It feels a little silly, especially at the end of a long day, but I like to take a look in the mirror and imagine I'm the last patient on my daily rounds. Role-playing like this is helpful because I'm more likely to be honest to Carlos, the PA, than Carlos, the regular dude. It's the gravitas behind the ID, I suppose, and whenever possible, I'll do this in the break room while still wearing scrubs. Peering down at my reflection, I know it's time to come clean: No, I haven't been eating right, and Yes, I've skipped the gym a few times in the last week. Stating it out loud is the first step, and while my co-workers laugh, a few have even adopted the practice themselves. Now that we've been open about our shortcomings, we can offer ourselves the same firm advice we'd give our patients, and know that to ignore it would be the height of hypocrisy.