The feeling of just wanting to get residency over with

[Robin-jay]

I keep just wanting to get residency over with, as though my life will really begin after residency. I'm not saying I don't want to learn all I can or get adequate training, but I find it so hard to get out of the mindset "I just want to get residency over with". I've also noticed this mentality is not good to have because it is actually affecting things like social events, dating, etc. because I'm always thinking "I'll finish residency and then get back to things like".

I guess I had the same problem during my bachelors, chemistry graduate school, podiatric medical school, and now residency. Although for some reason, more residency than some of the others. I always keep pushing life things back that I probably shouldn't.

Just curious what mentality you guys have/had in residency and how you balance the more fun things in life with residency.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Adam Smasher]

You have to be intentional with your day.

It's tempting to say "I'm not feeling it today, so I'm just going to hang on til my shift is up." Wrong mindset. Approach each day what do I want to accomplish-reading, case prep, inpatient management. And set out to meet those goals. Sometimes you'll fall short and that's ok. But at least you're taking control of some dimension of your life, and that's a confidence boost.

Exercise, leisure activities, other extracurricular, whether you like it or not need to be treated the same. Work things into your day that bring you joy, serenity, confidence, etc.

Bad news: when you're an attending, especially if you end up an owner, it only gets harder. You get attacked on all fronts. People on your schedule, people not on your schedule with phone calls, making payroll, new government mandated nonsense coming out each day, oh BTW you still need to strategize your 5-year plan.

I admit, I had some bad periods in residency. You get to a point around 8-12 months in where you recognize who needs an amp and who doesn't, but you have seniors and attendings who hem and haw and they have the final say, not you. You have attendings who obsess about little irrelevant details during surgery that don't impact pt outcomes but make the case drag out. Maybe that was just my program, but it all felt like I was stuck on a treadmill with someone else controlling the speed.

But find things you can control and do bring you a sense of accomplishment and you get out of a rut. I've described my residency training as good but not great but I got involved in things outside of work and had some amazing experiences as a result. Because if your attitude is "I just want to get through this case" "I just want to get through this day" "I just want to get through residency" you'll look back and see how it all flew past you and you could have gotten more out of the experience.

 

[Weirdy]

Agree with what Adam has already said.

If you're having really rough days- habitual discipline.

Show up. Train hard. Force yourself to go even if you know mentality, you do not want to be there.
When you force yourself to go the extra mile out of habit, it will be easier to do what needs to be done, and it forces your brain to be engaged at the same time and get something out of it. Whether its crushing patients in clinic or pushing through weekend call cases- discipline yourself to put your head down and just do it without fighting it.

If the people with husbands/wives/kids can do it, you can too. No excuses.

 

[Feli]

You need to take charge of your life and do goal-setting, self-motivation.
You likely would benefit from professional counseling and books on the subject (7 Habits, etc).
Nobody else can do this stuff for you.

Your threads are all the same: 4th year sucks, doesn't matter where you do residency, I'd be happy with $150k/yr, successful DPMs with good training or ABFAS are not credible, blah blah, whining, saying mediocre is ok, etc.

It's hard to help you until you can set your own goals.
Personally, I can't empathize with your feelings at all. I thought 4th year and clerkships were awesome. Residency was an amazing experience. Could I have done better? Sure, everyone can... but I saw cool programs, matched my top choice, and got a lot out of it (nearly too much with dating and social and burning the candle at both ends).

If anything, I found podiatry much more disappointing after training finished due to significantly lower income and far fewer job options than other types of docs/surgeons (yet same debt). I ran up debt for my first few years out figuring that a high-income job would arrive soon (seldom does for podiatry unless you'll go to BFE to get it). I had to adjust my budget, my expectations, and my goals a few times.

As was said above, being an attending is much harder. You would be wise to right the ship now.

• Students just have to worry about grades and easy boards and match. There is almost no financial worry and plenty of time for hobbies/social.
• Residents just have cases and harder boards and job search. The hospital does your credentialing and billing and everything. Finances are pretty simple to rent an apt and pay your loan interest or not pay it. The patients and risks aren't really yours... you can take vaca or prep poorly yet consequences are minimal.
• Attendings have all of those things above, many more licenses/insurances/hospitals paperworks, and btw THEY'RE ACTUALLY YOUR PATIENTS NOW... so time off gets tricky. You will often arrive to many Rx and work note and credentialing and other various messages. Attendings are also likely running a biz and/or getting along with office staff and admins, budgeting to pay loans and invest retirement, and probably some form of partner/family/kids with a house to maintain. Because podiatry, add in a never-ending job search for most DPM attendings.

So, "get busy living or get busy dying."

 

[MortonExtension]

The days are long but the years are short. good luck OP

 

[CleanDryandIntact]

as a fellow incoming pgy1, I agree it just feels like one long drawn out voluntary cheap labor initiation. One way that help me rid myself of that mindset was reading business books.

Jay-Z famously said “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business MAN” and so are you regardless if you’re an owner or not. So we gotta get our minds right or die a brokie w/ a fat ugly chick (or dude). Podiatry is podiatry but try to win everyday SOCIALLY or maybe even financially, you’re more than a resident slave.

Best books : Choose Your Enemies Wisely, Ego is the Enemy, Never Split the Difference, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Relentless

Good luck, friend

 

[Hybrocure]

as a fellow incoming pgy1, I agree it just feels like one long drawn out voluntary cheap labor initiation. One way that help me rid myself of that mindset was reading business books.

Jay-Z famously said “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business MAN” and so are you regardless if you’re an owner or not. So we gotta get our minds right or die a brokie w/ a fat ugly chick (or dude). Podiatry is podiatry but try to win everyday SOCIALLY or maybe even financially, you’re more than a resident slave.

Best books : Choose Your Enemies Wisely, Ego is the Enemy, Never Split the Difference, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Relentless

Good luck, friend

The nice thing about being a doctor unlike a typical businessman is you can be fat or ugly and do well without worrying about that superficial bs that entrepreneurial gurus tout for success.

We have a diploma and hard schooling that demonstrates our successful merit to society - the people these guys write those books for are to demonstrate value when you have nothing tangible to show the world other than money made and money you can make.

You’re using the term brokies so I assume you’re well versed with Tate.

All those reps that kiss ass to you every day have read those books, are likely more of a go getter than you are, more socially competent, look better, etc.

But at the end of the day they’re still trying to win YOU over. And that’s because of your education and what you can do, which has been proven by years of hard work already. Some of the richest most successful docs I’ve known are socially awkward flounders that go against everything those books talk about.

 

[CleanDryandIntact]

The nice thing about being a doctor unlike a typical businessman is you can be fat or ugly and do well without worrying about that superficial bs that entrepreneurial gurus tout for success.

We have a diploma and hard schooling that demonstrates our successful merit to society - the people these guys write those books for are to demonstrate value when you have nothing tangible to show the world other than money made and money you can make.

You’re using the term brokies so I assume you’re well versed with Tate.

All those reps that kiss ass to you every day have read those books, are likely more of a go getter than you are, more socially competent, look better, etc.

But at the end of the day they’re still trying to win YOU over. And that’s because of your education and what you can do, which has been proven by years of hard work already. Some of the richest most successful docs I’ve known are socially awkward flounders that go against everything those books talk about.

Definitely being a doctor negates many hurdles and brings the $, “status” and getting people like reps to up our egos.

Having said that, universally people enjoy good looking, physically fit, socially competent individuals w/ all other variables being equal. In a saturated field such as ours, I think it’s unwise to believe a degree which everyone else has will hardly be enough.

If @Robin-jay is dreading residency then self development/evolution might keep them engaged in daily activities/interactions and their whole outlook of residency can change. Confidence leads to competence

Having done sales for 10 years prior to this, honestly regardless of career, professional AND personal growth aren’t optional they’re mandatory. If @Robin-jay chooses to implement the skills in those books, then I hope it brings them the small daily victories and pushes them to keep going as they have for myself and many others.

 

[air bud]

The nice thing about being a doctor unlike a typical businessman is you can be fat or ugly and do well without worrying about that superficial bs that entrepreneurial gurus tout for success.

We have a diploma and hard schooling that demonstrates our successful merit to society - the people these guys write those books for are to demonstrate value when you have nothing tangible to show the world other than money made and money you can make.

You’re using the term brokies so I assume you’re well versed with Tate.

All those reps that kiss ass to you every day have read those books, are likely more of a go getter than you are, more socially competent, look better, etc.

But at the end of the day they’re still trying to win YOU over. And that’s because of your education and what you can do, which has been proven by years of hard work already. Some of the richest most successful docs I’ve known are socially awkward flounders that go against everything those books talk about.

Sir you are a podiatrist

 

[Hybrocure]

Sir you are a podiatrist

Double board certified fellowship trained foot and ankle surgeon. Some would say orthopedic surgeon

 

[Robin-jay]

You need to take charge of your life and do goal-setting, self-motivation.
You likely would benefit from professional counseling and books on the subject (7 Habits, etc).
Nobody else can do this stuff for you.

Your threads are all the same: 4th year sucks, doesn't matter where you do residency, I'd be happy with $150k/yr, successful DPMs with good training or ABFAS are not credible, blah blah, whining, saying mediocre is ok, etc.

It's hard to help you until you can set your own goals.
Personally, I can't empathize with your feelings at all. I thought 4th year and clerkships were awesome. Residency was an amazing experience. Could I have done better? Sure, everyone can... but I saw cool programs, matched my top choice, and got a lot out of it (nearly too much with dating and social and burning the candle at both ends).

If anything, I found podiatry much more disappointing after training finished due to significantly lower income and far fewer job options than other types of docs/surgeons (yet same debt). I ran up debt for my first few years out figuring that a high-income job would arrive soon (seldom does for podiatry unless you'll go to BFE to get it). I had to adjust my budget, my expectations, and my goals a few times.

As was said above, being an attending is much harder. You would be wise to right the ship now.

• Students just have to worry about grades and easy boards and match. There is almost no financial worry and plenty of time for hobbies/social.
• Residents just have cases and harder boards and job search. The hospital does your credentialing and billing and everything. Finances are pretty simple to rent an apt and pay your loan interest or not pay it. The patients and risks aren't really yours... you can take vaca or prep poorly yet consequences are minimal.
• Attendings have all of those things above, many more licenses/insurances/hospitals paperworks, and btw THEY'RE ACTUALLY YOUR PATIENTS NOW... so time off gets tricky. You will often arrive to many Rx and work note and credentialing and other various messages. Attendings are also likely running a biz and/or getting along with office staff and admins, budgeting to pay loans and invest retirement, and probably some form of partner/family/kids with a house to maintain. Because podiatry, add in a never-ending job search for most DPM attendings.

So, "get busy living or get busy dying."

My main issue isn't with residency, it's doing "fun" things and dating, etc. outside of residency. I have a tendency to fixate on career too much. For example, instead of going on a date, I meticulously try to memorize what physician preferences are, etc. for the clinic I have the next day. Look over things like ultrasound if they have one in office, remember their prescriptions, etc.

One of the reasons I decided not to be a professor at a university for research is because I literally got engulfed with research. I would come into lab at 1 pm, and do reactions until 9 am the next day, 6-7 days a week during summers and the hours were only slightly less when I had teaching responsibilities, etc.

I literally had a futon and walmart desk at my apartment for years because all I did was sleep there. It's a terrible way to live. I knew the night janitor staff better than any person at that university.

I thought being a physician would be better than research, because of that sort of type of obsession. But its starting to end up with the same situation, even worse. I don't date women I could, I don't visit fun places around, I stagnate and feel guilty when not doing preparations for the next day.

 

[Weirdy]

My main issue isn't with residency, it's doing "fun" things and dating, etc. outside of residency. I have a tendency to fixate on career too much. For example, instead of going on a date, I meticulously try to memorize what physician preferences are, etc. for the clinic I have the next day. Look over things like ultrasound if they have one in office, remember their prescriptions, etc.

One of the reasons I decided not to be a professor at a university for research is because I literally got engulfed with research. I would come into lab at 1 pm, and do reactions until 9 am the next day, 6-7 days a week during summers and the hours were only slightly less when I had teaching responsibilities, etc.

I literally had a futon and walmart desk at my apartment for years because all I did was sleep there. It's a terrible way to live. I knew the night janitor staff better than any person at that university.

I thought being a physician would be better than research, because of that sort of type of obsession. But its starting to end up with the same situation, even worse. I don't date women I could, I don't visit fun places around, I stagnate and feel guilty when not doing preparations for the next day.

Oh come on dude. Not trying to belittle you, but even with a wife and a new kid during residency- I had plenty of opportunities and took time to go on vacations, get into new hobbies, spend more time on my current hobbies etc. My coresidents did the same.

My juniors who were single lived it up even more both professionally and with their own hobbies.

I also considered the PhD route and was in the lab day in day out during grad school while studying for the MCAT while figuring if I wanted to do podiatry or optometry while being broke and bumming rides off my housemates or mainly biking/walking to work and night classes.

I get it man. Its a grind and when you look at your business or dental friends pulling in 20k a month you're like "Wtf did I just do the last 7 years?".

I promise you its really not all that bad. And I'm one of the many disillusioned who came in as a preppy prepod and just graduated residency.
But I want you to get your head out of the sand for a bit and think more positive. You owe it to your future to stop being such a buzzkill to yourself.

You will have more freedom and -to a degree- financial freedom than you think during residency.
It almost sounds like you need to schedule out your hobbies or time off.
Force yourself to take them to get your mindset out of this doom and gloom rut.

I am all for doom and gloom and have seen how bad it can get. But one thing I regret not doing is thinking of what my future business model could look like- KNOWING the road to getting there will be insanely difficult compared to other professions.

If I just kept my head up during residency and believed in myself a little more, I could have further taken advantage of my training and gotten so much more out of it without feeling what you're feeling now- depressed, anxious, feeling like you have to know everything to please everyone, feeling guilty for even taking an extra day off so your kid and wife can have a good time without seeing you be a d*** during YOUR family vacation time.

Nothing is worth being like that dude. Podiatry, podiatric medicine, foot and ankle surgery, whatever you call it- is still a job at the end of the day.
It is a means to ultimately provide for yourself and your family. All the other intangibles like helping people, contributing to the greater good of society one toenail at a time, blah blah blah exists and is fulfilling- absolutely.

But no job or career is ever worth your own sanity- or in your case- developing crushing depression and anxiety to where you are limiting yourself and your future outlook.

 

[Hybrocure]

My main issue isn't with residency, it's doing "fun" things and dating, etc. outside of residency. I have a tendency to fixate on career too much. For example, instead of going on a date, I meticulously try to memorize what physician preferences are, etc. for the clinic I have the next day. Look over things like ultrasound if they have one in office, remember their prescriptions, etc.

One of the reasons I decided not to be a professor at a university for research is because I literally got engulfed with research. I would come into lab at 1 pm, and do reactions until 9 am the next day, 6-7 days a week during summers and the hours were only slightly less when I had teaching responsibilities, etc.

I literally had a futon and walmart desk at my apartment for years because all I did was sleep there. It's a terrible way to live. I knew the night janitor staff better than any person at that university.

I thought being a physician would be better than research, because of that sort of type of obsession. But its starting to end up with the same situation, even worse. I don't date women I could, I don't visit fun places around, I stagnate and feel guilty when not doing preparations for the next day.

Have you tried taking up drinking? Sometimes you just need a night where you say **** it and give a hard reset

 

[bloxxeeey]

as a fellow incoming pgy1, I agree it just feels like one long drawn out voluntary cheap labor initiation. One way that help me rid myself of that mindset was reading business books.

Jay-Z famously said “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business MAN” and so are you regardless if you’re an owner or not. So we gotta get our minds right or die a brokie w/ a fat ugly chick (or dude). Podiatry is podiatry but try to win everyday SOCIALLY or maybe even financially, you’re more than a resident slave.

Best books : Choose Your Enemies Wisely, Ego is the Enemy, Never Split the Difference, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Relentless

Good luck, friend

I love that you have to mention not dying with a fat ugly chick or dude, really adds to that post.

 

[Homo sapien]

I love that you have to mention not dying with a fat ugly chick or dude, really adds to that post.

Yeah! Despite the fact so many of us are fat ourselves, you know we have to show off the trophy spouse we earned it becoming orthoplastic foot and ankle podiatry surgeons!

 

[BubbaWub]

Double board certified fellowship trained foot and ankle surgeon. Some would say orthopedic surgeon

I used to tell my friends I am a foot and ankle surgeon, but everyone now says foot and ankle surgeon. Recently there has been a trend for "Reconstructive lower extremity orthoplastic surgeon."

I have been telling most people now, that I am an orthopedic surgeon. It helps clear up any confusion.

 

[Feli]

as a fellow incoming pgy1, I agree it just feels like one long drawn out voluntary cheap labor initiation. One way that help me rid myself of that mindset...

Yes, the self-psychology is always key. You will need it again and again in podiatry and in life.

A lot of the biz books use the classic example of guys laying brick to make a chimney on a hot day.
One grumbles he's doing hard work, the sun is glaring, and the pay is too low.
The other proudly states he is building part of the most beautiful cathedral the world has ever seen.
(I'm not at all religious, but it's a good and oft-used example of self motivation, vision and goal-setting.)

For pod residency, it's pretty very easy:
Right now, beginning pgy1, you can barely suture or do an injection, you haven't seen a ton of patients... you are competent (barely) in maybe 50% of the the things a podiatrist needs to do (mostly just derm/nails). You also have no board cert, not eligible for state license, no surgery skills, and nearly no business skills. Your income potential is basically that of of a podiatry MA - podiatry office manager at best.
Ergo, residency will be great (seriously). You will learn from tons of attendings. Some will be putzers at surgery but pretty good with patients. Some will know all the textbook answers but are just way too slow or timid with real patient care or surgery. Some will run an office real well but haven't read a textbook in decades. You will see super-surgeons who have their personal life in shambles from working 80hrs/wk. A few will be rockstars through and through (mentor candidates). Learn from all of them! That is not to mention that you can also learn from co-residents or even good clerk students.
During residency, you can develop your own scripts, improve your knowledge, develop efficiency and treatments for common and rare stuff. You will come out with MANY more skills to offer your patients, and you'll just be much more valuable (BQ, residency cert, many more skills to offer pts/jobs going forward, etc). The pod diploma was nothing but a setup for this next step, but residency is where the real and meaningful development and ability to make money actually develops (hence why which pod school is inconsequential... so long as one gets a good residency and applies themself). It should be easy to see the many residency goals and have every reason to go get those "level ups."

...The hard part will come later: with an associate job income (or even hospital job pay, if you get crummy admins or inept help). If you can find a way to psych yourself up for showing up early and eager to be a cog in that racket after the first year or two, then yeah... lmk. You can only tell yourself so many times "you're helping people" when you are trucked with tens of thousands of loan interest every year and most of your friends with just a BA/BS still net roughly what you do without the pressures and red tape you have.

 

[Shiyuan]

Star Wars Battlefront got me through some tough times

 

[Robin-jay]

Star Wars Battlefront got me through some tough times

I honestly need to do something like this. I'm a gamer at heart and could chill sometimes with that. Suture technique practice can always wait .

 

[MoostashPod]

The true mentality you should have is to utilize your time in residency to learn all you can because it's the only time you are doing it. After residency, it gets tougher and a little different type of stress. Many things. It doesn't end. Right now, you are learning and that's the only chance to do it.

The current mentality is weak. Wanting residency to be over so you can resume or start your life is not the way of it. You are there for the main purpose of "residency training", that is to learn everything now. When you get out, you will still need to learn business (not learned anywhere yet) or how to manage your own patient, clinic, staffing, litigation, surgeries, ABFAS board certifications etc.

Residency can be fun too. It's a very dynamic time and it will be grueling and draining enough, but you have to find time to exercise, meditate, relax, go out with friends or even with good co-residents, concerts, bars, etc. Don't forget in most residency it gets better as you approach PGY2 and PGY3. You'll have more time to do other things you've never thought about doing. The key is to take a day at a time and utilize the training to its max potential (that's why a good program is important).

How did I manage it during residency? After a long day of work I find time to walk or go for a run, exercise, read a book (or hear audiobooks), do some cooking (I like cooking), watch a movie, watch YouTube videos on something interesting (cars, documentaries, history, cooking, painting (Bob Ross), etc.), whatever you find entertaining and to keep your mind off of residency...because you are going right back to it the next day. As for dating, set it for the weekend when you get the time or on one your off days. The girl can be patient and should understand your schedule as a doctor... that's how you know she's real and an understanding one (usually a keeper). Remember, you will work extra hard, but then you can party hard when time allows. Life balance and time management.

 

[Sole Badguy]

Embrace the Suck TM

First year will be hardest since you're learning your day-to-day things from scratch. Every year afterwards will be easier as you gain experience - problems become easier to solve as you've seen them before, mental algorithms get settled in place as to how to handle them. Read regularly to fine-tune that knowledge and anticipate new unexpected encounters. And good news - as things get easier, you'll gradually find more free time. So at least the suck doesn't last forever. You got this

 

[Forcewielder]

I can understand where the OP is coming from, but at the same time I can't help but warn there's no Heaven at the end of your self-described purgatory. I personally struggle at times with living in the moment rather than looking forward all the time. I'm hyper goal oriented. I live my life doing an annual 1yr plan, 5yr plan, and 10yr plan and see how I'm progressing each year. Fortunately, I've been able to be very successful doing this (yes, the joke being the DPM after my name), but the tradeoff is that there's always another goal I'm chasing and it almost spoils the ride. I have to force myself to stop and count my blessings, smell the roses, etc. I do think if you take stock in where you're at it will help. If you haven't already, go on an international medical mission and realize how good we have it here. As others have stated, make sure you have some outlets for fun, be sure to exercise, and make a purposeful decision each day to improve yourself from the prior day.

Good luck.

 

[Robin-jay]

I can understand where the OP is coming from, but at the same time I can't help but warn there's no Heaven at the end of your self-described purgatory. I personally struggle at times with living in the moment rather than looking forward all the time. I'm hyper goal oriented. I live my life doing an annual 1yr plan, 5yr plan, and 10yr plan and see how I'm progressing each year. Fortunately, I've been able to be very successful doing this (yes, the joke being the DPM after my name), but the tradeoff is that there's always another goal I'm chasing and it almost spoils the ride. I have to force myself to stop and count my blessings, smell the roses, etc. I do think if you take stock in where you're at it will help. If you haven't already, go on an international medical mission and realize how good we have it here. As others have stated, make sure you have some outlets for fun, be sure to exercise, and make a purposeful decision each day to improve yourself from the prior day.

Good luck.

I feel like once my student loans are paid off, I will at least have some breathing room. I feel extremely stuck right now because financial freedom hardly exists as a resident, swamped in debt. At least if I hated being a podiatrist but my debts are paid off, I can just do something else. But because of debt, it's like you have to take everything that comes at you or else your entire future life will be miserable with debt. It's just a very stuck feeling.

 

[Forcewielder]

I feel like once my student loans are paid off, I will at least have some breathing room. I feel extremely stuck right now because financial freedom hardly exists as a resident, swamped in debt. At least if I hated being a podiatrist but my debts are paid off, I can just do something else. But because of debt, it's like you have to take everything that comes at you or else your entire future life will be miserable with debt. It's just a very stuck feeling.

For sure. I actually think it's a little bit by design. Hospitals prefer their doctors to work into late life. We start out so far in debt and then keep accumulating more with mortgages, practice purchase, divorce, etc that there's always that need to keep working more. Doctors notoriously have some of the lowest net worths compared to their incomes. It's a good goal to get out of debt ASAP and become financially independent so you can make the best choice for yourself and not the financial choice.

 

[Robin-jay]

For sure. I actually think it's a little bit by design. Hospitals prefer their doctors to work into late life. We start out so far in debt and then keep accumulating more with mortgages, practice purchase, divorce, etc that there's always that need to keep working more. Doctors notoriously have some of the lowest net worths compared to their incomes. It's a good goal to get out of debt ASAP and become financially independent so you can make the best choice for yourself and not the financial choice.

I thought about that as well, that the system wants you to struggle for many years before gaining actual financial freedom, and by that time, it's reasonable enough to stick with the daily routine.

 

[Retrograde_Nail]

My main issue isn't with residency, it's doing "fun" things and dating, etc. outside of residency. I have a tendency to fixate on career too much. For example, instead of going on a date, I meticulously try to memorize what physician preferences are, etc. for the clinic I have the next day. Look over things like ultrasound if they have one in office, remember their prescriptions, etc.

One of the reasons I decided not to be a professor at a university for research is because I literally got engulfed with research. I would come into lab at 1 pm, and do reactions until 9 am the next day, 6-7 days a week during summers and the hours were only slightly less when I had teaching responsibilities, etc.

I literally had a futon and walmart desk at my apartment for years because all I did was sleep there. It's a terrible way to live. I knew the night janitor staff better than any person at that university.

I thought being a physician would be better than research, because of that sort of type of obsession. But its starting to end up with the same situation, even worse. I don't date women I could, I don't visit fun places around, I stagnate and feel guilty when not doing preparations for the next day.

You need to get balance now. If you are this unbalanced in your life now before you even do residency or work as an attending your entire life will suck. If you happen to get married your marriage will suffer. You are podiatry resident not a neurosurgery resident. Come back down to earth.

Download tinder when you move into your apartment. Work hard play hard. It's that simple. Don't take yourself too seriously. Once you graduate residency you will realize you are just a podiatrist.

 

[Weirdy]

Agree with what Retrograde said about work life balance.
If you think its hard now and refuse to make changes to enjoy life more, you will continue to make excuses to deprive yourself of a well lived life even after you're an attending and your loans are paid off.
By that time its too late for you even if you have a pile of money sitting in the bank.

 

[MortonExtension]

Agree with the marrying a high income earner thing. May I suggest avoiding another podiatrist.

 

[Feli]

...If you think its hard now and refuse to make changes to enjoy life more, you will continue to make excuses to deprive yourself of a well lived life even after you're an attending and your loans are paid off.
By that time its too late for you even if you have a pile of money sitting in the bank.

I would echo this.

This is not a money or time issue. It's a priorities issue.
Podiatry has enough free time. It is actually one of the few hospital residencies that's most likely to be completed with your hairline and waistline still intact.

Happiness is an inside job (at any level of the training/job). Most hobbies are very low cost - or even free. You don't need fame and fortune; you just need fulfillment and friends. I probably spent under $50 or $100 this weekend going to the gym a couple times, fixing car, one restaurant breakfast, riding motorcycle, camping, cutting my hair, playing with dogs, etc. Money can't make you happier or healthier... it simply puts you in places with more interesting things/people.

That said, minimizing and then getting outta debt is a very worthwhile goal. Trying to have a partner/spouse who doesn't work or doesn't make much costs you money. Kids cost significant money. Bigger house costs more than a smallish condo or apt. Those things have to be planned for if they're priorities, or they will keep you in debt longer/indefinitely with a greater % of your money going to interest. It will similarly delay your retirement. Many DPMs - and all kinds of ppl - force making money to be a priority just to stay afloat, and that's sad. Basically, if you start to acquire stuff or expect experiences that keep you in debt, then even making MD/DO money wouldn't help you. But again, tons of hobbies and fun stuff is very low cost.

...in residency, I did a lot of cases, learned a bunch, and passed all boards. I still had a good amount of time to occasionally put down my beer and put out my cigarette to let whichever Mormon clerk/core student who rented a room at my house that month give me "lessons" or take them to the gym. Or we'd throw a party or go out and chase girls or go gun range in the months with the non-Mormon student renter if they were lookin for something to do. There is time. You can't read all the time. Put first things first. If you can't find time, try reading 7 Habits or other time management and success plan books.

.... You are podiatry resident not a neurosurgery resident. Come back down to earth. ...

Amen. ^^
We get good skills and help people, but we're not exactly curing cancer in little kids.
Take pride in it, but don't OCD it or make it into something it's not.

 

[air bud]

I would echo this.

This is not a money or time issue. It's a priorities issue.
Podiatry has enough free time. It is actually one of the few hospital residencies that's most likely to be completed with your hairline and waistline still intact.

Happiness is an inside job (at any level of the training/job). Most hobbies are very low cost - or even free. You don't need fame and fortune; you just need fulfillment and friends. I probably spent under $50 or $100 this weekend going to the gym a couple times, fixing car, one restaurant breakfast, riding motorcycle, camping, cutting my hair, playing with dogs, etc. Money can't make you happier or healthier... it simply puts you in places with more interesting things/people.

That said, minimizing and then getting outta debt is a very worthwhile goal. Trying to have a partner/spouse who doesn't work or doesn't make much costs you money. Kids cost significant money. Bigger house costs more than a smallish condo or apt. Those things have to be planned for if they're priorities, or they will keep you in debt longer/indefinitely with a greater % of your money going to interest. It will similarly delay your retirement. Many DPMs - and all kinds of ppl - force making money to be a priority just to stay afloat, and that's sad. Basically, if you start to acquire stuff or expect experiences that keep you in debt, then even making MD/DO money wouldn't help you. But again, tons of hobbies and fun stuff is very low cost.

...in residency, I did a lot of cases, learned a bunch, and passed all boards. I still had a good amount of time to occasionally put down my beer and put out my cigarette to let whichever Mormon clerk/core student who rented a room at my house that month give me "lessons" or take them to the gym. Or we'd throw a party or go out and chase girls or go gun range in the months with the non-Mormon student renter if they were lookin for something to do. There is time. You can't read all the time. Put first things first. If you can't find time, try reading 7 Habits or other time management and success plan books.


Amen. ^^
We get good skills and help people, but we're not exactly curing cancer in little kids.
Take pride in it, but don't OCD it or make it into something it's not.

Here's a great example of why not to be a podiatrist. You won't have enough money to afford a haircut and you have to cut your own

 

[Robin-jay]

Inpatient rounding and consults are absolutely killing me. I know you do a lot of things that are not fun as an intern, but I don't even remotely enjoy this. I'm not a fan of being in constant contact with 10 physicians at once.

I know residency is suppose to be brutal, but it's not even brutal in an interesting way. It's brutal in a heavy administrator type of way...the least interesting type of busy.

 

[Retrograde_Nail]

Inpatient rounding and consults are absolutely killing me. I know you do a lot of things that are not fun as an intern, but I don't even remotely enjoy this. I'm not a fan of being in constant contact with 10 physicians at once.

I know residency is suppose to be brutal, but it's not even brutal in an interesting way. It's brutal in a heavy administrator type of way...the least interesting type of busy.

This is normal everyday life for a hospital based podiatrist attending. I don't understand the problem. This is how medicine works. Everyday

 

[Hybrocure]

This is normal everyday life for a hospital based podiatrist attending. I don't understand the problem. This is how medicine works. Everyday

Hard disagree as a whole for podiatry. Hospital based yes, that’s why they pay you the big money. It’s a tax for your time and your life off hours. You can still be happy in podiatry without dealing with this bs.

Taking call at a hospital is essentially permanent residency but you make money from it. Me personally that’s not worth it. You could pay me 2-3x what I make to take call it’s not worth making podiatry my life

 

[air bud]

Hard disagree as a whole for podiatry. Hospital based yes, that’s why they pay you the big money. It’s a tax for your time and your life off hours. You can still be happy in podiatry without dealing with this bs.

It's not BS and when you know how to do it and be efficient at it and have help it's not a big deal. Again you're thinking of adding on hospital-based stuff as a private practice person that you have to do after hours we are talking about doing it throughout the day during your normal hours.

You work at the hospital. You literally walk down the hallway or across the parking lot round on somebody for a few minutes and then come back in between patients or at lunch or before. You aren't driving 15 minutes across town during rush hour to go see a consult after a full day of Clinic.

Edit - 50 mins lol

 

[Hybrocure]

It's not BS and when you know how to do it and be efficient at it and have help it's not a big deal. Again you're thinking of adding on hospital-based stuff as a private practice person that you have to do after hours we are talking about doing it throughout the day during your normal hours.

Is that realistic though? I’ve seen an awful lot of hospital employed podiatrists working bumped cases late into the night on the OR board only to start the next day with a 40 patient clinic

 

[air bud]

Is that realistic though? I’ve seen an awful lot of hospital employed podiatrists working bumped cases late into the night on the OR board only to start the next day with a 40 patient clinic

Again you work for the hospital you have block time. It's in their interest to keep you happy etc. When you're just a local podiatrist in private practice they don't give a crap about you.

I don't know who you're talking about that's actually Hospital employee doing amps that late at night.

 

[Feli]

Hard disagree as a whole for podiatry. Hospital based yes, that’s why they pay you the big money. It’s a tax for your time and your life off hours. You can still be happy in podiatry without dealing with this bs.

Taking call at a hospital is essentially permanent residency but you make money from it. Me personally that’s not worth it. You could pay me 2-3x what I make to take call it’s not worth making podiatry my life

Well, the point in residency is to teach you how to communicate with patients, nurses, other docs and residents and medical services.

As was said, that is real life (even if you're PP). Wait until you are actually responsible for daily messages for Rx refills, consults, bandage wet, work note, PCP questions, whatever. I don't do that stuff much, but you still need to know how to do it. With a fair amount of DPM jobs, you do it daily.

...But if OP is drowning in nonsense nail consults, remember when you said "match doesn't matter much... residency is what you put into it!"

 

[Hybrocure]

Again you work for the hospital you have block time. It's in their interest to keep you happy etc. When you're just a local podiatrist in private practice they don't give a crap about you.

I don't know who you're talking about that's actually Hospital employee doing amps that late at night.

You’re hospital employed. You get a gas case at 4pm. You book it after clinic. But you also work at a level 1 trauma center…and anesthesia is short staffed..

 

[heybrother]

Some programs spend a lot of time cutting inpatient nails and changing ABDs on 400 lbs legs.

 

[Robin-jay]

...But if OP is drowning in nonsense nail consults, remember when you said "match doesn't matter much... residency is what you put into it!"

Anything from nails to trimalleolar fractures. Had many early reductions done during my first month in our hospital ED.

 

[Hybrocure]

Anything from nails to trimalleolar fractures. Had many early reductions done during my first month in our hospital ED.

Reductions are a job for the ED doc, or else the hospital employed guys would be getting paged at midnight.

But that’s the basis of a good residency program at some places..

 

[air bud]

You’re hospital employed. You get a gas case at 4pm. You book it after clinic. But you also work at a level 1 trauma center…and anesthesia is short staffed..

Fair. Well one on second thought it's fing gas bro. Nobody is making that way 8 hours. If so the. Unusual terrible situation.

 

[BubbaWub]

Some programs spend a lot of time cutting inpatient nails and changing ABDs on 400 lbs legs.

I just spat out my drink. Thank you

 

[air bud]

Well, the point in residency is to teach you how to communicate with patients, nurses, other docs and residents and medical services.

As was said, that is real life (even if you're PP). Wait until you are actually responsible for daily messages for Rx refills, consults, bandage wet, work note, PCP questions, whatever. I don't do that stuff much, but you still need to know how to do it. With a fair amount of DPM jobs, you do it daily.

...But if OP is drowning in nonsense nail consults, remember when you said "match doesn't matter much... residency is what you put into it!"

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

 

[Hybrocure]

Fair. Well one on second thought it's fing gas bro. Nobody is making that way 8 hours. If so the. Unusual terrible situation.

They told me in school and residency gas couldn’t wait til morning.

But then you get bumped for internal bleeding abdominal trauma. A car accident polytrauma. A gunshot attempted suicide.

Where does gas fall into that hierarchy

 

[air bud]

They told me in school and residency gas couldn’t wait til morning.

save a limb save a life. its science

 

[Hybrocure]

save a limb save a life. its science

I wonder how often our profession leaders are scrubbing midnight gas cases while saying this 🫠

 

[Feli]

They told me in school and residency gas couldn’t wait til morning.

But then you get bumped for internal bleeding abdominal trauma. A car accident polytrauma. A gunshot attempted suicide.

Where does gas fall into that hierarchy

Gas and open fx are only podiometric surgical emergencies...
What school didn't tell ya is that, at most hospitals, both of those can be turfed to hospital FTE pod or real MD gen/vasc/ortho surgeons (prn basis).

The exception would be IHS podiatry, where you had better get your butt to the hospital for those calls and wait 2 hours for anesthesia to arrive... and you may need to do the case, if that locum CRNA cannot find a reason the patient is too risky and needs to get sent out.

 

[wakaflocka88]

I wonder how often our profession leaders are scrubbing midnight gas cases while saying this 🫠

In residency I would go in, make a few stab incisions to let it ooze out, IM’s flavor of choice abx and see ya in the morning

 

[dtrack22]

You’re hospital employed. You get a gas case at 4pm. You book it after clinic. But you also work at a level 1 trauma center…and anesthesia is short staffed..

You just described less than 1% of podiatrists.

Hospital employment is nothing like residency. I don’t even have to put in my own NPO orders on inpatients I consult on. Generally, an MRI has been ordered and completed (when needed) before I’m even consulted. I don’t need to make abx recs. Hospitalists and PAs do all of that for me. I can get an OR over my lunch break for add on inpatient cases virtually any time I want. I work 4 days a week. Even hospital jobs where folks purposefully choose to take more call and work more days/hours, so that they can make more money, are nothing like residency.

This is normal everyday life for a hospital based podiatrist attending.

Nah