⏰ If You Had One Day, One Week, One Month Left to Live...

Amanda, Laura, and Kendra tackle the most clarifying question as we start 2026: What would you do differently if you had limited time left?

This isn't about panic—it's about calibration. Without intentionality, medicine will weave into every aspect of your life. This thought experiment reveals what actually matters.

💡 The Wake-Up Call

We don't know our time constraint. A friend—totally healthy, two little kids—went camping, got necrotizing fasciitis, dead within a week.

Limited time reduces noise. What remains? Relationships, meaning, and small joys.

🔍 Two Critical Questions

What relationship would you invest in if you had one day/week/month left?
What task would you STOP doing if it cost you the thing you love most?

📋 5 Categories + Micro Actions

1️⃣ RELATIONSHIPS & REPAIR

Repair grudges, prioritize people you love, forgive (you can forgive AND keep boundaries—it's about YOUR peace).

Micro action: Schedule a 20-minute call this week with someone you care about.

2️⃣ MEANING & LEGACY

Photo books, personal history, courses, books, volunteering, Swedish Death Cleaning.

Micro action: Block 30 minutes to outline one project you want to start.

3️⃣ HEALTH & PRESENCE

If you had one month unless you started taking care of yourself—what would change? Colonoscopy, PCP visit, walks, lifting weights.

Micro action: Book one preventative appointment OR set alarm for 10-minute morning walk.

4️⃣ CLEAN SLATE & PRACTICALITIES

Will, trust, advanced directives, password location. Save your family from ugly fallout.

Micro action: Identify the single most important document you lack and email your partner TODAY.

5️⃣ SMALL JOYS & PLAY

"Play is Vitamin P!" Learn ukulele, plan trips (always have one planned!), make a bucket list, try something novel.

Micro action: Block 2 hours this month for one small pleasure.

🪜 How to Begin

The ladder image: Start with easy, close-together rungs. Not giant leaps.

Micro experiments (2-4 weeks):

Pick ONE category
Make it low-effort
You're gathering scientific data
Your dysfunctional choices are always available if you want to go back 😂

Tools:

Gmail templates: "I'm full this quarter, let's revisit in 3 months"
Time blocking weekly
Accountability partner or daily journal

🎯 One-Minute Reflection

Close your eyes (when safe). Answer: What's the single thing I'd start doing if I only had one more month to live?

Pick ONE micro action for THIS WEEK. Say it aloud. Write it down.

💙 Your Challenge

What micro experiment will you try? Email us at [email protected]—we'll be your accountability!

Stop putting off life and start living it.

You are whole. You are a gift to medicine. The work you do matters. ⏰

Connect: @thewholephysician | Newsletter + Fast Track in show notes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If You Just Had One Month to Live: Episode 199