The holiday season is upon us, meaning that all of our calendars are marked by celebrations and time set aside to spend with loved ones. And if you’re a dental assistant, you might be worried that your schedule will quickly fill up, and it’ll seem impossible to balance your work duties with your social obligations. However, dental assisting offers an incredible amount of work-life balance and schedule flexibility! Here are a few tips that’ll help you navigate the busy holiday season as a dental assistant, ensuring you have plenty of time to focus on family, friends, and festivities!
1. Plan and Prioritize
Many dental offices tend to become busier during the months of November, December, and January, and it’s imperative for you and your team to have a plan for tackling every day. Meeting often with your colleagues and the dentist can help to keep everyone on the same page about task delegation, treatment plans, patient histories, scheduling concerns, and other relevant matters. Of course, it also lets you coordinate and review schedules with each other. However, all of this will also affect your personal life, and you might see your social calendar fill up quickly. Be sure you’re prioritizing things so that you’re leaving yourself all the time you need for things outside of work.
2. Set Reasonable Boundaries
To maintain your mental sanity and well-being, it’s wise to establish boundaries – both in and out of the dental office. Even if your schedule feels busy, be sure you’re making time to take breaks, eat lunch, and stay fresh throughout the day and from week to week. If it’s starting to feel like your workload is becoming too much to handle and you need support, speak up – your team is there to help you out, and it’s possible to delegate your tasks accordingly. Carry this same mentality over into your personal life, too. The holidays can deplete your social battery if you aren’t finding time to recharge!
3. Communicate Clearly
Communication is one of the pillars of successful dental assistance – things would never go as planned if it weren’t for the clear back-and-forth that exists between patients, dental assistants, dentists, and other team members. It’s important to speak up if you’re ever delayed by a procedure, need help preparing an exam room or disinfecting instruments, or you’re struggling to deal with a patient. Communicating with friends and family is important, too; the end-of-the-year rush that occurs in most dental offices can be demanding of your schedule, so ensure that you’re setting realistic expectations about your availability.
No one should ever have to feel stressed about work over the holidays – this time of year is meant to be enjoyed! If it seems like a career change is in order, you’d be wise to consider dental assisting, especially if you value your work-life balance – you’ll easily be able to enjoy the holidays, both in and out of the office!
About the Green Country School of Dental Assisting
The team here at the Green Country School of Dental Assisting would be more than happy to answer any questions you have about the world of dental assisting! We’d also be equally delighted to help you kick-start your new career and find your footing through our exclusive program. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with us to request additional information, please visit us online or call today for assistance. Telephone: (918) 343-7188.