A warm, story-driven Thanksgiving reflection for physician moms—grounding breathwork, gratitude that doesn’t ignore pain, tiny rituals that build connection, and gentle ways to serve (and receive) without burning out. We borrow steadiness from Sir William Osler’s “equanimity,” remember Dr. King’s call to everyday service, and close with a 2-minute guided Thankful Pause you can do in a kitchen, car, or call room.

Listen for

• An ER story where a 45-second pause changed an entire shift
• “Gratitude as disciplined attention” (how to notice what’s right alongside what’s hard)
• Tammy’s Balcony: why 15 minutes of quiet can create productivity
• Micro-skills for the holiday table and the unit: truth-with-tact scripts, receiving compliments, and small acts of service
• A short guided practice you can replay any time you feel flooded

And you can get started with some Genius Tips for how to set yourself up for a great work week. ⁠⁠Here⁠⁠ are things to schedule on whatever you consider your "Sunday" to do just ⁠⁠⁠⁠that⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Join the Single Mom MD community ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and let's talk more for personalized attention to your specific questions. We look forward to welcoming you.

When you think of additional topics you’d like covered on this podcast, contact me through the chat below and via social media @SingleMomMD.

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Key takeaways

• You don’t have a time problem; you have a permission problem.
• Equanimity = a steady mind that allows compassion to do its job.
• Rest isn’t a prize you earn; it’s fuel that lets you show up well.
• Service is dignity, not performance—small, concrete acts count.
• Presence—not pace—is what your people will remember.

Practices mentioned (quick reference)

• The Thankful Pause: Breathe in 4, hold 4, out 6; whisper “Here”; set one intention for the next hour.
• Name–Notice–Nurture: Name the feeling → Notice it in the body → Nurture with one small action (longer exhale, text, small donation, news break).
• Truth with Tact (boundary script): “I respect how much you care about this. I want to give it space—can we table it for after the holiday? Today I’m savoring being together.”
• Doorway Breathing (on shift): Hand on doorframe, slow inhale, longer exhale, silently say “Here.”
• Three-B Check: Brain (clear?), Belly (fuel/water?), Bladder (bio break?) before tough conversations or next patient.
• Two-Sentence Note: “I appreciate you for _____. I’m grateful we’re in each other’s lives.”

This episode invites physician and executive moms to trade busy-ness for presence with a “Thankful Pause.” Dr. Gail reframes the issue as a mind habit—not a time deficit—and shares two stories: a 90-second ER (Emergency Room) pause that changed a shift, and “Tammy’s Balcony,” where 15 quiet minutes created more productivity, not less. You’ll learn the P.A.U.S.E. protocol (Permission, Anchor, Unhook, Scan, Exit with intention) and the THANKS plan (Triage traditions, Hand off early, Appointments with yourself, Normalize “no,” Keep fueled, Savor aloud), plus quick tools: the 3-Minute Reset, a 10-10-10 clutter sweep, the “Who Else?” delegation rule, If-Then calm plans, and a five-minute Gratitude Walk. For clinicians on duty, we cover Doorway Breathing, the “Triple B” check (Brain, Belly, Bladder), a Call-Room Calm Kit, and marking TP (Thankful Pause) on your list. We close with two mindset shifts—define three wins a day and remember that rest is fuel, not a prize—and a gentle nudge to share this plan with a colleague heading into the holiday on fumes.

And you can get started with some Genius Tips for how to set yourself up for a great work week. ⁠⁠Here⁠⁠ are things to schedule on whatever you consider your "Sunday" to do just ⁠⁠⁠⁠that⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Join the Single Mom MD community ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and let's talk more for personalized attention to your specific questions. We look forward to welcoming you.

When you think of additional topics you’d like covered on this podcast, contact me through the chat below and via social media @SingleMomMD.

Follow us at Single Mom MD:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The Thankful Pause Cheat Sheet (Copy/Paste)

P.A.U.S.E. = Permission • Anchor • Unhook • Scan • Exit (with intention)
THANKS = Triage • Hand off • Appointments (with yourself) • Normalize “no” • Keep fueled • Savor aloud
3-Minute Reset = Box breathe • 5-4-3-2-1 senses • Micro-plan
If–Then Calm Plans = Gravy breaks → breathe + text helper • Hot topic → “Happy to talk later—today I’m savoring.” • Feel behind → P.A.U.S.E. + one next action
Who Else? = Delegate at 70% quality; perfection is pricey
Gratitude Walk = 5 minutes, 1 ordinary thanks per minute
Triple B = Brain, Belly, Bladder (clear, fueled, comfortable)

In this pre-Thanksgiving episode, we reframe gratitude from “frosting” to fuel. Dr. Gail shares a hallway fork story where a 90-second Thankful Micro-Audit changed an entire conversation, then offers concrete tools: a Lights-Me-Up Inventory to anchor energy, a three-ring Support Map to ask for help without guilt, an ALIGN filter to protect November priorities, the 3×3 Gratitude pattern (clinic, home, self), the Brave Five daily check-in, and a guided one-minute practice you can do in a call room or car line. We close with a gentle invitation to pilot collaborations that grow your impact without draining vitality. Gratitude, spoken specifically and paired with support, becomes the most practical resilience tool you own.

And you can get started with some Genius Tips for how to set yourself up for a great work week. ⁠⁠Here⁠⁠ are things to schedule on whatever you consider your "Sunday" to do just ⁠⁠⁠⁠that⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Join the Single Mom MD community ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and let's talk more for personalized attention to your specific questions. We look forward to welcoming you.

When you think of additional topics you’d like covered on this podcast, contact me through the chat below and via social media @SingleMomMD.

Follow us at Single Mom MD:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠