels so good when I stop.”

I’m Back!

Today is the 1-year anniversary of my first post, here at Physician in Numbers.

I’ve been basically absent for most of August, as work caught up with me (and devoured me like a starving lion).

I’ve started writing again, and plan to go back to posting on a Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule. Money on Mondays, whatever strikes my fancy on Wednesdays, and fitness on Fridays.

I plan to celebrate October 1 as my blogoversary, as that’s the date I really started posting. But I couldn’t let my tentative first step into blogging go by with no post whatsoever!

Who Pays Your Bills When You Are Sick?

Sitting with my Dad in the hospital this spring, I was reminded of the importance of sharing your account information with your spouse. My Dad was very ill, then improving, but clearly not in any condition to manage his finances. (For several days he was repeating “2019” under his breath, to be ready for his orientation questions.)

This was a bit of a problem, as he pays most of the household bills out of his accounts. Thankfully, my mom has access to her own accounts and could pay the most pressing bills; and Dad got better soon.

Fitness Log #45

Each week I have been logging my exercise. Mostly this is an activity for myself; it has, on occasion, prompted me to get up and move (“for the blog”).

It is also meant for encouragement, in case a busy reader wants to know how other people get their recommended exercise; I don’t think it’s easy to get enough exercise these days, and I think it does people a disservice to imply that it is. Our lives are busy, and yet, you have to take care of your health.

Fitness Log #44

Each week I have been logging my exercise. Mostly this is an exercise for myself; it has, on occasion, prompted me to get up and move (“for the blog”).

Fitness Log #43

Each week I have been logging my exercise. Mostly this is an exercise for myself; it has, on occasion, prompted me to get up and move (“for the blog”).

Errands Day

At the end of my short vacation, I had one day at home. I used it to run errands! I can’t say how excited I was to have an unscheduled day to attack all the loose ends at home. I suspect I wouldn’t have been so excited if I had the time to run errands and do house work every day.

As it is, I did plenty:

had a slow morning with coffee and my computer.
ironed some wrinkly pants.
ordered more checks. This has been on my to-do list for several months, and I’ve been worried I would run out before I got around to ordering them.
send in my passport for renewal.
arranged to frame a photo, which had come from Shutterfly a year ago. The orange package had been sitting on my desk for a year.
noticed that a local jewelry store advertises that it does repairs. On my next day off, I can bring some pieces that need help.
went to the bank to put papers in the safety deposit box.
bought a birthday present for a good friend.
walked home.

I think we are having a true staycation next month. I hope to enjoy a few more days of errand-clearing then.

Do you get satisfaction from clearing your to-do list? Or do you consider this a waste of a free day?

Fitness Log #42

Each week I have been logging my exercise. Mostly this is an exercise for myself; it has, on occasion, prompted me to get up and move (“for the blog”).

7 lessons from our recent road trip

9 PB&Js may not be enough

Packing a good lunch or two is an excellent start to a road trip. It cuts down on costs (at least $23, based on our return trip), and helps move the trip along, when you can pull out a sandwich instead of stopping to buy something. Packing a lunch is also good for your health. One may quibble about the health benefits of a PB&J, but it’s certainly better for me than what I might be tempted to get: burgers, fries, Dorito’s…

Unfortunately, when your travel partner is a very large man who exercises a lot, 9 sandwiches don’t last as long as you might expect.

Next time we’ll pack more.