Even though you love your profession, there are times when you may feel exhausted. Dentistry can be just as stressful as it is fulfilling. Stress, which negatively impacts your quality of life both biologically and psychologically, can also lead to unwanted outcomes in your clinic. To ensure more productive appointments, you should pay close attention to your stress management. We’ve compiled some tips for you to consider.
Experts suggest that, based on several clinical studies, the first step to dealing with stress is to identify its source. Once you understand where your stress is coming from, you can address it more effectively. Feeling that things aren’t going well in your clinic or that you’re not achieving your goals can lead to stress, which in turn may cause sleep problems.
A study conducted with dentists showed that those who slept less than 7 hours a day experienced more stress. It was noted that dentists who slept more than 7 hours managed stress more effectively. If you’re not getting enough sleep and working long hours, this could be a trigger for your stress. Here are some things you should keep in mind:
· Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
· Have your evening meal at least 3-4 hours before bedtime.
· Avoid consuming caffeinated drinks at least 6 hours before bedtime.
· Stop looking at screens at least 1 hour before going to bed.
· Ensure that your bedroom is dark, tidy, and quiet.
To be healthy and happy, you need to take good care of your body. A balanced diet will help you in your fight against stress. A healthy body also brings a healthy mind, so keep that in mind!
Make sure your diet is full of foods that will keep you energised throughout the day and are rich in vitamins. Eating fruits and vegetables every day and choosing foods high in fibre will be beneficial. Additionally, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight by not overeating. The following foods have been observed to help reduce stress levels:
· Tea
· Avocado
· Bananas
· Eggs
· Nuts
· Chocolate
· Green vegetables
It has been proven that these foods help reduce the levels of cortisol and adrenaline, hormones that significantly affect the body's stress levels. Starting to eat healthy foods is a great first step towards reducing your stress.
While dentistry can be mentally exhausting, it often involves a sedentary lifestyle. You spend a significant portion of your day sitting with patients, and inactivity can lead to low endorphin levels, which in turn can make you feel tired, anxious, and stressed. This state can also negatively impact patient satisfaction. If you want to have a healthier patient-doctor relationship, you’ll want to avoid appearing this way.
Keeping your body active helps boost endorphin production and improves blood circulation. After a long day at your clinic, you don’t necessarily need to go to a gym to exercise. Even an hour of daily physical activity on your own can be highly beneficial for you.
These physical activities could include:
· Yoga
· Meditation
· Cycling
· Running
· Swimming
· Dancing
· Hiking
Although your patients are often your top priority, it’s important to sometimes put yourself first. Otherwise, you may experience burnout. Dentists who are mentally or emotionally exhausted may tend to act indifferent, aggressive, or insensitive towards their patients and staff.
Some days may be busier than others, and your working hours may extend. Especially during such times, no matter how busy you are, don’t forget to take breaks. Working long hours without taking a break can also reduce your efficiency. To be at your best for both yourself and your patients, you need to stay refreshed.
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