My Daily Schedule After the Term Begins and My Work Arrangements Going Forward
My term begins on September 6. After that I will be fully enrolled as a full-time student living on campus, and I must abide by school rules and arrange my time according to the school's daily schedule. I am now publishing my school's schedule for the benefit of my fellow patients, friends, and family. From now on, please contact me and consult me only during my free time; I cannot reply during classes (including morning and evening self-study) or while sleeping, so your understanding is appreciated. Because of military training in September, I may be even less available to reply for about two weeks.
Daily schedule (uniform across the school)
6:00-6:15 Wake up and tidy the dormitory.
6:15-7:00 Morning exercise. Our school's morning exercise is running, with a prescribed distance each day.
7:00-7:15 Breakfast
7:15-7:45 Morning reading
7:50/8:00-11:40/12:00 Classes follow the timetable; during free periods everyone studies together in the classroom.
11:40/12:00-12:10/12:30 Lunch
(Winter) 12:40-13:40; (Summer) 13:00-14:00 Midday rest
(Winter) 14:00-15:50; (Summer) 14:30-16:20 Classes follow the timetable; during free periods everyone studies together in the classroom.
(Winter) 16:30-17:30; (Summer) 16:50-17:50 Extracurricular activities
(Winter) 18:00-18:30; (Summer) 18:20-18:50 Dinner
(Winter) 19:00-20:50; (Summer) 20:00-21:50 Evening self-study
(Winter) 20:50-21:30; (Summer) 21:50-22:30 Return to dormitory
(Winter) 22:30-06:00; (Summer) 23:00-06:00 Lights out / sleep
During the periods above—morning exercise, morning reading, morning and afternoon classes, evening self-study, midday rest, and after lights out—I cannot reply to your messages. At other times I will try to reply when I can. On weekends, statutory holidays, and winter and summer vacations I can normally answer your questions and arrange other work. Given that my time is no longer ample, please seek other help for urgent matters rather than delaying things on my account.
My studies will last six years. Over the next six years I will no longer have the free time I once did. I attend a medical school with very strict discipline; mobile phones are strictly forbidden during classes and self-study periods. Although many students complain about the rules, the school has no intention of relaxing them. This is understandable: medical curricula are heavy, and a high study intensity is normal.
To be honest, I am quite satisfied with this schedule, because it closely matches my living habits and my circadian rhythm; the only difference is that I may go to bed a little earlier than the school's lights-out time, as I am used to early to bed and early to rise.
I will make the most of these six years, studying earnestly and trying to learn comprehensively all that Chinese and Western medicine have to offer, broadening my knowledge and raising my level. I will be 52 when I graduate. I hope to complete a first draft of my writings before age 60 and then refine them gradually. I have no plans to publish before 60; I want to further temper my medical skill and my writing and publish my medical works once they are more mature, rather than chasing quick success and releasing crude work.
Because I have no plans to retire, I do not feel that graduating at 52 is old. If I live into my eighties, I will still have about 30 years of research ahead after graduation, and I believe these six years of study will be well worth the investment. I had originally intended to study completely full-time, but considering that for some long-term patients my role may be irreplaceable and my absence could hasten their decline, I will try to set aside some time to care for them. But my energy is limited and my studies are heavy, so I will no longer take on new workloads; thank you for your understanding.