Video of Me 90 Minutes Before a Big Research Talk

My talk was scheduled right up against my usual 4 PM gym time. I had two choices: spend the extra time making my slides "perfect"—or stop at the gym on my way to the presentation.

I chose the gym. Because the truth is, I’ll never check off every box. I’ll never get it all done. And neither will you.

But what I can do is make small choices that serve me, that refill my cup, that remind me I’m more than just my work. The slides were good enough. And instead of chasing perfection, I showed up to my talk feeling stronger, calmer, and more grounded. (And the talk went GREAT! 👍)

As Scientist Mothers, we’re constantly juggling—parenting, research, teaching, service, partnerships, life. We hold ourselves to impossibly high standards. But “good enough” doesn’t mean we’re failing. It means we’re human.

For me, that day, good enough science-ing meant skipping the extra slide edits. Good enough parenting meant letting go of the guilt of taking this time for myself. And good enough self-care meant lifting heavy things and remembering my own strength before stepping into that room.

What’s one small decision you’ve made lately in service of yourself? What does “good enough” parenting or “good enough” science-ing look like for you? Let’s reframe this together.

#selfcare #goodenough #womeninscience #womeninmedicine