Dentists and orthodontists are busy people, but a solid morning routine can ease the burdens of professional life.
In fact, a morning routine is an excellent way to reduce stress, bring calm to your entire life, and help you achieve your goals.
Mornings can be a stressful, harried time – especially for dental professionals whose offices start the days early.
Can you relate?
Dentists, Take Note: Morning Routines Are Part of Life Success
We’re not the only ones saying that a morning routine can benefit dentists both personally and professionally.
A recent Forbes article listed a consistent morning routine as one of the cornerstone habits of successful people. For those people, the morning routine is synonymous with “doing less to achieve more.”
The idea is to set your whole day up for success at the outset. When you take a moment for your physical and mental health, that becomes the foundation of your day upon which everything else builds. No matter what crazy stuff comes your way, you have a feeling of ease that you at least got in your – nutrition, exercise, meditation or whatever is a cherished part of your morning routine.
There is a reason so many of the most successful people practice a morning routine. It’s an anchor to the whole day. It’s a disciplined practice that becomes a cornerstone of their entire life. You can imagine how differently your whole day might feel starting with a grounding, centering routine – versus the mad dash craziness many of our mornings begin with.
How to Create Your Own Morning Routine
Working in a dental office can be a fast-paced, stressful environment. Starting your day with a moment of peace can make all the difference to having a positive, rewarding day.
How can a dentist or orthodontist go from the rushed morning to an ease-filled morning? As with any new habit, it’s good to start small and manageable.
Some common morning routine activities are:
- a healthy breakfast, with a strong focus on hydration
- light exercise
- meditation
- journaling
- breathing exercises
- health and wellness activities.
It’s important that you truly enjoy the things in your morning routine. This is about you, and what will bring calm and ease to your day.
How Dentists Can Make their Own Morning Routine
The first 5 minutes of your morning set the tone for the rest of your day.
To begin finding your ground with your own morning routine, pursue something you’ve been meaning to make a part of your day.
Here are a few ideas:
– Meditation. Like a few extra minutes in bed after the alarm? Don’t hit that snooze button! Put on your headphones and listen to a peaceful meditation, or try a breathing exercise. Tip – Sit up for this, so you don’t fall back asleep. You can find plenty of these on YouTube, or try our Shine Course to have customized meditation specifically for dental professionals delivered to you each month.
– Nutrition. Add the nutritional benefit you’ve been skimping on – i.e., drink a glass of water before your coffee, or take the time for a healthy breakfast before bolting out the door.
– Movement. Do a 5-minute exercise before you hit the shower: try a sun salutation vinyasa, 100 crunches, or jog around the block.
Whatever you decide to add for your first 5 minutes, focus hard on making it happen as many days as possible.
Be kind to yourself: if you have to skip a day, life happens. You’ll know that your morning routine has started to solidify when you feel like something is missing without it. Far from judging yourself if you skip it, it’s much more likely you’ll be super excited to get back to your routine tomorrow.
After you’ve mastered doing one thing for 5 minutes of your morning that sustains your mind and body, start adding something else you’ve wanted to do and master that. Make it something you “want” to do, not something you “should” do – it only works if you really enjoy it!
As you add things, keep your morning routine fluid and flexible.
Eventually, your morning routine will become a cherished part of your day.
More Life-Changing Habits for Busy Dentists and Dental Professionals
I started my own morning routine about 2 years ago, and despite my ingrained reservations about both mornings and routines, I have come to love it and see the benefits. My routine has evolved over time as I add and subtract things. It started small with a glass of lemon water every morning, and then I started adding things like meditation and a healthy breakfast. It varies by the day depending on how much time I have.
Now, no matter how much or how little time I spend on my morning routine, one thing is certain: my morning routine is paramount because it sets the tone for the rest of my day.
You, too, can set your day up for success — it all begins with a few dedicated minutes in the morning. Give it a try, and let us know what you think.
Give it a try, and let us know what you think.
For other tips on how to make your mornings more peaceful and positive, check out our 22 Life Habits for Dentists.