Protected time

May 12, 2015
When you are an academic physician (which I am not, but stay with me), there’s this mythical concept of Protected Time.  This time is not used for outpatient visits or leading on the wards, but is designated so that the worker can have swathes of time that in theory are not nibbled up by patient demands or nagging tasks of the urgent — but not always important — type.

Lately, I have been craving Protected Time.  Both in the work and in the life spheres.  At work, there has been a slow creep of non-clinical responsibilities eating away precious minutes.  It’s all good stuff — exciting stuff! — but I’m starting to feel like I’m under more of a time crunch.  At home — well, you all know my issues there fairly well.  PT at home is limited to hours that both babes are asleep, and that window is pretty narrow lately (like 9p – 6a most nights.  Wish sleep was optional!).  We are working on dropping A’s nap, which should help, but . . .it’s a process.

It’s hard for me to even identify whatI’d like to be doing during this theoretical PT that I’m not doing already.  But I still want it.  I think it’s more that I’d like to have more time to think and actually process what I’m doing from day to day.  To prioritize and organize and not always feel like I’m several steps behind.  In terms of practical accomplishments, I’d like to have a little bit of social time (more with Josh and more with friends), I’d love more time to read, and I’d like to go to barre — I haven’t been in at least a month.

A few months ago, I had decided to claim Thursdays as “my” night.  I think I may try to do this again, but with a babysitter that is hired explicitly for that purpose, rather than relying on Josh to get home on time (in fact, it might be good if we both worked late!).  Maybe we could even turn it into a date night.  Hmm.


2 Comments

  • Reply oldmdgirl March 10, 2019 at 7:13 pm

    I think this sounds like a FABULOUS idea. Go for it. Indulge. Have a date night. Am SOOOOO jealous!

  • Reply Ana March 10, 2019 at 7:13 pm

    Yes! Do it! Hmmm. It’s really an excellent idea. We discussed giving each other one evening "off" a week to socialize, work late or whatever but never figured out the logistics of making it happen. May need to readdress this

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