Last month, my husband was deployed to Iraq. While I worry about his safety, I'm also glad that the soldiers he's serving with will have a skilled physician ready to help when injuries arise. Meanwhile, during his new mission, I, too, have started a new adventure of my own - that of a single parent.

It has taken me three weeks to find the right rhythm between work and home life. Before our Iraq chapter began, I had been so completely caught up in our busy lives as young working parents, that I hadn't realized the immense contributions my spouse made each day.

But then he was deployed and within 24 hours, I suddenly found myself the sole daycare dropper-offer and picker-upper; cook and dishwasher; baby bather; house cleaner; and bill payer. And never mind having to also be attentive at work and diffusing the standard toddler temper tantrums.

With my husband away, I've had to use my time more effectively and prioritize the day's tasks. Now that I'm starting to get the hang of this more complicated level of multi-tasking, I've set another goal for myself: to attend to my own health and well-being with the same vigilance I use in caring for my patients.

One of the tools I've been using to improve my efficiency and order my priorities is to create realistic task lists. Kind of like those assignment notebooks that many of us used to organize our school homework.

And since I'm making these lists for myself, I thought I'd share one checklist of tasks I jotted down to make sure I keep up with my well-being, in spite of our crazy-busy lives. (Full disclosure: This list for you is a bit more extensive than the one I've set for myself.)

• Get a physical examination. Make sure it includes a Pap smear and a cholesterol assessment.
• Update your immunizations. Ask your doctor if you should get a second dose of MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, and find out if you're eligible for a tetanus booster with pertussis (aka whooping cough) called the Tdap vaccine.
• Start taking a calcium and vitamin D supplement. Twice a day if you don't consume enough dairy.
• Perform monthly breast exams. (Consider doing this on the date of your birth - for example, on the 12th of every month).
• Get an annual mammogram if you are 50 or older. If you're younger, consider starting annually once you reach age 40 and beyond.
• See a dentist. Get those teeth cleaned, as well as whatever other dental care you may need. This is particularly important to attend to if you are planning on getting pregnant, when you want to avoid being exposed to the risks of medications and infection related to dental work or deal with the consequences of untreated decay.
• Have your eyes examined. A vision check-up is as important as getting a correct eyeglass prescription because you'll also get screened for glaucoma, which has few symptoms at first and, although treatable, can lead to blindness.
• Quit smoking. At least make a plan and seek support to carry it out!
• Start exercising. Start slowly at first by walking, then gradually increase the duration, intensity, and frequency of your workouts over several weeks.
• Improve your diet. This is simple, too. Start by limiting your intake of fats and simple carbohydrates like starches, juices, and soda. Reduce sodium and caffeine. Aim for more fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Wear your seatbelt. Use it every time you're in a moving vehicle, even in a parking lot!
• Check your smoke detectors.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors.
• Wear sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) consistently. Go with a fake tan or bronzer for that summer glow!