Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Finding mindfulness in unexpected places

Heidi Roman, MD
Physician
June 13, 2013
37 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

I’m not sure I’ve ever been great at being still. As a kid, I joined one activity after another. Not because my parents told me I should. I just liked it. Staying busy. But, I could concentrate. Quiet the mind. I’d sit and read for hours on end or close my eyes and listen to a cassette tape from beginning to end.

Even through busy high school and college years, a good hike would help me center. But I had to work at it. I was probably at my most mindful during a month I spent in the redwoods, practicing yoga, writing, and meditating daily (a time that my husband once playfully called my “hippie rotation”).

I really started losing the stillness in medical school, and it was all downhill in residency. Wonderful in a lot of other ways, the three-year frenzy of sign-outs, check lists and sleep deprivation that was residency put my brain on overdrive. If you weren’t moving, you were wasting time. I once clocked 17,000 steps during a single 24 hours shift (yes, our entire team wore pedometers that day).

And my mind, ever seeking to understand a patient, come to a diagnosis, complete a few more tasks, moved as quickly as my steps. It’s been tough to get it to stop. The structure of primary care doesn’t help much. Ten to fifteen minutes per patient and there’s always someone waiting for you. And then there’s the cell phone and email. Even after work, I generally have this nagging sense that I should be doing something. Getting something done.

Becoming a parent has affected this in both expected and surprising ways. The first year of my son’s life it mostly exaggerated this need to make lists and check off boxes and multi-serial task. Feedings, diaper changes, returning to work, pumping.

Over the past few months I’ve been working on being more mindful. I have a long way to go. But, I’ve noticed something interesting. My mind seems to be most quiet, most present, when I’m with my son. And, I’m at my best when we’re outside. It’s not that, as a three-year-old, he’s suddenly become still. Far from it. He explores. He plays. He runs. But, he doesn’t multi-task and he’s not thinking about the next thing he has to do. Often, when I ask him if he wants to move on to the swings or the slide he’ll say, “No mommy, I’m doing this.”

One of the many things we can learn from kids. Linger a little longer. Do what you’re doing. See what you see.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how I should get back to yoga, meditate more, put away the to-do list for a day. And, yeah, I should probably do all of those things. But, maybe most days a couple hours at the park would do the trick.

Do you find mindfulness in unexpected places? Any tips or resources to share?

Heidi Roman is a pediatrician who blogs at My Two Hats.

Prev

Americans too often lose autonomy at the end of their life

June 13, 2013 Kevin 10
…
Next

It's time for parents to stop distracted driving

June 14, 2013 Kevin 3
…

Tagged as: Pediatrics

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Americans too often lose autonomy at the end of their life
Next Post >
It's time for parents to stop distracted driving

More by Heidi Roman, MD

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    A pediatrician reflects, with deep gratitude to her patients

    Heidi Roman, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    We are in the age of copy and paste medicine

    Heidi Roman, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Education on distracted driving can’t start early enough

    Heidi Roman, MD

More in Physician

  • The shifting landscape of gastroenterology manpower and compensation

    Brian Hudes, MD
  • Surgical procedures for inpatients: Addressing socioeconomic urgencies

    Deepak Gupta, MD
  • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

    Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD
  • A message of hope for physicians

    Kim Downey, PT
  • From aversion to office politics to embracing independence

    Osmund Agbo, MD
  • Navigating medical decision-making: Embracing limits and growth

    Benjamin Wade Frush, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling excessive medical billing and greed

      Amol Saxena, DPM, MPH | Policy
    • Bitcoin’s role in diversified portfolios [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Dying is a selfish business

      Nancie Wiseman Attwater | Conditions
    • Navigating medical decision-making: Embracing limits and growth

      Benjamin Wade Frush, MD | Physician
    • Empathy and compassion in palliative care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Navigating the broken medical system: challenges faced by foreign medical graduates

      Anonymous | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • The essence of medicine: genuine connections in practice

      Jennifer Tillman, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Bitcoin’s role in diversified portfolios [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • 1 in 5 doctors will become disabled. Are you prepared?

      Amarish Dave, DO | Finance
    • The pros and cons of whole life insurance for high-income earners

      Shane Tenny, CFP | Finance
    • Family support is pivotal in the treatment of schizophrenia

      Frank Chen, MD | Conditions
    • Is emergency medicine your calling? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Exploring disfigurement and self-worth

      Kathleen Watt | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 4 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • CDC Advisors Endorse Maternal RSV Vax to Protect Newborns
  • Amoxicillin Alone for Acute Sinusitis Holds Up Against Broad-Spectrum Cousin
  • Despite Taboo, Med Students, Doctors Use Substances Too
  • White House Opens Gun Violence Prevention Office
  • Nurses Step Up to Bat on Educating Patients About Climate Change

Meeting Coverage

  • Loneliness Needs to Be Treated Like Any Other Health Condition, Researcher Suggests
  • Stopping Medical Misinformation Requires Early Detection
  • AI Has an Image Problem in Healthcare, Expert Says
  • Want Better Health Outcomes? Check Out What Other Countries Do
  • ERS Roundup: Cell Transplant Boosts Lung Function in COPD Patients
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • Unveiling excessive medical billing and greed

      Amol Saxena, DPM, MPH | Policy
    • Bitcoin’s role in diversified portfolios [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Dying is a selfish business

      Nancie Wiseman Attwater | Conditions
    • Navigating medical decision-making: Embracing limits and growth

      Benjamin Wade Frush, MD | Physician
    • Empathy and compassion in palliative care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Navigating the broken medical system: challenges faced by foreign medical graduates

      Anonymous | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • The essence of medicine: genuine connections in practice

      Jennifer Tillman, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Bitcoin’s role in diversified portfolios [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • 1 in 5 doctors will become disabled. Are you prepared?

      Amarish Dave, DO | Finance
    • The pros and cons of whole life insurance for high-income earners

      Shane Tenny, CFP | Finance
    • Family support is pivotal in the treatment of schizophrenia

      Frank Chen, MD | Conditions
    • Is emergency medicine your calling? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Exploring disfigurement and self-worth

      Kathleen Watt | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Finding mindfulness in unexpected places
4 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...