My Word for 2025: Integration

Happy New Year, friends!

As we move into 2025, I’ve been reflecting on what I want this year to feel like. The word I’ve chosen to guide me is Integration.

For me, integration is about feeling present, grounded, and whole. It’s about reclaiming a sense of connection—not just with others, but with myself. It’s about aligning my actions with my values and finding harmony in the many roles I play as a physician, coach, and person.

Here are three areas where I’m focusing on cultivating integration this year:

1. Integration at Home
Too often, we carry our physician identity home with us, staying tethered to our inbox or mentally replaying the day’s events. This year, I’m asking myself: How can I create boundaries that allow me to be more present with the people I love?

For me, this looks like taking a moment to pause before walking through the door—breathing deeply and letting go of the workday so I can fully show up as a partner and parent.

2. Integration at Work
Medicine often asks us to do more with less, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of expecting ourselves to meet impossible standards. This year, I’m committing to aligning my expectations with the reality of my resources—whether that’s time, staff, or mental energy.

When we acknowledge the limits of what’s possible, we can work more sustainably and stay connected to the “why” behind our work.

3. Integration in My Body
Reconnecting with physical and emotional needs is one of the most profound acts of self-care. Integration means noticing when I’m tired, thirsty, or overwhelmed—and giving myself permission to rest, hydrate, or feel my emotions.

This work isn’t easy, but it’s essential. We’ve been trained to ignore ourselves in service to others, but true connection requires us to take care of ourselves first.

Why Integration Matters
When we cultivate integration, we move out of survival mode and into a place of connection and purpose. We stop striving for robotic efficiency and start embracing what it means to be human.

If you’re feeling fragmented or disconnected, I invite you to join me in exploring what integration could look like for you. Small, intentional steps—like setting a boundary, pausing to breathe, or acknowledging your feelings—can make a big difference.

Here’s what a few of the Women Physicians in Unbound: Women Physicians Reclaiming their Lives are accomplishing as they have been practicing integration:

“I was in the middle of a really tough surgery that had been going on for many hours, and I was drained. I decided to take a break; we reached a pause place, I went to the bathroom, drank some coffee, had a snack, and I felt so much better returning to the case. I realized that the “old man voice” in my head had been telling me I couldn’t do that; but I felt so much better taking a break!”

“I’ve been reading every night with my son before bed. I’ve wanted to read more for years, but I hadn’t gotten started. I’m so happy that I’ve been able to keep going!”

“I’ve been on vacation, and today marks 9 days since I’ve logged into Epic, and I feel fantastic! I realized that I didn’t need to constantly be dipping in, and I feel so much more refreshed.”

I invite you to lean into this. Check out this week’s podcast Episode 158, to learn more.

Here’s to a 2025 filled with connection, purpose, and wholeness.