Running a busy healthcare practice in this day & age certainly comes with a certain degree of pressure & stress. While your clinic is on the market to be sold there are extra & new stressors such as handling buyer inquiries, showing the practice at an inspection, speaking to accountants, solicitors & your sales broker plus much more. Here are some tips to manage that stress & hence make your practice day run smoother.

  • Getting up fifteen minutes earlier in the morning will allow time for any inevitable morning obstacles.
  • Prepare for the morning the night before.
  • Write down commitments. “The palest ink is better than the most retentive memory.” – Old Chinese Proverb
  • Be prepared to wait. A book can make a wait in a grocery store line almost enjoyable.
  • Procrastination creates stress. Things to do tomorrow, do today; things to do today, do now.
  • Plan. Do not let yourself get to the last business card before ordering, keep your practice supplies well-stocked, don’t wait until you’re down to your last postage stamp to buy more, etc.
  • Allow 15 extra minutes to get to appointments.
  • Relax. The world will not end if the car is not washed.
  • Show gratitude. For any one thing that goes wrong, there may be 20 blessings.
  • Learn to say no. Saying no to extra projects, social activities, and invitations you know you don’t have the time or energy for takes practice, self-respect and a belief that everyone need quiet time every day to relax and be alone.
  • Associate with people that do not stress out. Nothing can get you into the habit of stressing out faster than associating with people who chronically stress out.
  • Get plenty of sleep.
  • Organise your workspace by clearing the clutter so that you know exactly where things are. Put things away where they belong, and you’ll eliminate the stress of misplacing them.
  • Take several deep, slow breaths to expel muscle tension.
  • Writing down your thoughts can help you clarify things and can give you a different perspective.
  • When the stress of having to get a job done gets in the way of getting the job done, diversion – a voluntary change in activity and/or environment – may be just what you need.
  • Talk it out. Discussing your problems with a trusted friend or practice staff member can help clear your mind of confusion so you can concentrate on problem solving.
  • Learn to live one day at a time.
  • Do something you really enjoy every day.
  • Do one thing at a time. When you are busy with a project, concentrate on doing that project and forget about everything else you must do.
  • Allow yourself time every day for privacy, quiet and introspection.
  • If you face an especially unpleasant task, conquer it early in the day and get it over with so that the rest of your day can be anxiety-free.
  • Learn to delegate responsibly to others that are capable.
  • Take a lunch break. Get away from your desk or practice in body AND mind.
  • Maintain an optimistic view about your practice & life.