Episode 62: How to Rest as a Physician Mom – Even When Everyone Needs You

Even though my white coat taught me to power through, my heart knows a different truth.

Pausing isn’t a weakness, it’s survival.

But the dilemma is how to rest as a physician mom when everyone needs you – from your patients to your family, to your dog or cat!

It can be a challenge to slow down as a type A mom, and doctor, I know. (I am one.)

You feel like you’ll lose your edge, your credibility, that things will fall apart.

But there are ways to reclaim that time and protect your energy with rest.

Today, I share simple shifts that let you pause without falling behind.

I’ll introduce you to the “Snow Globe Effect” and micro-practices that turn stolen seconds into reset points.

You can stop fearing the break and lean into it.

Give yourself permission to pause today because rest is not a luxury, it’s a secret superpower!

Helping Physician Moms Reclaim Their Time, Energy, and Joy

Every now and then I just want to remind you all of what I do here at Inspired Mom MDs.

I help physician moms that feel trapped by overwhelm, exhaustion, loss of agency and lack of time.

Imagine waking up refreshed, moving through your day with focus and calm, and ending each evening without guilt but a feeling of satisfaction.

That is the transformation I had and learned the skills to help others get here. I met a fellow physician mom who revolutionized my way of thinking. She was an unbiased thinking partner that guided me back to clarity, energy, and joy. Over just 3 months I learned to reshape I cared for myself and everyone who depends on me.

Inspired by that breakthrough, I created Inspired Mom MDs which is an opportunity to help people 1:1. I offer a 4‑Month Balanced Physician Moms Program, strategic and personalized coaching experience where you:

• Map Your Time & Energy Blueprint so you reclaim hours every week for what fuels you
• Build Your Energy Renewal Rituals – from sleep habits to nutritional changes to mindful resets that fit your unique style
• Reframe Your Inner Narrative to banish guilt and take back agency
• Prioritize What Matters Most so you can thrive wherever you are in life.

This is just an outline of what is possible – you are in control of what we discuss.

You’ll emerge with a clear roadmap with reasonable, actionable steps each week to reach your goals.

Ready to see if this is your next step? I invite you to a free Clarity Call. This judgement-free zone to explore your vision and how I can support you.

Head to InspiredMomMDs.com/work-with-cindy to grab your spot!

You can thrive in your practice, in your home, and most importantly, in your own life.

Why Physician Moms Must Protect Their Energy Like Liquid Gold

Once I came to terms with realizing I am not, indeed lazy for resting when I’m exhausted, no matter how many fires needed to be put out. I now recognize I was one of the fires! 

How could I ignore the need to shower myself with calm before running around putting out fires other people can help with too?

Truth is, we do have to help ourselves first. Too bad we don’t have a doppelgänger standing in the corner with a fire blanket to run in and put out our daily fires. Maybe in a parallel universe.

But here on Earth, we have to protect ourselves. By this I mean, protect our energy.

Energy is a vital life force that is easily influenced by daily issues. When you make it a priority to protect your energy by setting boundaries, choosing how to react in toxic situations (despite how you actually feel), and protecting your time for rejuvenation. By doing these things, you refill your energy tank.

I consider energy like liquid gold. It is so valuable I don’t want to spill a drop.

Time is also like liquid gold. In fact, if I had to choose which one is more valuable, I couldn’t!

They are both precious resources with a finite limit allotted to all humans each day.

So, the puzzle is, how do you weave these together in a smart way that helps you feel your best? How do you pick your pieces for the day to honor the things you love? Which pieces are crucial for your life?

On occasion I pull out a puzzle and systematically sort all the pieces, flipping them upright, finding all the edges, grouping by color and pattern. If I could pick which ones fall on the floor and get shoved under the couch, that would be the obscure solid color piece that’s usually last to be placed.

I focus my efforts on the critical ones, the corners, love those and the edges. They are the framework of the image.

Just like the key pieces in your life, maybe your spouse, kids, favorite activity and yes, even work form the framework of your life.

Ok, I realize I went deep with 2 metaphors, liquid gold of time and energy and the puzzle pieces of your life.

What do they have in common? There is a cap, or the maximum amount you can have of each. Oh, and they are all easy to squander and lose bits and pieces along the way.

My goal today is to show how you can conserve energy without squandering time.  When you stop and rest, yes time keeps going forward. But let me be clear, you are not losing that time.

You are not wasting a precious resource by hitting pause. You are renewing your energy, and that takes time. It’s just a fact.

Now, how do you make this a priority when pausing still feels wrong when so many people need you?

Why Slowing Down Feels So Dangerous

Last week, in Episode 61, I talked about the label of laziness that is so easy to assign, and how it is often seen to equal weakness.

Admitting weakness is dangerous in the competitive world of medicine. It’s the last thing a physician would want to portray, especially in front of a patient.

There is often no wiggle room for failure.

So, you keep pushing through the fatigue, hunger and mental frustration to perform.

And that becomes the norm. Your brain tricks you into thinking this is the life you chose, this is what’s meant to be a physician plus a mom plus all your other identities.

To stop running on this hamster wheel feels dangerous, like it will go against what is normal, what you’re “supposed to do.”

It feels like taking a break means something will fall and break.

This is from both cultural messaging, indoctrination through medical training and internal factors, like perfectionism that creates the perfect storm of toxic productivity.  

Lean In to the Power of the Pause

This may sound a little like woo woo, but it works.

Now, I live in Houston, and the early summer heat is coming too soon, again, and will linger to about November. I miss cool weather, and the idea of swirling snow is kind of fun, for maybe just a day or two.

What does the weather have to do with pause? I heard a really cool analogy the other day that just clicked. Maybe you’’’ like it too.

It’s the Snow Globe Effect. The globe is your brain, or your world around you. When life feels chaotic it’s like thoughts swirling around in a snow globe. There’s almost zero visibility!

Ah, but set down the globe and watch the snow settle. The beautiful little scene becomes clearer!

A pause for your mind also restores visibility and decisions become easier. You have clarity.

Clarity doesn’t come from pushing harder and kicking up more snowflakes, it comes with a pause and being still long enough for your storm to settle.

Science beyond the snow globe supports this theory.

I watched a Masterclass by Matthew Walker, PhD. On The Science of Better Sleep. It was fascinating and one of the many key takeaways was how both sleep and downtime improved decision making, emotional regulation and memory consolidation.

I Want to Rest but Everyone Still Needs Me!

How do you reconcile rest with the pressure of daily obligations? You may still wonder how to rest as a physician mom.

Instead of being “on call” for your entire household, set mini boundaries.

My oldest kid is heading off to college this summer and I’ve been conditioning myself for letting him go. I’m grateful for the time left to practice letting him thrive and make his own mistakes, while still here at home with a family to back him up.

But I still have this pressure that I need to make the most of every moment before he goes. So, if he comes downstairs and asks me for something, but I’m right in the middle of something my instinct is to drop what I’m doing and jump to help.

I’ve had to make a conscious effort to pause a second and say, “Of course I’ll help! I need 5 minutes to finish this up.”

Honestly, I still feel a twinge of guilt as he waits on me, but I also realize I need to keep these mini boundaries for everyone. I’m still saying yes, just not right this second. My energy is not endlessly available, as I get older that is becoming more and more clear!

Have you ever tried to rest in plain sight?

Think of this as invisible rest that gives you a moment of peace without having to disappear.

These are micro moments of intentional calm and can be accomplished in whatever way that float your boat!

• Close your eyes for a full 60 seconds at pivot points of your day, like finishing charting, or after seeing your last patient.
• Turn down the volume on all the interruptions, maybe with noise cancelling earbuds or turning off notifications on your phone.
• Ground yourself with a minute of stretching, breathwork or notice where you feel stress in your body at that moment, and then consciously releasing the tensions.
• Take a sip of your coffee or tea and focus fully on that moment. Is it hot or cold? How’s the taste? Savor that sip, just for a moment.

Invisible rest is neat because no one else will notice, but your nervous system will.

Take advantage of those moments of truly being alone.

My car is my little decompression chamber. I have one task at hand, driving. I can play any audio book, podcast or music that fits my mood. Or, have complete silence.

How about when you get home, or to work, do you jump out and keep going?

I bet you’ve heard of the “Driveway Pause.” This is where you pull in to your parking spot and don’t jump out.

Pulling into a parking spot is often the moment when you shift roles between doctor, mom, or you name it. If you stay in your car for just a minute or two, no phone, no people, just stillness you give yourself a moment to recharge, to rest.

Think of other times you’re truly alone throughout the day. How can you tap into that silence to focus on you and rest a moment. I would say the bathroom comes to mind for me, but only after paying my dues of having tiny kids that call through the door.

The Power of Pause for Doctor Moms Isn’t Optional

My hope for you is the next time you yearn for a rest you heed the sign and pause.

A pause doesn’t mean you lose momentum; it is actually protecting the liquid gold of time and energy.

And the great news is that you don’t need to earn your rest! You don’t have to prove yourself worthy of slowing down.

A break doesn’t make you less, it makes you more present and more grounded – more you.

Don’t forget to join me next week for another dose of support and inspiration. Until then, take care of yourselves, and take care of those who matter most.

It’s Time to Take Control and Thrive!