While being a dentist can be very rewarding monetarily, being able to enjoy your earnings is what really brings true happiness to most of us. It can be challenging for those in the dental field to find the time to relax, take vacations or even take a day off to enjoy doing something different than being in the office. Work-life balance is among the most challenging things for dentists and others in the medical field. However, there are ways to make the most efficient use of your time while on the clock so that you can have a life outside of just seeing patients. Try these for size:
Be proactive with your time.
Really take the time to focus on the task at hand while you’re in the office. Besides seeing your daily patients, we know there are many other administrative tasks you probably have to deal with. Try to use the time between appointments to knock some things out.
Tune out the distractions.Be honest, you stop and talk to your staff members or coworkers throughout the day. It's great to connect and build closer relationships with your staff! Know when to cut it short and get back to the business at hand.
Try to run ahead of schedule.Sometimes, you’ll finish a procedure early. So instead of waiting for your next appointment’s actual time, take the opportunity to start it early (that is if your patient has arrived early).
Make sure you have enough staff.You’re only one person, one dentist. The reality is that you can’t do it all on your own. There will be appointments you can’t take, and emergencies you can’t attend to – so make sure you have a reliable staff to support you and take some weight off of your shoulders.
These small suggestions are great for you to start thinking about how to prioritize your time and become more efficient while on the job. If you really practice these to perfection, there should be at least a few hours of the week for you to do something pleasurable outside of work. Who knows? You might even be able to leave work a little earlier sometimes!
