Resolutions

As I did last year, this morning I decided to dig up my New Year's Resolutions from the previous year to see how I did.

Behold, last year's list:

1. Make sure to go out and do something social at least every other week (while simultaneously avoiding people who drive me nuts).
I got better at this during the second half of the year. So yes, goal accomplished. We even ventured out to new places a few times.

2. Avoid making eye contact with the people on the running path (provided I have time to run) as they tend to look one up and down which is unnerving/compete less with others in the pool.
I don't even run on the path anymore now that I live in West Philly. I still run, but there are fewer people on this side of the river who also run, and I have never been checked out by those who are running over here. As for the pool, yes I have given up being competitive in the water too, though I still hold out hope that I can improve.

3. Remind self regularly that I actually don't have to be a doctor if this year really sucks. Also, figure out how to incorporate research into clinical life.
I was HIGHLY successful at the first part of this. I am still working on the second part. I think this is going to have to be a work in progress.

4. Sleep as much as possible + get up early whenever possible.
Yes on the first part. Sometimes on the second part. I was pretty proud of the fact that even without an AM appointment, I can get myself out of bed at 6:30 or so *without* an alarm clock. This is probably because I am good at going to bed on time.

5. Beat self up less about mistakes.
I think I am getting better about this, but I could still be better.

6. Make friends who have no association with the medical field and learn how to tell medical stories so that they don't shock non-medical people.
I have definitely done the first part of this, but this can be attributed to the fact that I am doing PhD stuff now and thus SEE non-medical people more often. And it has made me a much happier person! I never really learned to tell medical stories, so now I just try to resist the urge to tell them at all, since non-medical people never seem to understand anyway.

7. Occasionally read a book that has nothing to do with becoming a doctor
FAIL. Ok, not total fail. However I really would like to do more pleasure reading. I'm on page 124 of Anna Karenina now, and started it in September. The problem is every time I pick it up I feel like I ought to be doing reading for my project instead.

8. Watch less tv
We don't even have cable anymore, just Netflix. So, Suc-CESS! I do like to have it on in the background when I work at my computer. The flickering light is soothing to me.

9. Finish epi paper I was supposed to finish a year ago
FAIL! But this is not my fault alone. And, I will be working on it again in a few hours... I hope.

So, not a bad year overall.

This year I think I will try to.....

1. Get less frazzled when I'm not getting work done at the rate at which I feel I should.
2. Spend more quality time with Luca.
3. Walk more.
4. Yell less at my computer.
5. Get grant written.
6. Not worry so much about the fact that I am forgetting my clinical knowledge.