The Workload Dilemma

The clinic has been bustling recently, though not in an overwhelming way—more like the regular chaos rather than the intense frenzy of "Holy Saturday Crazy." In India, Good Friday isn't widely recognized, leading to a rush of patients eager to visit the dentist over the Easter weekend.

At my dental practice, we recently faced a series of frustrations with a new software system intended for billing. Initially, we introduced a WiFi-dependent program that caused more confusion than clarity. Ultimately, we abandoned both that and the first system, reverting to offline data entries via Google Forms. It felt like we were back at square one, relying on our original method of pen-and-paper billing alongside the Google Form we had set up earlier.

Amidst all of this, we spent endless hours at the clinic, spiraling into unnecessary stress over matters unrelated to our patients' dental health.

The Weight Gain Wake-up Call

Then came the realization that I had gained some weight—nothing too drastic, just a couple of kilos, which equated to around nine pounds. This prompted a mini-crisis.

To counter this, I resumed intermittent fasting, establishing a fasting window of fourteen hours. Additionally, I aimed to increase my daily step goal to 10,000 steps—a target that proved to be more challenging than I had anticipated.

Despite successfully reaching my step goal for three consecutive days, my plans unraveled over the weekend when illness struck, reducing my daily step count to a mere few hundred. I even stopped wearing my Apple Watch, unable to face its constant reminders.

The Mystery of Illness

Was my cold a result of COVID, aging, or simply overexertion? I couldn’t discern without a lab test. All I knew was that a minor sniffle quickly escalated into a fever, prompting me to cancel all of my Monday appointments. I knew the backlog of patients would be overwhelming upon my return.

Reflecting on my recent routines, I wondered if the combination of intermittent fasting, increased physical activity, and rigorous workouts was too much for my body to handle all at once.

On Friday night, despite feeling unwell, I pushed myself to meet my step goal, even finishing the day with 9,764 steps just before midnight. In hindsight, it would have been wiser to rest rather than force myself to reach that arbitrary target.

Could my cold have been triggered by something as simple as touching a dirty surface and then rubbing my nose?

Reading "Outlive" by Peter Attia

Ironically, during this hectic week, I was engrossed in Peter Attia's book, "Outlive," while chastising my husband Vikesh for his tea habit—eight spoons of sugar! Dr. Attia promotes reducing sugar intake and increasing exercise, but I hadn’t finished the book yet. It seemed that the lesson for those who indulge in sweet treats had an inevitable, grim conclusion.

Vikesh, with his carefree approach to life, is unlikely to let a book dictate his lifestyle choices. Now, he finds himself with a heavier load at the clinic while I recuperate.