Being happy and healthy both mentally and physically is vital for having a positive work environment in any practice. While stress is nothing new, a new study from the American Psychology Association shows that pandemic stress is now starting to take a toll on us physically beyond just our teeth. If you’re experiencing higher levels of stress—pandemic-related or not, in recognition of April’s National Stress Awareness Month, we have put together a list of tips and ideas to help you reduce stress in your practice:
- Get some sun. Just 10 to 15 minutes of sun on the arms and legs a few times a week can generate nearly all the vitamin D we need. Just a few minutes goes a long way to improve your mood and reduce stress levels.
- Free up mental space. Do you have a million things to do and seemingly not enough time to get it done? Consider employing a new time management tool or technique. A complicated case weighing on your mind, let us help. We offer chairside technical assistance. Contact us to find out more information.
- Go for a walk. According to a 2016 study from psychologists at Iowa State University, walking for just 12 minutes—even without traditional happiness factors like sunshine, nature, social contact, and uptempo music—turns out to be a powerful mood lifter.
- Stretch. A few quick stretches can loosen stiff muscles and go a long way to making you feel better. Use this simple guide.
- Promote office-wide wellness. If you are stressed, chances are your employees are feeling it too! Consider these simple ways that you may be able to promote wellness and reduce stress in your practice: healthy snacks in the break room, promote healthy competitions like step challenges, morning stretch-and-flex office routines, or even just upgrading office chairs to more ergonomic ones. Check out these other ideas.
