If your new year started strong and suddenly hit a wall, you’re not alone. In this heartfelt episode, Dr. Gail Clifford shares how to embrace the natural cycles of energy, rest, and renewal that define us as humans — not machines. You’ll learn how to work with your body’s rhythms instead of against them and rediscover the art of gentle productivity.

You’ll Learn:

• Why energy and motivation fluctuate naturally
• How to recognize when you’re in a “winter cycle”
• The difference between stovetop and microwave days
• How to make tasks 10% easier when you’re drained
• A simple way to talk to yourself with kindness

Actionable Takeaways:

1. Pause: Take 5–10 minutes of stillness — no phone, no guilt.
2. Soften: Ask “How can I make this 10% easier today?”
3. Shift: Swap negative self-talk for neutral or kind words.
4. Accept: Recognize your cyclical nature — it’s not weakness; it’s wisdom.
5. Reflect: End each week by noting one way you honored your rhythm.

Key Quote:

“Nature doesn’t apologize for needing winter — and neither should you.”

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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In this empowering episode of Single Mom MD, Dr. Gail Clifford explores how self-reflection helps physician and executive moms develop the resilience they need to navigate life’s chaos with confidence. Learn seven powerful benefits of self-reflection—and get real-life tips to practice it, even in the middle of your busy day.

Whether you’re handling hospital politics, parenting pressures, or personal growth, this episode will help you reclaim your strength from the inside out.

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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In this New Year episode, we trade brittle resolutions for sustainable, seasonal goals—with the playful courage of the Fool’s Journey. You’ll learn five beginner-friendly practices (start tiny, bundle habits, focus on “during,” fuel with excitement, and pack lightly), a nervous-system-first toolkit (Doorway Breathing, Triple B, 90-second Thankful Pause), and a simple seasonal map for 2025. Stories include Jenny’s balcony, charting sprints, a pantry win, and a 6-minute lantern loop with kids. We close with a 3-minute guided reset and a 7-day Beginner Sprint you can start today. Mantra for the year: “My worth is inherent. My productivity is a strategy—not my identity.”

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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In this heartfelt Christmas episode of the Single Mom MD Podcast, Dr. Gail Clifford reflects on the meaning of the season through the lens of parenthood, sacrifice, gratitude, and loss. Christmas celebrates the birth of a child—and the profound love and courage of the parents who made that miracle possible. Today, we explore what that story teaches modern mothers, especially those carrying more than their share.

Dr. Clifford shares the recent loss of her 38-year-old stepdaughter, the grief that surfaced, and the unexpected gratitude that followed. She also opens up about caring for her daughter through two traumatic brain injuries, supporting her recovery, and the sacrifices required to give her stability, safety, and hope for the future. Through stories of faith, overwhelm, and resilience, this episode reminds women that grief and gratitude can coexist—and that caring for yourself is essential when caring for others.

Whether you’re a single mom physician, an executive mom, or a woman navigating a difficult season, this episode offers comfort, companionship, and perspective. You are not alone. You are stronger than you realize. And you have so much still worth living for.

Includes end-of-episode reflection questions.

1. What moment or memory are you most grateful for this year, even if it came wrapped in pain or loss?
2. Where in your life are you being called to sacrifice—and how might that sacrifice also be an act of love?
3. Are you allowing yourself to grieve what you’ve lost without forgetting what you still have to live for?
4. What are you carrying alone that you might need help with in this season?
5. How can you create one simple moment of rest or self-care this week so you don’t lose yourself in the overwhelm?
6. What would it look like to shift your mindset—just one degree—toward gratitude today?
7. Of all the people in your life, who needs your presence more than your perfection right now?
8. How is your faith (spiritual, personal, or inner knowing) inviting you to trust that you are not meant to walk this season alone?

Dreams are fuel; plans move the car. In this episode, Dr. Gail guides single mom physicians and executive moms through a 90-minute sprint to turn one dream into a Q1 plan you can keep—even during call weeks. You’ll choose a “Big Three” focus, map 12-week milestones, design Base/Standard/Stretch habits, and add If–Then scripts so progress survives real life.

What You’ll Learn

• How to run a 10-minute reality check that actually changes your plan
• Pick ONE high-leverage focus (Money, Time, or Support) for Q1
• The 3-layer breakdown: Outcome → Monthly milestones → Weekly moves
• Build an on-call-proof habit ladder (Base/Standard/Stretch)

Use If–Then scripts, a friction audit, and tiny rewards to keep momentum

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 Topics

• The real moral behind The Fox and the Grapes
• Why physicians rationalize disappointment
• Practical ways to build emotional intelligence
• How to push through end-of-year fatigue
• Quick physiological resets for procrastination

Takeaway:
Don’t label missed goals as “sour grapes.” Recognize resistance, reframe failure, and finish the year with grace and gratitude.

Call to Action:
Subscribe to Single Mom MD wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review to help other physician moms find calm amid the chaos.

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:

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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:

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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.

Follow us at Single Mom MD:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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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.”