Take The Stress Out of Dentistry

In the last ten years, eight doctors in my small town have died prematurely.

Among those who died, over half worked in the dental profession.

Practicing dentistry is stressful. And stress is a killer. But you don’t have to let stress rule your life or end it.

Doctors, take care of yourself!

You do yourself and your family no good if your drive to make your dental practice the best that it can be, but deprive yourself of the life you are working to finance. Yes, you need to operate your business at a profit and get your bills paid. I’m not advocating that you become a slacker.

But you need to avoid turning hustle into habit.

Overworking is not a sustainable growth strategy.

I know the nature of our work makes it difficult not to fall into bad habits. If you are like me, the first few years after dental school was filled with hustle. I had student loans to pay and lifestyle aspirations to fund. Being a new dentist, I also wanted to prove myself. After a while, I began to see work as my primary calling.

I felt that if I wasn’t hustling, then I wasn’t doing my best. I was also convinced that if I didn’t make myself available to serve my patients on their time -- every time -- they would find someone else who would. Lost patients meant lost revenue and I didn’t want to just let that cash slip through my fingers.

As you can imagine, this mindset caused me to fall into some really bad work habits.

I took on too many things at once, overextending myself and wearing myself out. At one point I was working six days a week. I would spend five full days seeing patients and the sixth completing other tasks for the business. I repaired equipment, worked up patient treatment plans, and even did construction work on the office!  

There’s a certain rush that comes from being involved with every aspect of your business. That feeling of ownership and accomplishment is a powerful draw. But the feeling doesn’t last. I know it didn’t last for me. I stopped having fun and started feeling unhappy and burned out.

I mean, what was I thinking? Operating a small business, working as a dentist and trying to be a part-time builder on the side?

My advice to you: Take time off for yourself.

They say time is money and you should treat your time as the valuable asset that it is. Invest your time in activities that bring the highest payout and learn to delegate the rest.

Leisure Time is an Investment in You.

Okay, so I mentioned learning to delegate, but that’s not all you need to do to take care of yourself. You must take time off. Yes, you read it right. Even though that means a small revenue loss, you still need to take a break. I mean a real break, not just a 4-hour trip somewhere.

“But Coach Ike, I have responsibilities!”

I know, I do too.    

When you allow yourself time for a vacation, you are making an investment in the success of your business.

Even experts agree that taking time off can actually improve your productivity. By taking time off, you find a renewed sense of purpose, more energy to carry out tasks and in general, an overall sense of happiness. You take a break and you return to work -- better, stronger, faster.

Doesn’t that sound better than burnout?

You may even find that working less lowers attrition.

How?

If you are less stressed, more relaxed, and have an overall better sense of well-being this will show.

Think about someone you know who is overworked, uptight, or not taking care of themselves. Now think about someone you know who is healthier and happier.

What’s the difference in their energy? Who would you rather be around?

Your patients feel the same way.

My Relaxation Formula.

Just in case you are wondering if I walk the walk. The answer is “yes.” Despite the challenges of operating two businesses, I make the time to take care of myself. As they say in the chat forums YMMV (your mileage may vary), but here’s what I do to keep my head clear and my stress levels low.

Take vacations.

Every few months, I take a short vacation. I pack up on Wednesday, leave town on Thursday, and return Sunday. That’s not all though. Twice a year, I leave for a longer stretch of one to two weeks. In total, I take about eight weeks of vacation each year.

Exercise.

Self-care is not an indulgence. You have to be healthy to do your job. I work out five times a week. If I don’t exercise I start to gain weight, have trouble sleeping, and get all kinds of aches and pains. A good workout is a great way to work off the stress of the day. Plus, I enjoy a good meal and exercising lets me keep enjoying.

Have a hobby.

Over the years I’ve tried many different hobbies. Hobbies are the secret weapon of many successful people. Engaging in creative activities is good for you. Marguerite Ward, writing for CNBC, reports that people who engage in hobbies have better work performance, reduced stress, improved physical health, and improved mood.

My current hobbies include traveling, photography, and much more.  Find something that you like to do and invest a little bit in making it possible. Maybe you’ll be like Warren Buffet and take up the ukulele or play bridge like Bill Gates.

It’s alright to turn cases down

You don’t have to spend all your time working to have a successful business. Make time for vacations, self-care, and hobbies. Take time to relax. Have a rich and rewarding life! Whatever you enjoy, give yourself permission to enjoy it. Your staff and your family will thank you.

When my team asks for time off I give it.  When they are back they are happier and more productive. They need the rest and relaxation just like you. Work hard and take time off to rest.