MAY Madness 😱

The End of May is its own special cluster.

Any other parent knows what I’m talking about. We joke about “Maycember” but it really is a constellation of end of the year parties, graduations, rehearsals, field days, ceremonies, recitals, and every other crazy thing that can happen.

Add that to an already packed work schedule, and I get a calendar that makes my executive assistant say, “This is terrible!” I am double booked in a few different places and just making it work through the magic of wardrobe changes, zoom, and well-timed flights. My EA has threatened to reschedule all of the overlaps for two months from now, which I would LOVE, but I know is not actually possible. I am trying to schedule time with my good friend at her lake house this summer, but it turns out I only have two free weekends between now and September. How did that happen?

Work-Life: Still Balancing

Many jobs speak about their commitment to work-life balance. “Doctor” is not one of those jobs. I learned that the job comes first, and other roles come second to people who are sick or suffering. The honor of being a doctor is that sacrifice to the job. Younger doctors may have different training now; I’m not sure.

I became a hospitalist because I wanted better work-life balance. I wanted to be present during my kids’ end of the year ceremonies without having to ask others to cover for me. However, my role as an administrator means that I’m obligated to a certain amount of travel, so I am still trying to balance my commitment to work with my commitment to my family.

This is hard to sustain, and I know in my heart something has to change, but I’m getting closer. At least I’m aware of it. And I know that if I make time to breathe, that will help everything.

Dr. Braden’s Recommendations

I have mentioned the Tiger Sisters here before, but they make such a great podcast that I’m mentioning them again. Though their speech reflects a younger generation than mine, their content is very relevant to my life as an Asian-American woman. They speak about issues of work, finances, love, and life, that are not really being addressed in the same way by other more male-oriented finance podcasts.

On their podcast this week, they featured a woman named Vivian Tu who has a book called Rich AF: the Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life. I downloaded it and have been listening to it while running around all week (see above). It would be a great “starter” book for younger people who need some advice or ideas about how to grow and manage their finances.