Favorite to-do list system : “ I love crossing things off a list ! I keep it pretty simple on a sheet of scrap paper . If it ’ s more time-sensitive I ’ ll use the reminder function on my phone .”
4.5 hours
Work Meetings Commute Eat Exercise Events Downtime Sleep
6 hours
How she stays focused : “ I love what I do and relish the task at hand . When I ’ m immersed in a project I lose track of time and hours tick by . When I step back and look more widely at all my tasks , it can be a bit overwhelming , so I turn to my to-do list to help get focused .” |
2 hours |
2 hours |
1 hour |
30 minutes
1.5 hours
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6.5 hours |
she listens to CapRadio each morning , part of a media diet that includes regular checking of MedPage Today and UpToDate ( for medical news ) and constant updates from national , state and local public health briefings .
9AM - Meetings , such as a call with other regional community health centers to discuss COVID-19 strategy — a frequent topic .
10AM - More meetings , like an internal meeting to discuss how to improve the continuity of care for patients . These are usually in person ; Bera rarely works remotely . “ We ’ re health centers , and we serve the underserved ,” she says . “ It didn ’ t seem right to us to not be present .” All of the WellSpace health centers remained open throughout the pandemic .
NOON - Eats a brown-bag lunch during another meeting . Bera actually enjoys meetings . “ I ’ m an extrovert , and I truly get reenergized .”
1PM - Works at her desk , answering emails or reviewing details of a new policy or plan .
3PM - More meetings , such as touching base with the call center director . While the call center isn ’ t under her domain , the needs of the patients are : “ My personal guiding principle is , how do I make things better for that one patient ? How do we make things better ? I can ’ t do that by myself . I need to go in and talk to our team .” With the call center director , during COVID , for example , she might ask them , “ What ’ s it like to be the person who ’ s fielding a phone call and has nowhere to put a patient ?”
4PM - Answering emails , or responding to a question from a nurse practitioner or refining the protocols of how her team is handling COVID .
5PM - Commutes back to Elk Grove to the home she shares with her husband , U . S . Rep . Ami Bera .
6PM - Often a networking event , such as a dinner for the American Leadership Forum , where she serves as a senior fellow .
8PM - One last burst of work , such as dashing off an email that summarizes the key insights from all of the day ’ s meetings . She is aware that “ we all communicate differently ,” and some of her colleagues appreciate the email roundup .
10PM - Finally , downtime , which usually means shows like “ Schitt ’ s Creek ” or “ Insecure .” “ I like to watch things that aren ’ t challenging at all .” And after the day she ’ s had , who can blame her ?
MIDNIGHT - Sleep .
Jeff Wilser is the author of seven books , most recently “ Becoming a Firefighter ,” from Simon & Schuster ’ s Masters at Work series . On Twitter @ jeffwilser .
Each issue , we dig into the working habits of a top executive in the Capital Region , providing insight into how they get things done .
March 2022 | comstocksmag . com 37