Week 1

I am not yet certain how exactly I want to set up this blog, so we'll see as we go. Which is to say, I'll see as I go.
Challenges:
1. The ever present challenge of sitting on programming every day. Two days I physically didn't get to my computer, and thus didn't program. Friday was great, and programmed a lot. I will have to hope that what I manage to do will settle well with me. I always feel behind in everything else, there is no need to feel behind here. And there is the philosophical "behind what" but I won't get into that kind of thing.
2. Toggl. I decided to track how much time I program. Most days I forgot to turn on the timer to track how much time I program. The website I use is Toggl, and it's flashy (the opposite of a simple timer), but I forget to actually GO to the website. The funny thing is, I often remember midway. But kind of like dieting- I alREAdy forgot the first part, may as well just not monitor. Must improve.
3. Figuring out how many articles to read for physiotherapy/exercise. More on that later.

Computers
Toggl: 2 hours and 11 minutes. Reality- more. No idea how MUCH more, but more.
I don't think I mentioned the program. I have programmed (a bit) in python before. I decided to do the second course in University of Toronto (yay)- Learn to Program on coursera. I feel lacking in confidence and have taken so many elementary courses (how many times can I learn what a string is?!) that it's really nice to do debugging. I am on the assignment of week 2. Of course I keep doubting myself. But I have a long program ahead of me, and I just have to assume self doubt will continue to be an old friend throughout.

Physical Therapy/ Activity
No idea how to do this. I read an article this week:

Short and sporadic bouts in the 2018 US physical activity guidelines: is high-intensity incidental physical activity the new HIIT? By Stamatakis et al.

Ugh.

The article was in response to the new exercise guidelines  that recommended just doing anything. Anything. Forget aerobic. Forget resistance. Forget HIIT. Forget balance. Just whatever. Whatever you do is great. Get your heart rate up, but it doesn't matter for how long. It doesn't matter doing what. Cleaning? Great. Groceries? Great. Yeah high intensity (though that also feels like it may change).

To be fair, I should read the guidelines. And I will. But all the confusing recommendations change (and I believe the same applies to nutrition) leaves me at a loss for what I am meant to do. And what do I tell others? It's frustrating tor read another in a long list of articles that aren't quite based on research, or on quality research. 
But. But it feels like people aren't moving, and now research (though haven't SEEN the research and I don't trust anyone. I'll quote it, but don't trust it. Yet) is saying that the lack of activity is what matters. Is this an attempt to basically nudge people into action? The recommendations are slowly throwing their hands in the air saying please, please just do anything but sit there.
Are people that lazy that they do so little of anything that walking a set of stairs is novel? I am clearly disconnected.

And that was my week!

Beginnings

I want to study. I want to study so I can change my job's focus. I want to study to have a better understanding. But I really want to study because I love studying.
Over the past two years, when my time has suddenly started feeling much more precious, I began to notice a strong lack of conversation (or, long conversation) that are intellectually invoking. I felt this way throghout my studies in physical therapy (and not just), but time seemed to be abundant and I could easily fill it as I chose. Naturally, I didn't choose to challenge myself, but that's another matter.
I finally decided this week to begin studying a string of courses in order to be proficient in data science. Trendy, yes, but I also feel that in my field (physical therapy in particular, sports/subjects related to the body) it is truly lacking. I love math. I love modeling (the math kind, obviously). Why not be presumptuous about my abilities and try to make my way through courses, so as to be able to hopefully pursue research that interests me?
And so I began by writing a curriculum for myself.

Basics:   Programming (Python),   Statistics,   Algorithms,  Epidemiology

Advanced:  Introduction to data science, Visualization, Machine learning

The problem with the 7-8 months scheduled (with no degree) is keeping motivated. 

A blog is great for keeping motivated.
Here I plan to post updates on my courses, and perhaps review articles that interest me. I am going to use the pomodoro technique, so will write actual time spent.
As for the curriculum: I have a bit of programming in my background (Matlab, Python) but don't feel strong enough. I also am realistic that courses will cost money. I decided to audit the intro courses, and pay for advanced courses. This way I will get to learn and review at the beginning, and get certificates for more advanced courses.