(Surgeons) Old habits die hard

June medical

“Surgeons are characteristically creatures of habit.

We are most comfortable performing operations a certain way, and we have learned that through repetition and consistency comes expertise, mastery and optimal results for our patients. By contrast, academic surgeons – that improbable group of professionals who seek to combine a mastery of surgery with a journey of scientific discovery – have to forego consistency if our journey is to have any hope of reaching a useful destination.”
Did you know that surgeons who use a certain kind of retractor frames have a VERY high threshold against changing frame shape? In research done by JUNE Medical UK at Royal College of Surgeons in 2019, 100% of surgeons answered “No” when asked if they would change shape (from Snowman to Square or other way around). Only a fourth of surgeons would change if the alternative frame was 20% cheaper.

Habits (Plural noun)

  1. a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up.

    “he has an annoying habit of interrupting me” · 

    [More]
    synonyms:

    practice · custom · pattern · routine · style · convention · policy · wont ·

    [More]
  2. a long, loose garment worn by a member of a religious order.
    “nuns in long brown habits, black veils, and sandals”
  3. archaic
    a person’s health or constitution.
    “a victim to a consumptive habit”

22 Microhabits That Will Completely Change Your Life In A Year

1. Try to be rejected more.

Every day, reach out to one or two people who you’d like to work with, even if you are certain they would have no reason to respond.

It could be a potential employer, an organization at which you’d like to speak, or even a book agent, or client you’d love to work with. You might not hear back at first, but eventually, you will get a response from someone. You have nothing to lose, but potentially a lot to gain.

2. Write one paragraph.

Whether you have a book you’ve always dreamt of authoring, a business plan that’s been in the back of your mind for a while, or even just a blog you want to start, write just a few sentences each day. The momentum will build on its own and you’ll find yourself effortlessly writing more and more… but commit to just beginning with one paragraph.

3. Check your bank account.

Make it a habit to check in on all of your accounts at least once a day. If that sounds like a lot, it’s because it is. But what’s important is that you’re keeping yourself aware of exactly what you have, and where it’s going. Getting a better grip on your finances begins with having a consistently accurate mental layout of your accounts.

4. Get used to maintenance.

Aspirational tropes want you to believe that living your best life is like running a victory lap every day. In reality, it is more like being willing to tend to the unglamorous maintenance of things, like chores, cleaning, healthy cooking, staying current on bills and work assignments, or making time for exercise.

The quality of your life will be directly and drastically improved if you can incorporate necessary maintenance into your daily routine, and learn to see it as something that helps you rather than hinders you from having a great time.

5. Choose comfort for your future self over comfort right now.

If you want to change your life, you need to start considering the needs and wants of your future self over the ones you have right now. Prioritizing how you feel and what you want in the moment is what lead you here. Instead, commit to making choices for the benefit of your future self. The idea that “being present” means disregarding anything but your most base instincts and desires is not enlightenment, it is self-destruction.

Want to learn more?

22 Microhabits That Will Completely Change Your Life In A Year (forbes.com)