In Search of a Hobby

I need a hobby. Any suggestions?

Due to the annual summertime slowdown, I find myself with less to do and catch up on during weekends. My kids are grown. Nowadays, when I have free time, I have no idea what to do with myself.

That’s not to say I don’t do things to relax. Jigsaw puzzles, reading P.G. Wodehouse ... but there’s only so long I can sit there, maybe 30 minutes, before I get bored. Then I go back to my desk, check email, log in to see if any prescription refills need to be addressed ...

I look online for ideas. No, I don’t want to collect things. Or start gardening. Or learn an instrument. Or paint. Or take up photography. The last thing I want is a hobby that involves a significant financial outlay for stuff I may be selling on eBay in 3 months.

I like writing, but also spend most of my day at the computer typing up patient notes one after another. Not sure I want to spend even more time at my computer than I already do.

Maybe walking. Is that a hobby? Or just exercise? I’ve never been much of a gym rat, as my scale can tell you. I’m definitely not a golfer, aside from the occasional trip to the windmill course when my kids were younger.

I’d love to travel more, but right now my wife’s job and my practice responsibilities make that difficult.

I sit here and wonder, what is a good hobby for an early 21st century doctor?

Then I went online to check something on UpToDate for next week, and suddenly it occurred to me: Being a neurologist IS my hobby. It’s what I enjoy.

Is that a bad thing? I have no idea. They say “do what you love, love what you do.”

Of course, I can’t always be a neurologist. Sooner or later the day will come when I walk away from this.

Between now and then I have some thinking to do.
 

Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Arizona.

I need a hobby. Any suggestions?

Due to the annual summertime slowdown, I find myself with less to do and catch up on during weekends. My kids are grown. Nowadays, when I have free time, I have no idea what to do with myself.

That’s not to say I don’t do things to relax. Jigsaw puzzles, reading P.G. Wodehouse ... but there’s only so long I can sit there, maybe 30 minutes, before I get bored. Then I go back to my desk, check email, log in to see if any prescription refills need to be addressed ...

I look online for ideas. No, I don’t want to collect things. Or start gardening. Or learn an instrument. Or paint. Or take up photography. The last thing I want is a hobby that involves a significant financial outlay for stuff I may be selling on eBay in 3 months.

I like writing, but also spend most of my day at the computer typing up patient notes one after another. Not sure I want to spend even more time at my computer than I already do.

Maybe walking. Is that a hobby? Or just exercise? I’ve never been much of a gym rat, as my scale can tell you. I’m definitely not a golfer, aside from the occasional trip to the windmill course when my kids were younger.

I’d love to travel more, but right now my wife’s job and my practice responsibilities make that difficult.

I sit here and wonder, what is a good hobby for an early 21st century doctor?

Then I went online to check something on UpToDate for next week, and suddenly it occurred to me: Being a neurologist IS my hobby. It’s what I enjoy.

Is that a bad thing? I have no idea. They say “do what you love, love what you do.”

Of course, I can’t always be a neurologist. Sooner or later the day will come when I walk away from this.

Between now and then I have some thinking to do.
 

Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Arizona.

I need a hobby. Any suggestions?

Due to the annual summertime slowdown, I find myself with less to do and catch up on during weekends. My kids are grown. Nowadays, when I have free time, I have no idea what to do with myself.

That’s not to say I don’t do things to relax. Jigsaw puzzles, reading P.G. Wodehouse ... but there’s only so long I can sit there, maybe 30 minutes, before I get bored. Then I go back to my desk, check email, log in to see if any prescription refills need to be addressed ...

I look online for ideas. No, I don’t want to collect things. Or start gardening. Or learn an instrument. Or paint. Or take up photography. The last thing I want is a hobby that involves a significant financial outlay for stuff I may be selling on eBay in 3 months.

I like writing, but also spend most of my day at the computer typing up patient notes one after another. Not sure I want to spend even more time at my computer than I already do.

Maybe walking. Is that a hobby? Or just exercise? I’ve never been much of a gym rat, as my scale can tell you. I’m definitely not a golfer, aside from the occasional trip to the windmill course when my kids were younger.

I’d love to travel more, but right now my wife’s job and my practice responsibilities make that difficult.

I sit here and wonder, what is a good hobby for an early 21st century doctor?

Then I went online to check something on UpToDate for next week, and suddenly it occurred to me: Being a neurologist IS my hobby. It’s what I enjoy.

Is that a bad thing? I have no idea. They say “do what you love, love what you do.”

Of course, I can’t always be a neurologist. Sooner or later the day will come when I walk away from this.

Between now and then I have some thinking to do.
 

Dr. Block has a solo neurology practice in Scottsdale, Arizona.