"The Great Life Jumpstart"
a Retreat for Overloaded Women
Who Want A Great Work-Life
Without the Guilt
Virtual Retreat (September 26-27, 2026)
OR
In Person Retreat (Niagara-on-the-Lake) October 3-4, 2026
The Jumpstart Promise:
edit your overloaded life and sustainably win back
10 hours per week
Does this sound about right?
You're managing a challenging career, a family life filled with
homework and extra-curricular activities, and the invisible tasks
that glue it all together. Society rewards you for managing it all, but the constant juggling leaves you feeling overwhelmed
and tired. Each day begins with a mad rush and ends with
exhaustion.
You want to be present for your loved ones, be effective in your
career, and take care of yourself. So why is it that the harder you
work to keep it all together, the more you feel you are behind? Thriving feels like a dream--you're just trying to survive until the end of
the day.
You want to say no, but you feel guilty about setting boundaries because you care that things are done the right way. And you want people to like you. You feel so sad that you don't have enough quality time with the ones you love the most. Maybe your health is suffering as a consequence. Where do you even start?
1.
2.
3.
It's a familiar story for many women—the incessant
feeling of juggling too much and still not feeling good enough. Each morning, you wake up in the dark while maneuvering
through your to-do list in your mind.
Your day is a chaotic blend
of navigating work demands while managing the needs of
your children and aging parents. The pressure to manage work and your home life is overwhelming.
You’ve tried to create boundaries and reduce your workload, but every attempt feels inadequate. Whether it's late
night paperwork that cuts into precious family time or the
emotional toll of coordinating your parents' healthcare, there's
always something pulling at your attention.
The fleeting
moments you’ve carved out for self care feel insufficient when
stacked against the avalanche of tasks demanding your
attention.
You find yourself often saying yes to people who demand more
of your time and energy, leaving almost no opportunity for a real
break during the day.
You might envy the other women who seem
to have it all—why does it look so easy for them? The guilt
creeps in when you realize you’re not living life as you envisioned.
I understand your struggles deeply.
As an emergency doctor,
wife, and mom of two young kids, I know what it feels like to work a shift without adequate sleep, extricate myself from the
hospital to get to a concert recital or hockey practice, then try
to get a decent meal into my kids that isn't all beige.
Between homework help, extra-curricular activities, eldercare,
and shift work--my schedule is full.
But, life doesn't have to feel this high-speed.
I had to start somewhere too...
A stepwise, 2 x 2 visual decision-making process to confidently make choices that honour your dreams. Four quadrants. Four approaches.
"Easy-no" choices are non-essential tasks.
01
02
Dawn's proprietary methodology
"Difficult-no" choices are guilt-driven commitments.
03
"Easy-yes" choices are how you will
measure success in your life.
04
"Difficult-yes" choices are the ripples you will leave long after you are gone.
05
The Simplicity Filter Framework™
Anyone who wants a great life with more joy and less regret needs to first answer two questionS:
1. Ask: "Do I actually want this in my life?" (yes or no)
2. ask: "is this choice easy or difficult for me to make?"(easy or difficult)
Know where your time currently goes and identify systems to optimize how you approach the "easy-no tasks"
Understand the 5 sneaky ways you hold onto the "difficult-no" tasks that drain you and that you should let go
Share strategies for getting the help and support you need without guilt, resentment, and anger
Have a clear and actionable plan to gain back 10 hours (or more) per week--then decide how you will use that precious time!
By the end of the retreat, you will...
“I would highly recommend coaching with Dawn. It is obvious that she cares deeeply and is committed to it.”
--Dr. M. Leblanc, family doctor and mother
success stories
“I can remind myself to practice more self-compassion on days when I'm feeling overwhelmed. I would highly recommend Dawn to everyone, but especially to career moms."
“Dawn helped me to understand and face issues that I had avoided dealing with in the past. I want to thank Dawn so much for how much she's helped me.”
--Dr. C.J., family doctor and mother
--Dr. J,C., addictions doctor and mother
NEW!
Virtual OR In-Person Options for Autumn 2026
- 2-hours of virtual coaching with me pre-retreat
- Map out your big goal and how to get there in the most direct way allowing you to make the most out of your retreat experience and the online course
- VALUE: $199
FREE Strategy Session
BONUS--for the first 3 who register for the virtual retreat
- Dates: September 26-27, 2026
- Using experiential coaching, exercises, and group facilitation, we will work through the Simplicity Filter Framework's steps #1-2 to get you back at least 10 hours a week
- Includes a fillable PDF action guide
- Replays of all the coaching lessons (breakouts will not be recorded for confidentiality)
- Click HERE for the detailed agenda and inclusions
- Investment: $799 CAD + HST
Email me at dawn.lim@withinstory.com
to register
Here's What You Get with
the Great Life Jumpstart
(Virtual retreat)
LET'S BREAK it DOWN
Online Zoom
2-Day virual Retreat
- Get access to my 5-module DIY online course that brings you through the 5As approach out of burnout: Awareness, Acceptance, Alignment, Action, and Accountability
- Action-focused, short lessons designed to give you a high-level approach to managing the overload and crafting your great life (it's like having a coach in your pocket!)
- The course material follows a natural sequence with content that is searchable by keyword
- Learn at your own pace through videos, audio download or transcripts--whatever way suits your style!
- Includes accompanying fillable PDF workbook
- VALUE: $888
The "8-Week Blueprint to Work-Life Greatness"--an Online Course
Limited time bonus--if you register your
in-person spot by August 15, 2026 receive
- Dates: October 3-4, 2026
- Small coaching group faciltated by me
- 8 spots available
- Using experiential coaching, exercises, and group facilitation, we will work through the Simplicity Filter Framework's steps #1-2 to get you back at least 10 hours a week
- Includes a fillable PDF action guide
- Catered breakfast and lunch both days
- Click HERE for the detailed agenda and inclusions
- Investment: $1299 CAD + HST
Email me at dawn.lim@withinstory.com
for registration links to either the virtual or in-person retreat.
Please specify which retreat you wish to attend in the subject heading.
Here's What You Get with
the Great Life Jumpstart
(In-person retreat)
LET'S BREAK it DOWN
Niagara-on-the Lake
2-Day in-person Retreat
This is for you if:
You're ready to gain back 10 hours a week
you're dealing with major trauma that prevents you from looking forward (therapy may be better in your case)
you want to focus on what you can change
YOU'RE NOT ready TO say no
you're ready to invest in growth so you can move forward
It's probably not for you if...
YOU'RE NOT ready to take ownership of where you can change and what you can control
you want a clear process that is proven to work with guidance from someone who has done the hard work already
YOU want to "figure it out yourself" and maybe/someday possibly change
Who is this retreat for again?
This retreat is designed with busy career women in mind who are experiencing burnout and overload. But if you like what you hear, then you're welcome to join! Whether you work outside of the home or not, whether you have kids or not, whether you identify as a woman or not, the basic principles still apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose the virtual or in-person option?
The material covered is the same. I faciltate both retreats. The virtual option requires you to manage your own involvement and be present, but you can join from your home. If you need the accountability of being away from distractions, the in-person is a good choice.
Does this retreat qualify for CME credits (for doctors)?
No, this course is not accredited with the FRCP or CFPC. But as with all coaching, you can apply for self-learning credits through your medical association.
How is your approach different from therapy?
Therapy focuses on the past and how it holds you back. It's based on the medical model. Coaching in contrast is forward thinking. Where do you want to go and how will you strategically get there? My coaching niche is specifically for burnout and overload.
Coaching and therapy pair beautifully together!
Do I need to prepare anything before the retreat?
There is one exercise (the time audit) which will need to be done the week prior to the retreat. But other than that, you won't have to prepare anything before you join the retreat.
If you receive one of the coaching bonuses (either the 2-hr strategy session or the online course), you can get started with coaching before the retreat.
What should I do if I'm still undecided?
Book a 30-minute strategy session with me and I'm happy to answer any further questions. I want to make sure this offer is right for you.
How can I justify spending this money on myself?
How much did you spend on your last conference, wellness getaway, or vacation? With hotel and airfare, you easily spent $3000+. And for what? Did your burnout lessen? What was the ROI on that money? How do you measure your sense of burnout and the burden of the invisible load? That's a very personal reflection.
Will this work for me?
There is only one way to tell...
Still on the Fence?
let's do this
Email me at dawn.lim@withinstory.com and I'm happy to answer your questions to see if this is the right next step for you.
“This is your day.
This is the time to go after it all.”
