As a dental student or a recent graduate of dental school, you’ve spent countless hours training in the techniques of your field. Even veteran dentists often show a commitment to lifelong learning by pursuing continuing education so they can remain up to speed on the latest procedures and trends in dentistry. There’s one crucial aspect of running a successful dental practice that has nothing to do with the science of dentistry: managing your time. Proper time management can be one of the greatest challenges for any business owner, especially dentists and new dentists in particular. Bryant Consultants is here to help, offering a few strategies to help you more effectively manage your time.
Learn to say no
You are just one person, and there are only so many hours in the day. It can be easy to pour your entire self into your practice, but you won’t last long if you do. You have to take time to rest, recharge, and take care of yourself, which means getting a decent amount of sleep and trying to eat right to maintain your energy level and physical health.
“Saying yes is probably my greatest strength and my greatest weakness at the same time,” Dr. Erinne Kennedy said in a recent episode of the Beyond the Mouth podcast. “When you say yes all the time, all of a sudden you realize you’re the president of three different organizations, and you have to sit back and ask yourself: Am I making an impact when my time is so divided? I’ve found that sometimes you can make the most impact when you start pruning things.”
Consider dividing up your calendar into “seasons”
In addition to running your practice, you have so many things on your plate. It can become easy to be overwhelmed. Dr. Kennedy found success by thinking of her upcoming commitments in terms of “seasons.” In one season, she focused on research. In another, she emphasized travel and working with dental students. Think about your greater goals. Make a list, and then consider tackling one in a “season,” lasting about 12 weeks.
Stop seeking balance
No one can be everything to all people. You also can’t show the same level of commitment in every area of your life, all of the time. Striving for work-life balance is great, but it is impossible for many to achieve. Ultimately, doing your best is all you can do. Your top priorities should remain as follows: provide the highest level of care possible for your patients, make sure your practice is running efficiently, and take care of yourself.
Write it down
Keeping a written record can help you stay organized and also aid your mental state. Dr. Kennedy, in her podcast experience, noted that she keeps a five-year journal in which she writes six lines per day on whatever is on her mind. By keeping the journal for five years, she also is able to look back and note her progress in certain areas. We also recommend getting a planner, allowing you to schedule out your workday, but also self-care such as going to the gym or making time to meal prep, as examples.
Time Management Consulting
Whether you are a new dentist or a longtime practitioner, burnout can happen at any stage in your career. The experts at Bryant Consultants can help with time management and any other aspect of your practice. We offer dental coaching, which can take place on-site or on a remote basis. Bryant Consultants’ services can help you realize your vision, establish goals, and set processes in place to evolve your practice. Contact us by calling (877) 768-4799.
We provide consultation, training, and coaching to help improve the operations of your practice so that you can deliver exceptional results to your patients. No office is out of reach for us; we will even come to you!
