Last week I spoke at a women’s life balance event and afterwards I visited with an attendee who asked, “I know self-care is important, but I have no idea what I need and I’m not even sure where to start!” Can you relate?

Recently while I was at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health leading a women's retreat, I met an executive who was the dean at a large medical school. She said they had just added a class on work-life balance and resiliency to their medical school curriculum. But she wonders if her young doctors in training will see the value of this course for their patients–and themselves– as they navigate their intense pace.

It’s Saturday night in Austin, it’s raining and cold out and my son is away at a sleep-over. My husband and I are relaxing in front of the fireplace. In front of us: paper strips, a thin, blue marker, a metal pail and a lighter. No, we’re…