Balancing Work and Life

Today’s modern dental office is busy and hectic, often seeing patients back to back, and occasionally dealing with dental emergencies. It can be easy to get caught up in the busyness of the day to day, but there’s also a little voice that says you need to make time for rest and fun and other non-work pursuits. It may be hard to keep a happy work-life balance, but there are steps you can take in this fast-paced world to help achieve a healthy balance while still being successful.

Prioritizing and Time Management

The first thing that needs to be done is figuring out priorities. What is it that matters most in your personal life? Do you need a 45-minute daily workout to feel balanced? Would a 30-minute lunch break in the middle of your work day help you breathe a sigh of relief? The biggest thing to accept is that there is no perfect work-life balance. Instead, it is about being flexible and adjusting to whatever comes your way, while being able to pivot from one activity to another. Whatever it is that will help you feel balanced should be a priority in your schedule, so you should make time for those events. 

One way to do this is with time blocks. Using a daily calendar, pencil in when you will be working, when you’ll be taking breaks, and making sure you add your “me time” and relaxation time to these blocked-out times. Staying organized is the key to keeping priorities straight and managing time, especially in a busy dental office. Encourage your entire office staff to share a calendar to manage breaks, lunches, and other times when time off is needed, so everyone can make sure they are getting the rest and downtime they need and deserve.

Establishing Boundaries

It is perfectly fine to set boundaries to recharge. Being on the clock 24/7 is a surefire way to lead to burnout. One way to establish boundaries is by having defined working hours and making sure not to work outside of those hours. That includes keeping away from email and other administrative duties. 

Another way to establish boundaries is by having a digital detox. It is perfectly acceptable to completely unplug outside of work hours, so you can make sure you are recharging and relaxing. This way, you can completely focus on yourself or a family activity without interruption.

If your practice offers emergency services outside of normal business hours, make sure you have other partners or associates who can take on emergency calls too. A good way to establish boundaries is by having one person dedicated each weeknight, and rotating weekends so everyone gets their fair share of being on call during emergency times.

Self-Care and Mindfulness

Part of creating a work-life balance needs to include self-care. This can include healthy habits, like exercising. Exercise has been proven to improve someone’s mood, and it can also help reduce stress. Not to mention, getting moving and staying active is good for your overall health. Even a simple walk around the block with your dog and children, or a twenty minute jog with your partner, can help boost your mood.

Don’t forget to take care of your eating habits as well. Make sure you are eating a balanced diet; getting the right nutrients can help keep your body fueled and balanced. This means not skipping lunch and breaks to fit in more work—your body cannot run effectively on an empty stomach. And don’t forget to hydrate—water can do wonders to deliver nutrients throughout your body, to cushion your joints (important for dentists who often spend time bending over a patient), and boost energy levels and brain function!

Another self-care routine that many people don’t follow is mindfulness and relaxation. One of the best mindfulness techniques is meditation, where you relax and focus on your breathing. Taking even five minutes out of your day to practice mindfulness can help you achieve some balance in your hectic life. Mindfulness techniques have benefits that go beyond work-life balance. It’s been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and even high blood pressure.

Choose Jameson for your marketing needs.

Sometimes the right choice for your work-life balance is to seek expert help in an area that is taking up a lot of time and energy. If you’ve taken the above steps to help create a work-life balance, go a step further. Consider choosing Jameson Management for all of your dental marketing needs. We can make sure your website is accessible and easy to use for all of your clients, and we will work to drive traffic to your website through blog content. Reach out to us today to learn more!