Hey Doc!

I remember when I first started learning about mindfulness and meditation. I couldn't get my mind to shut up long enough to meditate, and instead of feeling relaxed and centered, I felt like I was doing something wrong.

Apparently, even relaxing was something I needed to work harder at. 🙄

And I know I'm not the only physician mom who's experienced this.

We're constantly being told to be more mindful, more present with our children, more intentional with our time. Which sounds lovely until you're sitting on the floor playing with your kids while simultaneously thinking about your patient in the ICU, next week's family trip, and the laundry that's been sitting in the dryer for three days.

Just be present, they say.

Okay. And who's handling the other 50-11 things happening in my brain?

In this episode of Stethoscopes and Strollers, I'm talking about why the pursuit of mindfulness can become another source of stress and guilt for physician moms when we ignore the bigger picture.

Because being present isn't just about learning to quiet your mind. It's about creating a life that actually allows you to.

And that requires support.

I'm also getting into something a little more uncomfortable: our tendency to say we want a different life while insisting we can't make the changes necessary to create it.

The job you can't leave. The city you can't move from. The circumstances you've convinced yourself are completely nonnegotiable.

Yeah, we're talking about those too. 😬

And somewhere along the way, I go on a little tangent about coaching and one of my clients who's now living a life she once thought wasn't possible. Because seeing physician moms make these changes is genuinely one of my favorite things in the world.

Here's what I want you to take away from this episode:

• Mindfulness shouldn't become another obligation that leaves you feeling inadequate.
• Being truly present requires practical support that reduces your mental load.
• Creating the life you want means being willing to question your "can'ts" and make changes, even if you start with baby steps.
• Self-help doesn't have to mean doing everything by yourself.

You don't need another book telling you to meditate for 30 minutes a day without addressing who's making dinner, getting the kids to soccer practice, or dealing with your office manager.

You need a life that's structured to support the things that matter to you.

And sometimes you need help figuring out how to build it.

We were never meant to do any of this alone, Doc.

🎧 Listen to this episode of Stethoscopes and Strollers and let's talk about what it actually takes to be present.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

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Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya

Hey Doc!

Before you tell me you don't need a personal brand because you're not trying to become a social media doctor, hear me out.

You already have a personal brand. Whether you've intentionally built one or not.

And no, I'm not about to tell you to start making TikToks between patients. 😂

I'm talking about protecting your professional identity, documenting your accomplishments, and making sure you have options when your career takes an unexpected turn.

Because the days of working at the same hospital for 30 years straight out of residency are pretty much gone. You may change jobs, start doing locums, move into leadership, build a business, or decide you're done with clinical medicine altogether.

And when that happens, I don't want you scrambling to remember which hospital you worked at in 2018 or trying to reclaim a Google profile that's still attached to a practice you left three years ago.

In this episode, I'm sharing why every physician needs to take ownership of her personal brand, even if she has absolutely no interest in entrepreneurship or social media.

We're talking about:

• Protecting your online identity: Why claiming your Google profile and other physician listings matters, especially when leaving a job.
• Keeping your CV updated: How documenting your accomplishments regularly protects you from forgetting just how much you've done.
• Recognizing your transferable skills: Those protocols you developed, presentations you gave, and projects you were voluntold to lead? They count.
• Owning your accomplishments outside medicine: Your Etsy shop, creative projects, or other ventures may become valuable assets in ways you never anticipated.
• Creating career options: Why building and protecting your professional identity now gives you more flexibility when life changes.

I also share how one of my clients is benefiting from a platform she started building years before she transitioned out of clinical medicine.

You don't have to know exactly where your career is going to start preparing for what's next.

And you certainly don't need to become an influencer.

You're Dr. You Incorporated.

You've spent years building your expertise, reputation, and professional accomplishments. Make sure you're the one who owns and protects them.

🎧 Listen to this episode of Stethoscopes and Strollers and take the first step toward protecting your personal brand.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya

Hey Doc!

I'm going to need you to start talking your shit.

Seriously. Because all that excellent work you're doing? The patients who love you, the charts you close, the problems you solve, the department you help keep running?

People are not paying nearly as much attention as you think they are.

And if you're waiting for someone to notice your contributions and reward you accordingly, you may be waiting a very long time.

In this episode, I'm talking about why bragging is one of the most important things you can do for your career, even if you have absolutely no desire to climb the leadership ladder.

I share a lesson from an unexpected place: my husband's work as a licensed HVAC contractor in our family business. Watching him downplay the expertise and effort it takes to solve problems that other contractors couldn't figure out reminded me of something I see physician moms do all the time.

We dismiss our accomplishments because they're just part of the job.

Except they're not just anything. That's your expertise. Your experience. Your value.

And when you don't communicate that value, you leave it up to other people to decide what you're worth. People who may be far more impressed by the colleague who never stops talking about himself. You know the one. 🙄

We're getting into why visibility matters for everything from compensation and job security to OR block time, administrative responsibilities, and getting the call schedule you actually want.

And we're talking about the particular danger of humility for women, especially Black women, who've been conditioned to believe that making themselves smaller is somehow admirable.

You don't have to want a promotion to deserve recognition. And you certainly don't have to be humble about being damn good at your job.

🎧 Listen to this episode of Stethoscopes and Strollers, then send it to five physician moms who need a reminder to talk their shit, too.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya