Before you head into the new year, REFLECT

One of the best things we can do as we head into the new year is review and re-evaluate. 2020 is the start of a new decade if we want this one to be better than the last one, we must take some time out of our busy schedules to reflect. As we contemplate things that occurred in 2019 and prep for the new year, here are 4 key areas we should examine:

Look at things done well. When it comes to your career, your finances, and your personal life what are some things you feel you did well in 2019? For me, that could include a variety of things. In terms of my career, I interviewed at many amazing hospitals and accepted a job at my top choice in Atlanta. I learned quite a bit during my first 6 months as a physician and have done well on various tests and evaluations. In terms of my finances, there are many things I am proud of as well. I started living in an affordable apartment and paid off a significant amount of debt. I also created a monthly budget that allowed me to give money away to others, save for retirement, and teach me to live below my means. In terms of my personal life there are few things I’m proud of as well. I finally moved to the same city as my family and have cultivated some amazing friendships. What about you? What are some things you feel went well in2019?

Look at things that could have been done better. Although it’s nice to think back on our accomplishments, in order for us to keep progressing we must also reflect on our shortcomings. We must take a look at things that could have gone a bit better and determine where we can make improvements in the new year. For me, that includes several areas of my life. In my career, I’m happy I started working as a physician, but I need to do a better job continuing to learn new information by reading updated journals more frequently and researching the medical management of specific diagnoses more consistently. In terms of my finances, I need to do a better job tracking my spending. I have a general spending plan, but there are certain areas in my budget, mainly food and restaurant spending, that I could cut back on if I tracked it better. I also need to build up a larger emergency fund. What are some things you’d like to be better in your life in 2020?

Determine what you’d like to achieve this year. We should each have a few goals for 2020 in various areas of our lives. My 2020 goals in my career are to take and pass the last of a 3-part series of national board exams. I’d also like to publish and present research at a national conference, begin a quality-improvement project within my family medicine clinic, and be the team doctor for more athletic events. Within my finances, I’d like to pay off all credit card debt from my graduate school days, save and invest even more money toward retirement, continue to give to charities, and pay for a couple international vacations in cash. In my personal life, I’d like to prioritize more time with my family and continue to cultivate friendships with even more people who push me to be a better version of myself. What are some things you’d like to accomplish in your career, finances, and personal life this year?

Determine the actions, steps, or commitments you need to make to ensure this year is better than the last. In order to achieve the goals we set out in the previous step there are different action steps and character traits we must adopt in order to turn those dreams into a reality. For example, if I want to do well on my board exam, present research, and start a quality improvement project I need to stay organized and create deadlines to finish certain parts of my research. If I want to pay down the remaining credit card debt and save more for retirement, I must make sure I have some automatic payments coming out from my bank account and increase the percentage of my check that goes towards index mutual funds. If I’d like to make more time for the people I love, then I need to prioritize time each day that is free from other commitments. No meetings, no emails, no work projects, or blog writing, and instead having at least an hour each day of personal time. Tell me, what action steps and commitments are willing to make to ensure that you meet your goals for 2020?

Priceless Advice for the Holiday Season

This is one of my favorite times of the year. Thanksgiving dinner with my family, cool air that calls for cute winter clothes, and holiday festivities that invoke the spirit of love and positivity. As we embark on this season, inevitable holiday sales may tempt us more than we can imagine. In order to deal with this temptation and stay within our budgets, we may need a little motivation to help us practice self-control. Here are a few of my favorite money quotes for the holiday season:

“No amount of money or success can take the place of time spent with family.” –  I love this quote because it reminds me of what’s most important. In my quest to find the perfect holiday gift, advance in my career, and make the most lucrative investments I can, I am reminded that it’s quality time with my family that matters the most. This quote also gives me permission to take a day off from writing articles or put my phone down for a couple hours to enjoy a holiday movie, have a large family meal, or bond with my brothers over a football game.

“If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them and half as much money.” Abigail Van Buren coined these words and although I’ve never met her and don’t have children, this quote still resonates with me. When I reflect on my childhood and the holiday season, I have so many fond memories. Not because my father bought us the most expensive gifts or because we took the most elaborate vacations, but because we spent plenty of time together. My brothers and I went on to become the Vice President of a large corporation, a financial analyst, and a medical doctor, respectively, because of the life lessons and shared support we gave to one another. Whenever I’m stressed about spending money on gifts, I remind myself that what I lack in money I can make up for in quality time.

“Don’t save what left after spending, but spend what’s left after saving.” This Warren Buffet quote helps me keep my priorities straight, especially during the Christmas season. Black Friday is quickly approaching and I’m always tempted to spend much more than I had planned. When I was a young graduate student living in DC I’d often purchase items “on sale,” then spend the rest of the month praying that I had enough money to cover my remaining expenses. Fast forward to my current life as a doctor, and I’m definitely doing things differently. I have money in certain accounts reserved for bills. I also have money in a “holiday account” through which I saved money during the year so that the gifts I plan to purchase don’t dismantle my financial goals. I’ve learned to make sure my bills are paid, save a certain amount each month, and only spend what’s leftover.

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” This Winston Churchill quote is something I try to remember throughout the year, especially during the holiday season. While I have several financial goals, money alone does not bring happiness and meaning to life. Instead, it’s the spirit of generosity and how we seek to positively influence the lives of those around us. Rather than only thinking of myself and my family, I try to remember those in need and give to other charities and organizations as well.

Tell me, what are some of your favorite money quotes for the holiday season?

5 Ways I Maintain Some Work-Life Balance

One of the best things we can do for our careers is make sure we have work-life balance. Sometimes we can be so eager to “lean-in” and lead at our jobs that we fail to carve out time for family and life at home. While this may seem trivial, having balance between our personal lives and our professional careers can increase productivity and overall life satisfaction. As a resident physician who can work up to 80 hours a week, this can be challenging to accomplish. Here are some ways I’ve tried to muster more balance in my life:

1. Limit meetings and emails to business hours. As an ambitious medical professional who loves medicine, research, and health policy I am quite involved at work. There are several committees and organizations I’ve joined and numerous projects that require me to collaborate with other doctors. While these things bring me joy, they can consume my life if I’m not careful. One of the ways I’ve tried to handle this is by limiting in-person meetings and responding to emails during business hours. I might have to bend this rule on occasion for time-sensitive items, but for the most part I try to restrain from sending or answering work-related emails after 7pm. If I need to speak to someone on the weekend, I try to do it Saturday mornings so that I can have at least a day and half where I don’t have to worry about work.

2. Set expectations with patients/clients. As a primary care physician my job is to help manage a majority of the patient’s medical problems. This means I am constantly ordering labs, interpreting tests, and communicating with patients about a variety of different issues. At my residency program we even have a secure “patient portal” through which patients can send me messages, receive their test results, and ask me questions. While many patients love this system, it can lead to increased stress for physicians like myself. I am not given additional compensation for using the portal and often have to spend my “off-time” messaging patients and answering questions which reduces the quality time I have at home with my family. In order to achieve some sort of balance, I set expectations with my patients on the first visit. They know they can ask me questions on the portal but the response time will be 24-48 hours. All emergencies must go to an entirely different system. I will send test results but if patients have in-depth questions or medical concerns, they should schedule an in-person visit so that we can thoroughly address their problems. Setting these expectations make things clear for patients and allows me to live in the moment at home with fewer distractions.  

3. Have a reset day (or ½ a day) each week. Sometimes work can get so busy that everything else gets delayed. The dishes pile up, laundry isn’t folded, and the fridge starts to empty out. In order to minimize these times as much as possible, I schedule a reset day (or half a day) each week. For me, that day is usually Sunday. I get up, grab coffee and try to write blogs or articles for my website. I then get dressed and go to church. When the service ends, I go grocery shopping and come home to do laundry, sip a glass of wine, and watch a movie on Netflix. When the movie ends, I start to cook and meal prep for the week and usually end my day by reading part of book. This may sound trivial and basic but this is my reset day. For me, writing blogs is therapeutic and going to church helps me gain more optimism for my week ahead. The movie helps me relax and reading a book allows me to gain insight on things and temporarily escape from the stresses of my own life. This reset day is a must.

4. Maintain good personal health habits. The busier we get the easier it can be to forget about our own health. If we aren’t careful we can find ourselves constantly eating out, barely exercising, and mentally exhausted. To prevent this from occurring, I’ve tried my best to maintain good personal health habits. Before the week even starts, I take a look at my schedule and pinpoint days and times I might be able to fit in a run at the gym or a workout in my apartment. I spend the first 10 minutes of each day reading a small devotional and saying positive affirmations to begin my day as optimistic as possible. Lastly, I try to meal prep on weekends and prepare foods that are minimally processed with least 2 fruits/vegetables so that I ensure I’m getting most the nutrients I need to function at my best.

5. Schedule time with family and friends. As a person who loves to be social and interact with those I love on a consistent basis, I try to schedule time with my family and friends. At least once a month I try to have a Sunday dinner with my parents. Every other week, I spend time with my brothers either watching a football game or going to some sporting event. I even schedule time with my girl friends to go out to a movie or some social event in the city every few weeks. Since work can be demanding, I have to schedule time or it simply won’t happen. This means planning ahead and keeping things organized on my phone calendar.

Tell me, what are some things you do to maintain work-life balance in your career?

6 Affordable Ways to Practice Self-Care

As a doctor who works up to 80 hours a week, self-care is a must. In order for me to thrive in my career, it’s imperative that I avoid burnout by practicing good mental health. Since I’m still in residency and haven’t started making the “big bucks” just yet, I need to do this on a budget. Here are six affordable ways I practice self-care:

1. Prioritize “Me” Time. A few nights a week, I disconnect from social media, forgo optional meetings, and put my phone away to have time by myself. Sometimes I read a few chapters in a book, watch a movie on Netflix, or go for a run on the treadmill. Regardless of the method, this “me” time allows me to let my guard down and gives me a chance to recoup any energy I might have lost during the work day. Plus, it’s completely free.

2. Schedule “Self-care” days. Along with “me” time, I also have at least one “self-care” day each month. During these days I usually treat myself to a pedicure at the nail salon or get a massage at the spa. I also catch up on some personal grooming or schedule an appointment at the hair salon and zone out as someone else washes and styles my hair. When the weather permits, I’ll spend the afternoon reading a book by the pool or going for a walk in the park. These self-care days help me relax and are affordable things I fit into my monthly budget.

3. Have a “Ladies Night” As a self-proclaimed “social butterfly,” I love hanging out with my friends. Unfortunately, my work schedule as a physician doesn’t allow me much time for that. When I was a medical student, I would have a “wine night, ladies’ night” once or twice a month. We’d grab a couple bottles of Trader Joe’s wine and listen to music or watch a movie on Netflix. Now that I’m a doctor, it’s a little more challenging to schedule but I’ve tried other ways to make it work. Every few weeks on one of my day’s off, I make plans with some of girlfriends to go out to movie or a bar. Usually this is some free or relatively inexpensive meetup since we are also trying to stay within a budget, but scheduling time to dance or hangout with my girlfriends is definitely something I look forward to each month.

4. Indulge in “Simple Pleasures.” Sometimes am so exhausted that I barely want to leave my house, let alone socialize with others. During these nights, I find it helpful to ‘indulge in the simple pleasures” or find little things that will make me happy in the most trying of circumstances or stressful days. For me, that’s having glass of red wine with a piece of dark chocolate, taking a bubble bath with ocean sounds in the background, or even watching a cheesy Hallmark movie with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Before I started residency, I wrote down a list of 30 simple pleasures that make me happy and I indulge in one of these things on the days or nights I feel the most stressed.

5. Do an “Activity of the Month.” About 90% of my days consist of eating, sleeping and working, but every now and then I try to change things up a bit. When I finally get a full day off, which can be rare as a resident physician, I try to make them count. Once a month my friends and I plan an “activity of the month.” One month we all went to a Korean Sauna, in July we went to one of the city’s young professional social events, next month we’re planning to go horseback riding. These things are quite affordable, and we often use Groupon for discounts. Knowing I have a fun activity planned with friends helps me get through the week and gives me something to look forward to during those long hospital shifts.

6. ”Recharge” with people you love. Even with my self-care days, me-time, simple pleasures, and activity of the month, I can still feel drained. It is during these occasions, that I do other things to help me recharge. Usually this involves spending time with people I love. I’ll call my best friends in other states, watch a football game with my brothers or make time to have Sunday dinner with my parents. Whether you spend time with a significant other, see family, or talk to friends, sometimes the best way to practice self-care is to be around those we love. 

Tell me, what affordable ways do you practice self-care?

6 Life Hacks To Start Saving More Money

As a busy young professional who aims to be fiscally responsible and money savvy, I realized I needed to change my habits. Here are 6 habits I changed to save more money:

1. Pre-plan restaurant outings. When I get invited to eat out with friends, I show up a lot more prepared. Instead of getting there and being shocked by the price, I take a look at the menu online before I arrive and come up with a maximum dollar amount I want to spend. If I know I don’t want to spend more than $25, then I’ll think twice before I order another round of drinks or that extra appetizer I know I don’t really need. I spend less money if I set a limit for myself beforehand. 

2. Decrease the amount of times I go to the mall. Most people who know me, know that I loveeeeee to shop at Express. They have cute business casual clothes for young professionals and quality dresses for an occasional night out. As a med student I could never seem to resist their sales and if things were magically 40% off, I usually bought up the whole store. Since I knew I couldn’t curb my self-control, I did something even better. I refused to let myself walk by the store. In fact, I decreased trips to the mall altogether.  I now only go to the mall once a month for make up and any other personal grooming things. Since my self-control wasn’t the best I had to avoid putting myself in situations that constantly tested my limits.

3. Remove text alerts from clothing stores. If you know me, you know I love a good sale. Getting a sale price for a quality item is something that brings me immense joy. Anytime I got a text alert from one of my favorite stores notifying me of a sale it was hard to resist. When I realized I wanted to start spending less money, I changed this practice. I turned off the text alerts to my phone and send the sale notifications to an email address I didn’t check as often. That way, when I actually needed to buy something from the store, I still had access to valuable coupons, but was no longer inundated with them every couple days via text message.

4. Drink less alcohol. I’m not addicted to any drinks and don’t particularly care for hard liquor, like many young professionals I know, I love wine. Something about a glass of red wine after dinner alleviates my stress and makes me feel like a success. Unfortunately, this craving for wine was costing me a lot of money. Drinks were overpriced at bars and weekly wine bottles were starting to add up. In an effort to spend less money and lower my grocery bill I deceased my wine intake and started drinking less wine

5. Purchase things in cash. A couple years ago I noticed that I spent less money when I purchased things in cash versus when I bought things with a debit or credit card. When I swipe for a payment it can seem a bit passive. There is something about physically seeing the money leave my hands actually makes me want to spend less. Anytime I pay in cash I question whether I really need what I’m about to purchase. With a debit card, I typically don’t have that doubt check system into place.

6. Take advantage of free  and low cost entertainment. When I was a med student on a large college campus and even now as a resident in an urban city, there are tons of affordable entertainment options, especially on Friday nights. Instead of paying to go out somewhere, my friends and I decided to go to some of the free things. Our med school college campus had a bowling alley that was free on Fridays. Occasionally, they had art and painting classes that were also free. Sometimes we would even go to sporting men’s football games or women’s gymnastics meets which were relatively affordable as well. During the warmer months, we could rent Kayaks on the lake or do a movie night with popcorn at someone’s home in the winter. Either way, these affordable sources of entertainment were saving me money.

What do you think of these habits? Are there one or two life hacks from above that you could start adopting in your own life?

8 Affordable Ways To Take a Vacation

It’s summer time and most of us would love to take a vacation. Unfortunately, planning and actually paying for a vacation can be tough, especially for medical students and young professionals who are on a tight budget. Here are a few things I did to lower costs when I traveled:  

1.     Travel during a different time of the year. Most people like to travel in the summer. The weather is nice, kids are out of school, and it’s easier to take time off from work. However, vacation prices are usually more expensive in the summer. To cut costs and save money, I tried to go on vacation during other seasons. Going to warmer places in the spring not only saved me money but also spared me from the insufferable summer heat. Planning tropical vacations in the winter allowed me to escape the cold weather and snow from up north.  

2.     Find cheaper flights. Call me crazy, but I do not have allegiance to one airline. I try not to make myself suffer through a flight on Spirit or Frontier but besides those two exceptions, I’m open to booking an affordable flight on just about any airline. In fact, I have a separate email address I use for coupons and store discounts. Before I book a flight, I look through those emails for any discount codes, then search kayak or google flights for cheap round trip tickets.

3.     Use Airbnb instead of hotels. As a female physician in her late 20s, I like a certain level of class. I’m not a huge fan of hostels or sharing a bathroom with random people I’ve never met. I left the dorm life in college and I do not want to go back, ever. Airbnb is different. The last two times I’ve traveled out of the country (to Puerto Rico and Mexico) I’ve stayed at an Airbnb. The places were clean, the hostess was reliable, and I had zero issues. Plus, it was drastically cheaper than hotels or resorts and was conveniently located within walking distance of the places I wanted to visit. If you’re traveling with a family or in a group, Airbnb’s can save you lots of money and even provide that “home away from home” feeling that is hard to recreate in a hotel.

4.     Travel with people. Vacations are cheaper if you can split the cost with other people. Sleeping 2-4 to a room drastically lowered my cost per night. Sometimes I would even split an entrée with a friend at a restaurant if the portions were large enough. Traveling with friends can decrease your lodging and food costs, and the make the trip even more enjoyable.

5.     Visit friends and family. If you’re working a tight schedule and can’t coordinate your vacation time with other people, consider the alternative. Go visit your friends instead. As a medical school graduate, I have many classmates who are starting jobs at various places around the country. In an effort to save costs (and maintain the friendship) why not go visit them? It might be nice to go skiing in Utah, hike the mountains in Colorado, or attend a Seahawks game in Seattle. Visiting close friends in other places will not only provide me with a place to stay but will also allow me to explore a new area with people I enjoy. Win-Win.  

6.     Search Groupon. Once I’ve settled on a vacation area and found affordable lodging (or a friend’s couch), I need to also search for things to do in the area. One of my favorite apps for finding affordable entertainment in a new area is Groupon. On this site, I can find discounts for almost anything. When I went to Napa Valley, my friend and I got a private wine tasting at one of the most beautiful vineyards for only $25. When I was in Georgia, my mom and I got spa and massage deals for half the price. That site has discounts for almost anything you can imagine.

7.     Think about going to a conference. This may sound random, but hear me out. As a physician, and even as a student, there were tons of medical conferences each year across the country. From general medical organizations like the AMA to specialty specific organizations and recruitment trips, each year of medical school I attended at least 1 conference in a different state completely free. As a resident physician, I get CME (continuing medical education) money that I can use to attend conferences. Instead of forgoing this money or spending it on phone apps I may never use, I decided to allocate this money for conferences that just-so-happen to be in a place that I want to visit (wink-wink). Regardless of your profession, ask your colleagues if there are educational conferences your job could help you attend. Doing so may allow you to travel to a new place completely free.

8.     Consider a cruise. As a person who went to medical school in Florida, cruises were a viable option. I only lived a couple hours from many of the major ports, which means I didn’t have to spend money on a flight to get to the dock station. Cruises are usually all-inclusive, so I also didn’t need to worry about lodging or food. There was free entertainment on the boat (i.e. Comedy shows and dance clubs). Plus, I had the opportunity to get off the boat each time we docked at new country. Cruises can certainly serve as an affordable vacation.

Tell me, what tips do you have on ways to take more affordable vacations?