Intentional Living for Busy Physician Moms: 9 Ways to Reclaim Your Time and Joy
Sep 30, 2025
When I looked at my calendar and realized I’d be in Anaheim for the Tony Robbins conference, my first thought wasn’t about workshops or networking—it was about Disneyland.
Could I sneak in a visit?
Cue the guilt. Cue the overthinking. Cue the mental math of joy vs. duty.
But then Tammy, a physician I coach, said what I needed to hear:
“You tell me to prioritize joy. Now it’s your turn.”
That’s the heartbeat of intentional living—making decisions that align with your values, energy, and truth, not your to-do list.
In the chaos of shift work, parenting, travel, and trying to keep all the plates spinning, it’s easy to live reactively. But intentional living puts you back in charge. It helps you realize when you’re operating from guilt instead of vision.
It helped me redesign my days based on when I’m most creative (early mornings), when to do deep work (before noon), and when to stop and prioritize rest, movement, and presence.
It helped me accept that strength training for four hours isn’t indulgent—it’s aligned. That family time isn’t an “extra”—it’s a value.
It helped me say no to one more task, so I could say yes to three days at Disney World with my nephew Sean. And yes—I booked the Disney hotel in Anaheim, too.
If you’re ready to live on purpose instead of autopilot, start with your values. Let them shape your goals, your calendar, your relationships. Don’t wait for life to slow down—learn to pause inside the pace.
At Single Mom MD, you’ll find tools to help you get there:
✔️ Value reflection worksheets
✔️ Time audits
✔️ Gratitude prompts
✔️ Mindfulness resets
✔️ Coaching & community
This is your invitation to start today.
Say yes to your joy.
Say yes to you.
Have you figured out that
today we’re diving into a topic that might just shift the way you approach your daily life: intentional living.
Now, I know that phrase gets tossed around a lot. But let me tell you—when you’re juggling 12-hour shifts, kids’ homework, hospital politics, and wondering whether it’s okay to still want more from life—intentional living isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.
✨ Personal Story: Disneyland & Joy
A few weeks ago, I started mapping out my upcoming trip to the Tony Robbins conference in Anaheim. As soon as I realized how close I’d be to Disneyland, my inner child lit up. Could I squeeze in a visit? Then came the guilt—mom guilt, work guilt, planner guilt—you know the drill.
That’s when I talked to Tammy, a fellow physician I coach. She’s been through it: a toxic work environment, her first malpractice scare, and finally—finally—realizing she needed scuba diving more than she needed one more shift. And she said to me, “You better make time for Disneyland. You tell me to prioritize joy. Now it’s your turn.”
And she was right. I’m changing my hotel to a Disney Resort so even on my long conference days, I’ll walk back to the magic. And yes—I’ll carve out time for Downtown Disney. Maybe even a full day at the park before we start and after we finish. Why not?
🔄 Rethinking My Routine
Intentional living isn’t about having a perfectly scheduled day or meditating for an hour. It’s about living on purpose. Making decisions that line up with your values. Choosing joy—not someday, but now.
I used to think I needed to “clear the decks” to get to the deep work. But what I’ve learned is that I need to do the most important things first—and align them with my energy cycle.
I’m an early bird. My creative juices flow in the morning. So wherever I am in the world, when I wake up—I write. The night before, I prep. When my energy dips in the afternoon, that’s my best editing time. It’s also a great time to plan and set my subconscious up for overnight problem-solving.
Then comes movement. I’m in a strengthening program that sometimes takes up to four hours a day if I swim too. It’s slow, steady progress. Not the kind of results I saw in my twenties, but it’s what I need now.
Then there’s work—always work. Between 12-hour hospital shifts, expert witness cases, Single Mom MD coaching, community support, and the occasional travel writing article or short story, I have a lot of plates spinning. I’ve even been pulled back into genealogy because my cousin got his DNA done and now has more info than I had when I tested!
That’s why I’ve learned to say no—to protect the time that matters most. Like the three rare days off I had in July to spend with my nephew Sean. We did Disney Springs, Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and then I sent him with my daughter to Animal Kingdom while I recovered and packed for the next marathon of travel.
Arizona. West Virginia. Pittsburgh. Orlando. Sebastian. Dublin. I was living out of a suitcase rotation. I had suitcases pre-packed before I left just to keep up. And the dizziness I experienced from a training session plus sleep deprivation nearly knocked me out.
💡 9 Tips for Intentional Living
If your life feels like that—scattered, stretched too thin, or like it’s happening to you, not for you—these 9 tips will help you realign.
1. Define Your Values
These are your compass. Choose what you stand for—honesty, peace, growth, connection—and live by them.
2. Set Clear Goals
Pick one personal, one professional, and one relationship goal. Break them into micro-steps. Time-box them. Celebrate the progress.
3. Prioritize Self-Care
Not just spa days. Real self-care might look like watching a movie trilogy in a recliner because your body needs rest.
4. Declutter Your Space
Even if you’re a “butterfly” like me—who likes everything visible—create some breathing room. It clears your mind.
5. Cultivate Mindfulness
You don’t need a mountaintop. A pause in your car, one deep breath, or focused handwashing counts. Resources are on the blog.
6. Limit Distractions
That game I loved? I stepped back and got back an hour a day. Check where your attention is going and ask: is it aligned?
7. Foster Positive Relationships
Family doesn’t always mean healthy. You’re allowed to build your own circle. You deserve people who cheer for your growth.
8. Practice Gratitude
Don’t wait for “someday.” There’s beauty in your now. A smile. A sip of tea. A quiet car ride. Acknowledge it.
9. Embrace Growth
Growth is messy. It looks like failure. It feels like chaos. But it’s how we become who we were meant to be.
⚡ Fast Action Steps
If you only have a few minutes, here’s how to begin:
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Create a Vision Board – Anchor your intentions visually.
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Try a Digital Detox – Even 30 minutes makes a difference.
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Schedule Mindfulness – Literally block it off in your calendar.
Intentional living doesn’t demand more from you—it gives back to you. It gives you clarity. Purpose. Permission to prioritize joy, connection, and what lights you up.
And yes—sometimes, that means saying yes to Disneyland.
Calling all remarkable women physicians and single moms!
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