MMD BLOG


CATEGORY:

SELF-CARE + MAMA WELLNESS

WHY SELF-CARE SHOULDN’T JUST BE TRENDING…IT ACTUALLY MATTERS.

 Modern Mommy Doc


PUBLICATION DATE:

January 31, 2022

WHY SELF-CARE SHOULDN’T JUST BE TRENDING…IT ACTUALLY MATTERS.

 Modern Mommy Doc

CATEGORY: SELF-CARE + MAMA WELLNESS

Bubble baths.

Pedicures.

Glasses of rosé around a fireplace.


Scroll through your insta feed and I guarantee you’ll see pics of each of them with #selfcare blasted all over them.


I actually don’t think there’s anything wrong with those things as self-care. I use each of those regularly in my own routines! But I think we often fall into a rut where self-care becomes the prescription AFTER we’re burnout or feel like we might explode.


What if we looked at self-care as preventative rather than a reaction to a problem? They’re almost like the vitamins you take to keep your body healthy, rather than the Tylenol you take when you have a headache because your body is worn down.


If we take a look inside the circle of your
Centered Life, we see all the things that make up your priorities and passions. All the things that make up you at your best. Those things are simply not possible if we’re always running on empty.


You can’t be your best if you’re always feeling your worst.


A regular, sustainable self-care framework and routine keeps us from the pendulum swing of all or nothing. When we don’t have that set up, we end up going from a hot, frazzled mess to feeling like we have to implement ALL the things that will help us feel more like ourselves. And in the end make us feel overwhelmed and like we failed…at taking care of ourselves!


Which makes us only feel even worse! 


When you take care of yourself in a way that’s manageable, it spills over to every single area of your life.


A woman who practices self-care is a better worker.

A woman who practices self-care is a better mom.

A better sister.

A better daughter.

A better woman.


So how do you make a sustainable framework that actually helps you rather than stresses you out? You’ve got to break it into manageable chunks. Start small and work your way out.


Daily. What can I do every single day that will make a difference in the way that I feel? These are going to be the smallest, seemingly insignificant things. Getting up before anyone else in the house. Thirty seconds of deep breaths before you go into work. Taking the long way from the kids’ school so you can drive past the lake that makes you smile. Remember, these things don’t have to matter to anyone else. It’s self-care, not others-care.


Weekly/Monthly. Start to look at the bigger picture. Can you get away someplace by yourself for an hour or two? Work doesn’t count. And, unless you LOVE going to the grocery store, running errands doesn’t count either. Whatever it looks like, it needs to leave you feeling refreshed and energized.


Quarterly/Yearly. I know everyone’s situation is different, so this one will probably vary the most for everyone. I hiiiiiighly recommend getting away for at least one overnight by yourself, once a year. No work responsibilities. No kid requests. At least 24 hours. Because if you try to skip out after bedtime and get back by breakfast, you’re really not going to reap the benefits of this time (but hey, anything is better than nothing!)


Whatever your self-care routine looks like, it mostly matters that it feels good to you. That it actually reduces your stress instead of adding to it. And makes you feel like you’re more in the center of your life!

Raising Body-Confident Kids Starts at the Doctor's Office!

START NOW
By Dr. Whitney December 17, 2025
About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
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ON THE PODCAST


By Dr. Whitney December 17, 2025
About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
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Stop being so busy, and start being more present.