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The Wearable Device That Could Change Everything for Physicians

What if there was a way to get objective, real-time data about how your lifestyle choices are actually affecting your health? Not just a random cortisol test that tells you nothing actionable, but continuous monitoring that could force you to confront the truth about how you're treating your body?

In this special car edition episode, we dive into my million-dollar idea: a continuous cortisol monitor that could revolutionize how physicians approach self-care.

What We Talk About

• Why random cortisol tests are basically useless (and what question I always ask patients who request them)
• How a continuous cortisol monitor could provide the objective data your scientist brain needs to finally prioritize self-care
• The institutionalized sacrifice of women physicians—and why the system profits from your overwork without compensating you
• Why the self-care strategies that worked at 24 won't work at 44 (and what you need to do differently)
• The uncomfortable truth about why you've been conditioned to ignore your body's needs

The Million Dollar Question

If you could see in real-time how your cortisol levels spike when you're running on four hours of sleep, grabbing donuts from the break room, and charting until midnight—what would you do with that data?

More importantly: What will you do right now, without that monitor, knowing that your current patterns are harming your health?

Your Homework

Put on your imaginary continuous cortisol monitor this week. What would it be showing you? If you were tasked with reducing those levels, what one change would you make first?

Remember: You can't continue to sacrifice your health for a system that profits from your overwork. The future of healthcare depends on you figuring out how to set limits so you can stay in the game without breaking yourself.

Key Takeaway

Being a woman physician doesn't have to be bad for your health—but only if you stop living into that narrative and start making choices that honor the fact that your body at this stage of life needs different care than it did 20 years ago.

This week, choose self-compassion over self-sacrifice. Your patients, your family, and your future self will thank you.

Let's Connect

Need more support? Schedule a coaching consultation at https://calendly.com/healthierforgood/coaching-discovery-call

Connect with us:

• Website: healthierforgood.com
• Email: megan@healthierforgood.com
• Instagram: @meganmelomd

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share with a colleague who might benefit!

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: megan@healthierforgood.com

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD

Send us a text

Finding Your Path to Alignment: The Antidote to Physician Burnout

Are you feeling stuck in a perpetual slog, wondering where your passion for medicine went? You're not alone, and there's a powerful principle that can help guide you back to a place of purpose and energy.

In this episode, we explore the concept of alignment—a state of living and making decisions that honors your core values, leverages your unique gifts, and energizes you through your passions and interests.

What You'll Learn

• Alignment acts as a powerful antidote to burnout (and the research showing you only need 20% of your time in alignment to see benefits)
• How to recognize when you're out of alignment and what to do about it
• The critical importance of tuning into your thoughts and feelings to find your way back
• Boundaries are essential tools for maintaining alignment in both your professional and personal life

Key Takeaways

When you're in alignment, you're like a car with properly aligned tires—moving forward smoothly and efficiently, even when the road gets bumpy. But when you're out of alignment, every mile feels like a struggle against resistance.

The good news? Research suggests that spending just 20% of your time using your gifts and talents in areas aligned with your passions can significantly protect against burnout.

Remember: It's not your fault if perfectionism and people-pleasing have brought you to a place of burnout in our broken healthcare system. AND you have the power to tune into your thoughts and begin changing them to feel better. Both things can be true simultaneously.

Your homework: Start noticing where you feel energized in your work and where you feel drained. This awareness is the first step toward finding your alignment and creating the medical career you truly want.

Next week, we'll continue our journey toward ending physician overwhelm together. Until then, remember that you deserve to practice medicine in a way that honors who you are.

Let's Connect

Need more support? Schedule a coaching consultation at https://calendly.com/healthierforgood/coaching-discovery-call

Connect with us:

• Website: healthierforgood.com
• Email: megan@healthierforgood.com
• Instagram: @meganmelomd

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share with a colleague who might benefit!

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: megan@healthierforgood.com

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD

Send us a text

Rules? Who Me?

Hello my friends! Today we're diving into those self-imposed rules that might be governing your life and keeping you stuck in patterns of overwhelm. From the seemingly trivial (must shave legs before wearing shorts) to the deeply consequential (always putting yourself last), these internalized rules often lead us to burnout, exhaustion, and disconnection from what truly matters.

Key Takeaways

• Identifying Your Rules: Pay attention to thoughts that contain command language like "I can't," "I must," or "I should." These often signal an internalized rule that may not be serving you.
• Questioning Who Benefits: Many of the rules we live by primarily serve others at our expense. The medical culture of "patient first" can easily morph into "I always come last," creating an unsustainable path to burnout.
• Imagining Life Without the Rule: Who would you be without this constraint? Often, letting go of rigid rules leads to better boundaries, improved self-care, and a sustainable medical practice.

Three Steps to Use Now

1. Find Your Rules: Notice when you think "I can't," "I must," or "I should" - these indicate potential rules governing your choices.
2. Ask Who the Rule Serves: Is this rule primarily benefiting you, or is it serving others at your expense?
3. Envision Yourself Without the Rule: How would your life change if you let this rule go? Would you be happier, healthier, or more balanced?

Who Cares? You Do!

When we live bound by rigid, internalized rules, we create the perfect environment for burnout to thrive. By questioning and releasing rules that don't serve us, we create space for sustainable medical practice and a more balanced life.

Let's Connect

Need more support? Schedule a coaching consultation at https://calendly.com/healthierforgood/coaching-discovery-call

Connect with us:

• Website: healthierforgood.com
• Email: megan@healthierforgood.com
• Instagram: @meganmelomd

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share with a colleague who might benefit!

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: megan@healthierforgood.com

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD

Send us a text

Ever find yourself busy all day yet feeling like you've accomplished nothing? You're not alone. As physicians, we face an overwhelming number of interruptions in our day - many of which didn't exist even a few years ago.

What You'll Learn:

• Why constant interruptions are destroying your focus and productivity
• How to set clear, kind boundaries with staff and colleagues
• Why multitasking is actually procrastination in disguise
• Practical strategies to handle both external interruptions and internal distractions

The Interruption Problem

We're bombarded with distractions that our brains aren't designed to handle - from Epic messages popping up during patient visits to constant texts and emails. These interruptions don't just slow us down; they can make patient care unsafe.

When someone interrupts you with a non-urgent question:

• Don't respond immediately
• Use clear, kind language: "I can't answer that right now. Please refer to the clinic policy."
• Remember that each time you allow an interruption, you teach people it's okay to interrupt you

Setting Boundaries

You can take control by:

• Teaching others when you'll respond (not immediately!)
• Setting specific times to check messages and email
• Communicating clear windows when staff can bring questions to you (e.g., "between 12-12:30 when I'm done with morning patients")

Handling Internal Distractions

When you feel bored, frustrated, or low energy during your workday, you likely seek distractions (checking email, social media, grabbing unnecessary snacks). Instead:

• Recognize these feelings as normal
• Take quick, intentional breaks that serve you (deep breathing, jumping jacks, brief colleague interaction)
• Choose the "uphill" task (finishing notes now) over the "downhill" task (checking email)

Remember: Finishing a note immediately after seeing a patient takes minutes, while coming back to it days later can take 10-15 minutes. Those small choices add up to major time savings.

Take Action Now

You are not lazy or broken for struggling with focus. Our human brains seek dopamine and relief from discomfort. But by making different choices about how you handle interruptions and distractions, you can regain control of your day and finally feel accomplished when you leave work.

"I will not be stopped by interruptions anymore outside of medical emergencies. I will not let my brain get disrupted. I will not blame myself or say unkind words to myself. I will just choose to make some different decisions."

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: megan@healthierforgood.com

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD

Send us a text

Today we talk about the negative internal dialogue that plays in our heads and how it impacts our wellbeing and performance. This episode explores:

• How negative self-talk becomes our default "soundtrack" - especially during challenging moments
• Why our brains are naturally wired for negativity (an evolutionary safety mechanism)
• How high-achieving professionals often internalize harsh critical voices from teachers, coaches, or mentors
• The emotional toll this negativity takes on us and how it affects our actions

We discuss insights from Jon Acuff's book "Soundtracks" and provide practical strategies to transform our internal dialogue:

1. Filter your thoughts through three questions:
   • Is it true?
   • Is it helpful?
   • Is it kind?
2. Understand that negative thoughts aren't something we can just switch off - they're more like a volume dial we can turn down
3. Techniques for reducing negative thoughts:
   • Naming or personifying the negative voice
   • Using grounding techniques to bring yourself to the present moment
   • Creating replacement thoughts or affirmations to reprogram your thinking

I want to emphasize that changing jobs or circumstances won't automatically fix negative thought patterns; we need to actively work on them. By reducing this negative mental chatter, you gain greater mental flexibility, emotional resilience, and the ability to advocate for ourselves.

Join our challenge and practice rewiring your brain with more helpful thoughts. Like now…

Don't forget to rate, review, and share this episode with someone who might benefit from addressing their negative self-talk!

Need more support? Schedule a coaching consultation at https://calendly.com/healthierforgood/coaching-discovery-call

Connect with us:

• Website: healthierforgood.com
• Email: megan@healthierforgood.com
• Instagram: @meganmelomd

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share with a colleague who might benefit!

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: megan@healthierforgood.com

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD

Send us a text

Today we're talking about energy management and why it's our responsibility to manage our own energy levels.

Key Points:

• Two of my physician clients shared calling out sick as weekly wins in coaching sessions – highlighting how we're trained to always put patient care first, often at our own expense
• Energy management is each of our personal responsibility, and no one else can see our energy levels or tank size
• Our energy tanks change throughout life stages (residency vs. parenting young children vs. empty nesting)
• Medicine falsely pretends we all have the same energy capacity
• When we choose to take a sick day when truly needed, we help change the unhealthy culture of medicine

Notable Quotes from Today's Episode:

"We are trained to put ourselves last, always. We are trained to work through, push through, ignore our bodies, ignore anything that we're feeling or experiencing... in order to put patient care first."

"No one can see the energy that we do or don't have. They can't see how big the tank is, they can't see how big the spigot is that's draining."

"Who we are and what we do matters. It matters and it makes a difference. We're going to figure out a way that we can do this and manage our energy in a sustainable way."

Practical Advice for All of Us:

• Let's assess our current life stage and energy capacity realistically
• We need to recognize when our tanks are depleted and take necessary breaks
• We should set proactive boundaries with our teams about our limitations
• We might need to consider whether our practice environments match our energy styles
• Remember that chronically pushing through low energy is unsustainable for all of us

Final Thoughts:

Finding alignment between patient care and self-care isn't mutually exclusive. By being responsible stewards of our own energy, we can create sustainable pathways to continue practicing medicine effectively while honoring our human needs.

Need more support? Schedule a coaching consultation at https://calendly.com/healthierforgood/coaching-discovery-call

Connect with us:

• Website: healthierforgood.com
• Email: megan@healthierforgood.com
• Instagram: @meganmelomd

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share with a colleague who might benefit!

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: megan@healthierforgood.com

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD

Send us a text

Today we talk about the concept of "unsubscribing" – not just from email newsletters, but from the thoughts, beliefs, and habits that no longer serve us as physicians.

Episode Highlights:

• We celebrate 3 years of "Ending Physician Overwhelm" (launched March 2022)
• Unsubscribe from harmful ideas and beliefs:
  • The belief that we should be able to function in a broken healthcare system without support
  • The notion that we must respond to every patient message in extensive detail
  • The idea that asking for help makes us "difficult" or "not a team player"
• Unsubscribe from complexity:
  • Let go of complex solutions when simple ones would work better
  • Stop believing that you must figure out everything on your own
  • Recognize when to delegate or refer instead of overcomplicating your workload
• Unsubscribe from habits that don't serve you:
  • Professional habits like doing tasks below your license level
  • Personal habits that neglect your wellbeing (poor sleep, inadequate exercise)
  • The pattern of putting yourself last while caring for everyone else

Remember: You deserve a sustainable, fulfilling life with meaningful work AND connection to the people you love outside of medicine.

Resources Mentioned:

• "Atomic Habits" by James Clear
• "Tiny Habits" by BJ Fogg
• "Smarter Living" (book mentioned from library)

Did you enjoy this episode? Please leave a rating and review to help others find us, and share with a colleague who might benefit!

Need more support? Schedule a coaching consultation at https://calendly.com/healthierforgood/coaching-discovery-call

Connect with us:

• Website: healthierforgood.com
• Email: megan@healthierforgood.com
• Instagram: @meganmelomd

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share with a colleague who might benefit!

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: megan@healthierforgood.com

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD

Send us a text

This week, we talk about the significant changes happening in medicine that aren't likely to reverse, and how we as physicians need to adapt to navigate these shifts effectively.

Episode Highlights:

• The Reality of Job Insecurity in Medicine
  1. Stories of experienced physicians being let go with little warning
  2. How healthcare organizations are prioritizing budget over experience and loyalty
  3. Why the long-term stability we once expected in medical careers is no longer guaranteed
• Historical Context vs. Current Reality
  1. How the medical career path has transformed from the days of physicians staying in one practice for decades
  2. Why the expectations we entered medicine with may no longer align with today's realities
  3. The additional challenges facing physician parents and those without stay-at-home partners
• Three Key Strategies for Navigating Change:
  1. Believe in the value of your expertise, skills, and experience
     • Separating your worth from organizational decisions
     • Recognizing that being let go reflects budget priorities, not your value
     • Protecting yourself from undervaluing your contributions
  2. Embrace technology and delegation
     • Learning to use AI and other tools effectively, not just efficiently
     • The importance of delegating tasks that don't require physician expertise
     • Finding the balance between oversight and offloading work
  3. Be your own advocate and believe what the system shows you
     • Setting clear boundaries about what's acceptable
     • Recognizing patterns of broken promises and unsupported policies
     • Making decisions based on how organizations actually behave, not what they say

Key Takeaways:

Where do YOU need to adapt to the changing medical landscape?

• Recognize that career stability looks different now than it did for previous generations
• Consider creative practice models (micro-practices, cash pay, part-time arrangements)
• Break away from the expectation of staying in one place "forever"
• Set aside time to think strategically about your career path and priorities

Connect with us:

• Website: healthierforgood.com
• Email: megan@healthierforgood.com
• Instagram: @meganmelomd

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share with a colleague who might benefit!

Support the show

To learn more about my coaching practice and group offerings, head over to www.healthierforgood.com. I help Physicians and Allied Health Professional women to let go of toxic perfectionist and people-pleasing habits that leave them frustrated and exhausted. If you are ready to learn skills that help you set boundaries and prioritize yourself, without becoming a cynical a-hole, come work with me.

Want to contact me directly?
Email: megan@healthierforgood.com

Follow me on Instagram!
@MeganMeloMD