10 Things To Do in 2019 Save

Resolutions are about the new and better you.

Yet most people discard resolutions, largely because they are satisfied with the status quo or are afraid of change.

The New Year is a good time to recognize how we can all improve our selves and our practice of medicine.  I would be most interested in your advice for your peers on what to change (and how to change) in 2019, with the goal of challenging yourself to be all you can be or be the best version of yourself.

1. Practice your passion to improve - which means you need to take action to improve.  What's your plan for education advancement in 2019? (I'd suggest RheumNow Live, but there are many great forums including RWCS, CCR, CCF Biologics, etc.).
2. Have a vision or a mission statement.  You will certainly not get anywhere if you don’t know where you're going. 
3. Recognize what’s in front of you.  My cousin Tracy recently told me, "when people show you who they are - believe them".  This coupled with the truism that opportunity is always knocking should make most decisions a whole lot easier.
4. Change is good. Most people are afraid of change and therefore "inaction" results in lost opportunity. Think of your patients who don't take a needed prescription for fear of what they don't know and how that inaction has negative consequences.
5. Get Boring!  Observation has taught me that the most successful and happy people have found a way to be very very regular about their life, diet, exercise, goals, work and lifestyle.  Boring should be the solution to chaotic, disruptive events.
6. Be selfish.  Somehow this word has been misconstrued into a negative trait. Selfish is defined as "devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others" (once you've taken care of your mother’s child you can care for others).
7. Sleep like a bear.  The research is overwhelming.  Good sleep is what we are all lacking and should improve first.
8. Get a doctor, see a doctor.  Everyone should/must/can have a PCP. If you take more than 3 different pills a day - you should probably see a specialist. 
9. Automate. Think of the things you do over and over again (EMR, emails, etc). Develop short cuts to leave more time to do the items above.
10. Discipline: means doing something important regularly and by schedule.  The 1986 Army commercial and slogan "be all you can be" portrays individuals seeking advancement through sacrifice, discipline, devotion, collaboration and intelligent hard work. Where will you find your future?

Do you have a quip or bit of advice for your peers and younger rheumatologists?