MIND. Who Controls Your Time?

With each of my patients, I go through what is called Determinants of Health. After all, they determine their health, and I am their doctor, so it’s a non-negotiable in new patient visits. I sometimes term it “a day in the life of” as getting a sense of the DOH does give some great insight on daily habits. The list includes sleep, movement (exercise), stress and support system, blissors (what they love and lights them up), hydration/liquid intake, nutrition, caffeine intake, alcohol use, drug use.

I have often found in the categories of nutrition and movement, I hear, “I don’t have the time.” And it’s so true - I get it. I see moms who homeschool their four children under 12 years old, exhausted and unable to lose weight and feel energetic again. Or men who are working 70-hour work weeks with swing or night shifts with labs showing low testosterone. This is where I struggle as a physician who cares about root cause medicine. Oftentimes I can see the root cause of the fatigue, metabolic resistance, etc., but it’s not an easy fix. The root cause is beyond a pill or supplement.

I will turn to a simple example of myself to relate - as the next part may hit a nerve with some. Historically I have said things like, “I don’t have time to read these days,” or “I don’t have time to call that friend for meaningful phone call.” When I say that phrase, I don’t have time, I make myself the victim. As if I am not the one choosing to spend my time in a certain way. Almost as if I have less hours in the day than another, or perhaps believe I am more busy than someone else. Let’s face it. It’s 2024: most of us choose to be and keep busy in our own way.

Instead, I have changed to saying I have not made the time to ___. Because that is the real truth. I have not prioritized whatever it is may feel lacking or important. It’s not that I don’t have the time - I have the same 24 hours as everyone else. But in that time, I have chosen to prioritize certain things over others. I also get to reflect on the impact that may be having on my quality of life, health and wellbeing. And I get to choose: is the tradeoff worth it?

So whatever it is you feel like you don’t have time to do (sleep, move, make a nutritious meal), perhaps inquire: why have I not made the time to prioritize it? What’s the cost/benefit analysis? And if it can’t change now, will it in the future, or can I change things so I can make the time? This simple shift in language can put you in a much greater place of empowerment and ownership vs. powerlessness and victim.

Now is the time to make a subtle change in how you orient to what you prioritize with your time: What have you not made the time for in your health? While the reality of job / parenthood / social structure cannot change, your language around it can and perhaps invite a sense of creativity, new orientation and possible changes to prioritize what you historically have not had time for. Ask yourself, is it possible to make the time?