The Great Life Jumpstart
for Mother-Doctors
a Retreat in Niagara-on-the-Lake
on July 11-12, 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 mother-doctors—the incessant
feeling of juggling too much and still not being quite as good as
other moms. Each morning, you wake up in the dark, then
prepare breakfast and school lunches while maneuvering
through your to-do list in your mind.
Your day is a chaotic blend
of navigating healthcare demands while managing the needs of
your children and aging parents. The pressure to be the perfect
mother, dedicated doctor, and loving partner is overwhelming.
You’ve tried to create boundaries and manage your workload
better, 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 patients who demand more
of your time and energy, leaving almost no opportunity for a real
break during the day.
You might envy the other moms who seem
to have it all—why does it look so easy for them? The guilt
creeps in when you realize you’re not the mom you always
envisioned. Maybe your children express the wish that you were
“more fun and easy-going like so-and-so's mom."
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
- Get access to my 5-module online course that brings you through the 5As approach out of burnout: Awareness, Acceptance, Alignment, Action, and Accountability
- Includes accompanying PDF workbook, bite-sized lessons with accompanying exercises to help you get that desired work-life greatness
- VALUE: $888
- 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: $399
The "8-Week Blueprint to Work-Life Greatness"
Strategy Session
mother's day BONUS #1--if you register by May 10th, 2026 midnight EST
BONUS #2--for the first three participants who register
- Dates: July 11-12th, 2026
- 12 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
- Click HERE for the detailed agenda and inclusions
- Do you want to know future retreat dates? Send me an email at dawn.lim@withinstory.com to be on a waiting list for future retreats or to inquire about booking a retreat for your own group!
REGISTER
for 1 Investment:
$1299 CAD
Here's What You Get with
the Great Life Jumpstart
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 mother-doctors in mind who are experiencing burnout and overload. But if you like what you hear and don't mind medical examples, 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
What exactly will I learn?
The retreat is designed to help you "edit your life" and get back 10 hours a week.
The online course will teach you an overview of my coaching approach for building your dream work-life balance.
Does this retreat qualify for CME credits?
No, this course is not accredited with the FRCP or CFPC. But as with all coaching, you can apply for self-learning credits.
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 finish the online course before the retreat?
No, you do not need to finish the online course before the retreat. The retreat is a deep dive into the first part of getting over burnout--making space in your life to change. Some principles mentioned in the online course will be included and expanded upon during 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 medical conference? With hotel, registration, and airfare, you easily spent $3000+. And for what? Did your life change? 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...
Is this like my hospital's wellness initiatives?
No...this process is centred on behavioural change as it applies to overload.
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.”
