One of the most common questions I get is, “How do I know my stress levels are too high?” It is a great question to answer because if you knew when you’re levels are high then you could start to do something about it before you surpass your stress threshold. It’s especially important to understand…
Read MoreIn my previous column, I identified and talked about the main reasons the holidays stress people out. In summary, often our fantasies and fairytales of the holidays get crushed by the predetermined outcomes we impose on them. Now I will talk about the top four ways and specific applications you can utilize to have a…
Read MoreHolidays Stressing You Out The holidays mean different things for different people. We all experience and celebrate in our own ways; threading in various traditions, scheduling festive occasions, and attending once-a-year events that fill our calendars from the end of October into the new year. We also carry around a high level of expectation for…
Read MoreYou’ve worked hard all year and you deserve time off during the holiday season. Most private practice owners find themselves working longer hours and more days to accommodate Joe Public’s desire to get years’ worth of work completed before their holiday party or insurance benefits lapse. You take the onslaught of patients now for fear…
Read MoreNegative emotions arise easily when life doesn’t go as planned. What makes it even worse is when you’ve done your homework, thought through potential roadblocks, and prepared the team by sharing expectations. Still, things can go south. When this happens it evokes senses of failure, disappointment, and regret. There is another way to look at…
Read MoreYour sitting next to the patient waiting for their response. You’ve done it right. Showed them all the x-rays with the bone loss. Described the hygienist’s findings of 5-6 mm pockets, bleeding, the pus. Providing them a pamphlet of periodontal disease and the oral-systemic consequences was the final touch in gaining their buy-in for their…
Read MoreStarting and Stopping Tasks Working with business owners each and every day around the issues of stress I hear a lot of “I’m gonna start” statements. I’m sure you say them yourself: I’m gonna start going to the gym. I’m gonna start going on date nights with my spouse. I’m gonna start connecting with patients more.…
Read MoreThe stress closet. A euphemism for all things scary, dark, and feared. A place we shove unwanted items or things we don’t want to deal with in a given moment. The closet is such a visual representation of all things deep and dark we have cliches about being in them, where our skeletons lie, and…
Read MoreProgressive Relaxation has been scientifically proven to help with reducing stress. It can be done anywhere and takes just moments to complete. Tips for Dental Pros: The dental chair is the perfect chair to practice progressive relaxation. Get to the office 15 minutes early, take out segments of your lunch hour, and stay late…
Read MoreInfluences on Stress In all my work with dental professionals and the massive amount of reading I do around the topic of stress management, I have found consistently four really big factors that influence stress levels and the data to go with it. Feeling of control You can call this control, autonomy or ownership. What…
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