I awoke this morning in kind of a funky mood. I wanted to sleep in, but 5:00 am rolled around and my eyes shot open. I knew I should workout, but there was a battle going on in my head, and the lazy guy was winning. I forced myself to get dressed and started my workout, but my energy level was down, and I didn’t have the best workout. It was one of those days-I felt weaker, unenthused, but I did it anyway. We all have days like this, and rather than beat myself up about it, I did what I could, then took the dog for a walk. The point I’m trying to make is that you don’t always have to have a super workout, just do what you can. Point being, I did something. If you don’t feel like exercising, try doing something, even stretching, for 5-10 minutes. In the end, you’ll feel much better about your self-discipline.
The other day I blogged about preparing for doctor visits. I came across an article in Consumer Reports called “When it’s time to fire your doctor”. Here are some signs that it’s time for a change. 1) Poor bedside manner-ir your doc is rude, brusque, insensitive, or condescending, find another one. Besides being rude, disrespectful or arrogant behavior may make you hesitant to freely discuss your concerns. 2) Not answering your questions-you should expect answers to your questions and a discussion about all tests and treatment options. 3) Difficulty making appointments-no matter how good your doctor is or how much you like him/her, if you can’t get an appointment, you can’t get care. 4) Office staff should call you back about insurance or scheduling questions. If they don’t, raise the issue with the doctor and if problems continue, consider saying goodbye. 5) Keeping you waiting. Sometimes, waiting-room backups can’t be helped. But if you routinely have to wait more than an hour for a scheduled appointment, seek out a practice with better time-management skills. 6) Rude office staff- if they are ill-mannered or unhelpful, and continue to be after you’ve addressed the issue with your doctor, it’s time to say goodbye. Remember, doctors and staff work for you, as part of your health-care team. You are the boss.
Stay well, John R. Blilie, M.S.