By: Dr. Kaufman
One of the most important lessons I can share with my colleagues is taking time off from the hustle and bustle of modern life. While this might seem like an indulgence it is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Rest serves as a catalyst for increased productivity.
Dentistry is mentally and physically fatiguing. It is high pressure not just for the dentist but for the entire dental team. When a tenured employee is saying they need to take some extra time off I encourage it.
Breaks from work allows the mind and body to reset which leads to higher levels of creativity, problem solving and efficiency. Which ultimately leads to higher productivity.
Working Too Much is Mentally & Physically Draining
Working too much is not just mentally draining- it can lead to physical breakdown. Chronic stress and fatigue which is associated with long hours and no down time has been shown to increase the likelihood of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and sleep disorders. Stress and anxiety have also been shown to increases the likelihood of mental well-being.
When we take time off, we engage in activities that can promote physical health and rest. Which leads to a better-balanced life.
Encourage Time Off to Employees
As an employer we have a responsibility to our employees to encourage time off. When we create a workplace environment or taking breaks is acceptable and actively encouraged it will send a message that the dental organization values the well-being of its team members. Then we can foster a flexible work schedule and taking mandatory vacation days this helps support mental health.
When team members feel like their needs are respected, they are most likely to stay motivated engaged and loyal which leads to a more productive team.
Being Intentional About Time Off
Talking about time off is one thing but we must be intentional in planning for it that means looking ahead a year at a time blocking off time in your schedule that you can spend time with your family taking vacations. And a vacation doesn’t mean necessarily leaving town it could be a staycation. When we plan for it well in advance this will minimize disruptions to the practice.
Work Stress Can Be Harmful to Our Overall Well-Being
According to an Article by Rebecca Zucker in the Harvard Business Review July 19th 2023,
“Everyday work pressures can result in elevated levels of the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine, similar to if you felt you were in physical danger. An increase in stress hormones has the effect of suppressing your immune system so your body can channel its energy to flee from (or fight) a non-existent saber-toothed tiger. Relaxing on vacation can reduce the levels of these stress hormones and allow your immune system to recover, making you less prone to get sick. Conversely, if stress hormones stay chronically elevated due to lack of rest and recovery time that comes as a result of putting off or forgoing vacation, you will be more susceptible to not only colds or the flu, but also vulnerable longer term to more serious illnesses like heart disease or cancer.”
Performance Ratings Can Increase When Stress is Managed
According to a internal study conducted by Earnst and Young of its employees found that for each additional 10 hours of vacation that employees took, their performance ratings at year end improved by 8%.
As a health care professional, we must take care of ourselves first and make it an everyday priority. If we are suffering mentally and physically, we cannot show up at the level of performance that our patient’s need us to perform at. Creating balance does not happen by chance.
In Conclusion
I challenge you to sit down with a piece of paper and make a list of what you want to accomplish personally and professionally in the next five years. Then prioritize that list of what you want to do each year. Then take out your calendar for the next 12 months and start blocking time whether it is every 6 weeks or every quarter that will allow you to unplug from your dental office. Transfer this time off to your practice management calendar or if you have a scheduler let them do it.
The long-term benefits are invaluable to the mind and body.
Keep Reading: You’re A Practice Owner, How Should You Hire an Associate?
Photo by Pixabay
