Plan Now

I rarely enjoy or even like to read articles/blogs that call you to do something.  Because really, how often do we really get up and try what we read.  Instead we prefer to sit back, and allow others to do it (no matter how much it appears to help) - Maybe it's just so that overachievers stick out more. . ?

Anyways, I want to write about planning.  I myself wouldn't consider myself a planner by nature, because I generally prefer to just ride the wave and see what comes.  However, I've come to the realization that it's impossible to succeed in medical school, or better yet, be comfortable without planning.  Now I'm not exhorting you to do as I've done, I'm just putting my thoughts down.  To illustrate my point I'll lay out my daily schedule as an MS1 here at Baylor.

8-noon : Lecture/labs M-F
12-1 : various electives/luncheons
1-4 : twice/week afternoon group classes

Pretty simple right? - - wrong.  In all that I still have to eat right, exercise myself and the dogs, study, spend time with my wife, sleep enough, hang out with friends, and keep up my grades (plus much more).  It's really been different though since starting medical school and realizing that you can't just breeze on by without studying or maintaining personal goals.  You literally have to make time for it.  Like exercising, I wake up exactly at 6:15 every morning to run about a mile with the dogs.  Then I feed them (with food that was layed out the night before), make myself breakfast, then grab my clothes (picked the night before) and bag and head to the gym.  From about 7 to 7:30 I exercise, then shower, and prepare for class.  After lunch everyday, I study. . . then study. . and study some more until dinner.  After dinner I review notes, prepare for the next day and yes, study more.  

My point is, if I've even made one yet is that if you don't plan it - you most likely won't do it.  It's really not that hard.  It doesn't require that a calendar be carried everywhere, or all events punched into a pda, but simply running through the next day in your head and thinking. . "What should I eat tomorrow for lunch? What topics should I go over again? Do I need to attend that group study session?"

It's that simple.

WOD: 5 rounds of 50 18' vertical leap/40 squats/30 situps/20 pushups/10 pullups for time.
time: 33:40