Are you practicing balance?
You’ve worked so hard to get to where you are. You’ve studied and trained to do amazing things like save lives and change policies… yet you often don’t feel like you’re doing enough at work, or at home. Or for yourself.
Stop the overwhelm of trying to be all the things to all the people.
College. Grad school. Med school. Law school. Subspecialty training. Promotions. Making partner. It’s easy in our world to get caught on the hedonic treadmill of achievement… if you’re aware enough to look up, you just might realize you don’t know who you are anymore.
Let me help you find solutions for self-knowledge, self-care, and simplicity.
I got stuck on the treadmill and might still be there if I hadn’t had a major health scare to knock me down and into a journey of self-awareness and intentionality. Don’t make the mistakes I made; start working toward your own unique blend of work and life today!
Schedule a call
Read more about my self-knowledge journey and how I’ve come to practice medicine on my own terms.
Who I am
I’m Dawn Baker. I’m a wife, a mother, a former engineer, and a board-certified anesthesiologist. I’m a lover of words and writing. I’m a keynote speaker, and I’m a lifestyle design coach for physicians and professionals.
I started my adult life as a vagabond rock climber and world traveler who loved to learn new things – which is what led me to a career in medicine. Only I lost myself on the way, as I got caught up in the treadmill of achievement. I forgot who I really was.
It took a cancer diagnosis, surgery, and recovery (and lots of coaching from various sources) to regain my balance, remembering my deeply-held values.
I’m now successfully practicing my balance. But my balance won’t look like your balance. Let me help you find yours.
Recent Blog Posts
Lean Out Podcast: Systems with Santina Wheat
It’s the little things that often add up to something big. Have you ever heard of the snowball effect? You change one tiny habit, and it snowballs into an entire…
Scammed! What to Do and How to Prevent Internet Crime
(Scroll to the bottom to hear this article in podcast form!) Today’s article is a little off-topic from what you usually see at practicebalance.com. But I assure you, this is…
Scammed! What to Do and How to Prevent Internet CrimeRead More
Lean Out Podcast: Values with Karla Castillo
It’s easy to rush through life. It’s easy to assume the identity dictated by our professions without consideration for who we really are. But it’s hard to have your structure…
Lean Out Podcast: Plans with Sarah Hart-Unger
Do you have an interest that doesn’t seem to fit with your profession? What if you were to pursue it just for the joy of the thing? Not everything we…
Do You Have Margin In Your Life?
(Scroll to the bottom of this article to listen in podcast form!) Recently I was coaching a client who identified one of her core values as flexibility. When I do…
Your Best Mind Ever in 2026
(Featured image: usplash.com) Scroll to the bottom to hear this article in podcast form! I used to be way into resolutions and goal setting, but it was more about checking…
Lean Out Podcast: Nobody’s W2 with Aimee Lowe
W2 has perks. Benefits, admin support… W2 is safe (Or is it?). What if you want to practice your profession on your terms? Spend as long as you want with…
A Few of My Favorite Things: Holiday Gift Giving
(To listen to this article in podcast form, scroll to the bottom and push play!) I love a good gift guide! Gift guides are so fun. The internet has brought…
Stop crowdsourcing your work-life balance
I see it all the time in forums and Facebook groups: the question, “What tips do you have for balancing it all?” Lots of one-liners are likely to leave you frustrated (because you’ve tried them) or shameful (because you can’t try them)…
What matters most to YOU? What are YOUR core values? How do you REALLY want to spend your precious time?
You don’t have to lose yourself in your profession to feel accomplished.
You don’t have to sacrifice a high level of mastery to have a fulfilling life outside of work. You CAN take your own path.
I can help!
