5 ways to recalibrate yourself during the workday.

In the midst of all the work you do, you may not have stopped to consider how stress can affect your ability to provide quality care as a dentist and effectively manage your practice. 

Managing your feelings of stress will help you achieve long-term success while ensuring that you feel rewarded for your work. And luckily, you can put stress management for dentists into action with these five simple tips:

1. Practice Mindful Breathing

Dealing with stress requires both long-term strategies and immediate solutions. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, practicing mindful breathing can help you get back on your feet. It’s a technique that is highly effective at managing stressful moments during your day, and the best part is that it takes just a few moments.

Breathe in deeply and slowly, filling your lungs completely. Hold that breath for a few seconds and then exhale just as slowly. Repeat that for a few moments, and focus on (being mindful of) the sensation of breathing.

Working some mindful breathing into your day can help alleviate stress significantly. Taking a few moments in between appointments and during other pauses will let you face daily challenges more effectively.

2. Take Short Breaks Throughout the Day

There’s always so much to do to keep your practice running smoothly. However, taking on too tight a schedule is a recipe for disaster. Instead, make sure to plan short breaks throughout the day to set a more reasonable pace for your work.

One of the best ways to make these breaks effective is to ensure separation from your work environment. Simply stopping your current task for a moment isn’t enough to enjoy the full benefits that a break can provide. 

Instead, try to prioritize stepping away from the office. Doing so could be as simple as taking a short walk. The quick stretch and exercise will help reset your focus and energy, ensuring you’re ready to tackle what the rest of the day has to throw at you.

3. Stay Organized

Stress management isn’t just about relieving stress when it strikes. It’s also about addressing its underlying causes. With so many things going on at your practice, ensuring proper organization is key to preventing small bouts of stress from becoming overwhelming.

Disorganization can lead to your daily tasks becoming highly stressful, and that applies to both your physical workspace and your schedule. 

Make sure to keep all of your supplies, documents, and other resources in designated places, and when it comes to your schedule, ensure that even minor tasks have their place. You don’t want to find yourself scrambling to fit work into the day if you haven’t accounted for it. Ideally, you should have a few blocks open for unexpected circumstances as well.

4. Engage in Physical Activity

Physical exercise is one of the best remedies for stress. There are many different ways that you can incorporate physical activity into your lifestyle, depending on your individual needs and preferences.

This doesn’t have to be a major workout, either. Light exercise, such as a daily walk or yoga, is just perfect. If you have a sport you like to engage in, scheduling regular excursions is a great way to exercise while enjoying yourself.

Regular exercise has both mental and physical benefits. You’ll feel better, mitigating the stress from your career. You’ll also be more energetic and less likely to become fatigued during the day, further reducing the effects of stress.

5. Set Boundaries for Work-Life Balance

Achieving and maintaining a proper work-life balance is one area in which many dentists struggle. Your commitment to your patients, practice, and career can quickly leave your personal and family lives by the wayside, and it’s important that you take concrete steps to stop that from happening.

Setting clear boundaries between work and personal time is key here. While there may be exceptions for dental emergencies, you shouldn’t let routine work seep into your private time. One effective way to do so is to stop checking your work inboxes and notifications outside your working hours. If you’re concerned about being reached in case of emergencies, leave specific contact details your coworkers can use in such a scenario.

Don’t Let Stress Affect Your Practice

Stress can have a serious impact on your ability to function both as a dentist and as the leader of a medical practice. Putting the above stress management tips into effect can help you overcome those challenges, but you should also know that you don’t have to go it alone. The American Orthodontic Society (AOS) provides a range of valuable resources that can help you better approach managing your practice. Things like orthodontics training programs, networking opportunities, and practical resources will put you in a better position to tackle everyday challenges.

Find out more about how the AOS can help today.