This One Is on Self Care

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Abstract

tvsYNk"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p id="d8be"><i>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@nci?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">National Cancer Institute</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></i></p><p id="e611">I would touch on a few incidents. In 2015, while doing my research masters in Britain, I struggled with my deadlines. These struggles were not due to sloth but my body was complaining. Eighty percent of the course structure and assessment were essay based. That meant long hours in front of a computer doing literature reviews. These reviews preceded critical writing, a skill emphasized at the postgraduate level.</p><p id="dce6">With prolonged screen time came persistent headaches, eye twitching, and low back pain. Hence, it was tough to meet my deadlines. I was lucky to get the welfare department involved. In collaboration with my course coordinators, I had some of my deadlines extended. I purchased my first printer so I could read and work on paper instead of the computer screen. I also noticed that working in the wee hours were productive. Also, frequent breaks were very good for me. All I did was intersperse my daily activities with academic work. I still do.</p><p id="b249">Fast forward a year later, I took up a rol

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e as a clinic manager of a start-up clinic. My hours were 50 hours a week at least. After breaking down, again and again, eating a salad every day was part of my recovery measure. At least I am sure the frequency of my symptoms reduced. I had to adopt other measures like adequate sleep and hydration.</p><p id="6477">Currently, I have a firmer control of my work-life balance. I want to maintain that balance as much as I can. I am quite selective of the roles I take on. I know in my gut, what will throw me off and what wouldn’t. The adjustments I have adopted in the past are still applicable. I alter them when needed as this life journey has not ended, and my career is still evolving.</p><div id="ad80" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/one-simple-rule-to-help-your-habits-415f3333b445"> <div> <div> <h2>Simple Rules to Help Your Habits</h2> <div><h3>“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation.” ―Aristotle</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*-Kf3_7zzWG8N7rnq)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

“Self-discipline is self-caring.” M. Scott Peck

When I started my career as a physician, I did not have much control over my work-life balance. Sometimes, you work your ass off so much that you might end up on a hospital bed. If you were like most, you go home but aren’t useful to yourself, your family, or other aspects of your life.

As my career progressed, my work-life balance still depended on my employer. It was also dependent on the choices I made about boundaries. For instance, when I was off duty, I had to switch off my phone so I could recoup. Sometimes, I had to sacrifice weekend functions to catch up on sleep. I had to focus on self-care over anything else. It was clear that if I neglected myself, I would be useless to everything and everyone else.

I would touch on a few incidents. In 2015, while doing my research masters in Britain, I struggled with my deadlines. These struggles were not due to sloth but my body was complaining. Eighty percent of the course structure and assessment were essay based. That meant long hours in front of a computer doing literature reviews. These reviews preceded critical writing, a skill emphasized at the postgraduate level.

With prolonged screen time came persistent headaches, eye twitching, and low back pain. Hence, it was tough to meet my deadlines. I was lucky to get the welfare department involved. In collaboration with my course coordinators, I had some of my deadlines extended. I purchased my first printer so I could read and work on paper instead of the computer screen. I also noticed that working in the wee hours were productive. Also, frequent breaks were very good for me. All I did was intersperse my daily activities with academic work. I still do.

Fast forward a year later, I took up a role as a clinic manager of a start-up clinic. My hours were 50 hours a week at least. After breaking down, again and again, eating a salad every day was part of my recovery measure. At least I am sure the frequency of my symptoms reduced. I had to adopt other measures like adequate sleep and hydration.

Currently, I have a firmer control of my work-life balance. I want to maintain that balance as much as I can. I am quite selective of the roles I take on. I know in my gut, what will throw me off and what wouldn’t. The adjustments I have adopted in the past are still applicable. I alter them when needed as this life journey has not ended, and my career is still evolving.