1- I love my new position. My new residents are starting (orientation!) and it’s an exciting but very busy time. And my transition from APD to PD definitely feels like a new job, too. I am both overwhelmed and energized by it all. I also am sensing I will need to come up with even stricter strategies to protect focused time (where I can actually get #!$* done, or focus on the kids in the evenings, etc). The rate of work emails / texts / requests / questions I am receiving has probably doubled in the last month. This is all part of my new role, but I definitely need to refine my strategies and work habits to makes sure I am handling the deluge effectively.
2- I am almost finished with Digital Minimalism. Some of Cal Newport’s claims and ideas are not new to me, but his position is more radical than most, and it’s interesting. He basically suggests that we eliminate almost all electronic distractions and leisure activities for a month and then add back only what we feel adds more value than it takes away. I am inclined to agree with his sentiment that Mindless Online Time is probably taking away more than it is providing, and online ‘connections’ aren’t really all that deep or real.
But I’m a little dubious because this sounds a bit like a Whole30 for tech, and I’m just not entirely convinced that being very strict about something for a 30 day period is really going to lead to lasting change. I also recently tried a month-long stint away from Instagram and it didn’t really do much. But he does have some interesting ideas (give yourself clear ideas of what you’d like to do with the extra time BEFORE your cut yourself off is one of them) that might help make a second round feel worthwhile to me.
3- Best of Both Worlds is on the NPR One app! I am oddly excited about this, probably because I am an NPR devotee. They have added multiple non-NPR-shows to their listening platform, so we are certainly not alone, but still — I thought it was cool.
(to be honest I am not sure if that takes away from our ‘credit’ for downloads but as far as I’m concerned, listen in any way that is convenient!)
4- A&C are loving camp. Whew. We are now 6 months into our move, and I feel like both have fully adjusted to having a new set of friends and locations. Annabel seems to have friends and while Cameron doesn’t really go into detail about specific individuals, he comes home very excited about all the activities (capoeira! tennis! cooking! parkour! etc). I am slightly disappointed that it doesn’t sounds like they have any swim instruction – just free play in the pool. A and C are both water safe and can swim in the deep end, but they don’t really use proper technique or real strokes (they used to do swim class but A sort of rebelled and we haven’t been back . . .) and I’d love them to learn.
5- G is up. (It’s 6:02). DAMN. Josh was literally operating all night so it’s definitely my turn. So, I guess this is our last fact! I think she’s been taking longer naps because the big kids are at camp . . . thereby reducing her need/desire for nighttime hours. I will try to embrace the early quality time and get my workout on in the evening (something I am TERRIBLE about doing but have accomplished recently!).
(PS on the workout note: I had mentioned trying 80DO workouts but have chickened out because of the length of the workouts and am doing 21DF Real-Time with some running mixed in instead. I just don’t think I can get up any earlier and I am not really willing to give up my other morning activities!)
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How are the 21D Fix real time workouts? I haven’t tried one yet—since the kids are not here right now, I am taking advantage of just being able to go to the gym even if its not “my day” to go! Evening workouts…URGH. I’ve gone to some evening barre classes in the past and while I CAN do it, I just do not feel as good as I do after an AM workout, and it feels like a struggle.
They are similar to 21DF (like dame routines w some twists) but more banter. I like them!
Also—I have digital minimalism on hold from the library. Will it be ironic/wrong to read it on the Kindle app on my phone? I agree with you that a 30 day “challenge” doesn’t really lead to lasting change for me but I also agree that mindless internet time is a problem/issue I’d like to solve and I don’t know any good solutions. The best I can come up with is having some strict “no phone” times, like evenings with the kids, or certain chunks of the weekends, where I deliberately leave my phone somewhere inconvenient so I’d have to actually go get it to use it.
Ugh that strategy sounds good but I still fail at it.
I am definitely intrigued by digital minimalism – I actually got an Apple watch so that I could put my phone out of site when with the kids while still receiving any urgent calls or texts, but that hasn’t really worked out and I find myself more distracted than ever. I may need to be stricter with myself…
Also, I am about to make a move from practice to academia/advising (different field – law) and am really looking forward to hearing more updates about your new position!! It’s been a while since I’ve had time to read or listen here (one of the reasons I’ve chosen to make the professional move) and I am looking forward to having some time to catch up 🙂
Dunno if this is possible with the new role (or for a clinician, like ever) – but is an afternoon or lunch time workout possible? My office building has a small but functional gym and I’m able to manage my calendar enough where I don’t have reoccurring meetings from 3-4 PM, so I head downstairs to the gym before taking off for the evening. I love AM workouts, but my son wakes up anytime between 6:30-7 most days, so I’d have to wake up a lot earlier, which means asleep a lot earlier, and that last part is hard for me, especially with a husband that comes home later (I’d like a few minutes of conversation at last) from a long day from work!
I usually work out 545-630 or 6-640, something like that. I would love to somehow sneak in an afternoon or midday workout someday. It’s certainly feasible on some non clinical days.
Can you have your babysitter wake G up during the day in the hopes yay she will sleep better at night?
The only way I’m able to stay off my phone is if it is physically located in another room. Sometimes I can set a timer and will be able to stay off it for the duration, but I often cheat. If you figure out the secret, please pass it along!!
I started getting back in better shape over a recent vacation and I am currently dreading the inevitable decline that will happen since I’m drowning In clinical crap again. 🙄🙄 so tired of being a trainee.
I have NOT figured out the secret. Cañ seems to be immune to the allure of electronics so I’m not convinced the secret will be in the book either …
I too liked the idea of 80 day obsession, but don’t have an hour or whatever to dedicate. They do have a few workouts called “little obsessed” which are about 30 minutes each, just shorter versions of 80 day I think. These were released as an intro or teaser before 80 day was released. I’ve liked them. Try it!