A Few Habits of Confident Doctors

Let’s talk about goals!

Confident doctors have goals that keep them moving forward. They have a positive outlook on life, and they set benchmarks on the path toward their larger goals. Keep a daily agenda and When the day is over, return to your goal and set a new one if you achieved it, or remind yourself to try to accomplish it again the next day. Setting targets and having a focus will help you to feel better about yourself and your accomplishments.

The power of positivity

When you  shy away from self-doubt and feelings of inferiority it brings exponential changes in your personality. Substitute negative thoughts or speech with words that are encouraging. Don’t waste time beating yourself down when you should be pulling yourself up.

Celebrate every success

Confident scholars take pride in their successes and the hard work that they put in along the way. However, they also have the ability to be happy and celebrate the success of others. Diminishing others success is a sign of low self-esteem. Don’t let a day pass without acknowledging someone else’s hard work—or your own.

Embrace failure

When you don’t do quite as well on a patient as you would have hoped or your senior doesn’t love the decision you took for a patient, it is easy to get disheartened. Try to forget about the situation as soon as possible. Learn to laugh at yourself and not beat yourself up when things don't go as anticipated. Your mistakes are a part of learning experience. Confident people understand that sometimes failure is inevitable.

Look good, feel good

This one is along the lines of “fake it till you make it.” If you feel great about your appearance, you're more likely to feel confident about yourself overall. Take pride in how you look. Looks aren't everything, but we always feel better when we take care of ourselves. Make some time and thought when preparing to present yourself to the world. It will make a difference. Remember, whatever you do to feel confident, you should do it for yourself, not for others!

Don’t let others sway you

It's important to listen to others and respect their opinions. If you believe in something, it's important that you do not allow your own opinion to be changed in order to conform to that of the group. Successful people know that it's healthy to say no. On a daily basis, make sure that you're standing firm in your beliefs.

Surround yourself with positivity

It could be the people, your team, quotes or anything else, fill your days with positivity. 

How does your operator look? Your operator, especially, should be a place that not only makes you happy but also raises  your confidence.

Decorate your clinic with motivational quotes or pictures that instantly change the vibes.

Confidence is beautiful—embrace it

8 morning habits for highly successful doctors

 

However rewarding, nobody said seeing patients all day long is an easy job. Your clinical duties require dedication, concentration, and positivity. With the orders of the job tall, remember that a successful day begins with a successful morning.

Here are eight ways to start your morning off right.

Wake up early

According to research, 50% of self-made millionaires begin their day at least 3 hours before they set foot in the office, and 90% of executives rise before 6 a.m. on weekdays.

Now, starting early doesn’t necessarily mean the crack of dawn, as evidenced by some of the following early risers:

• Apple CEO, Tim Cook, wakes up at 3:45 a.m.
• Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is in the gym at 4 a.m.
• Virgin-Group founder Richard Branson is up at 5:45 a.m.
• “The Oracle of Omaha,” Warren Buffett, opens his eyes at 6:45 a.m.
• Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg first checks his phone at 8 a.m.

Begin planning the night before

Plan out the highlights of what you need to do the next day, and write things down in a prioritized manner. This list will help you keep organized the next day.

Start with the toughie

Imagine that before you drive into work, you have to write a lengthy email to your colleague about a patient. You’re somewhat daunted by this task, knowing that it will take a bit of time. However, it’s best to start with this difficult task before you do anything else.

Please note that if something takes less than 2 minutes to do, then the 2-minute rule takes effect. In other words, prioritize anything that takes less than 2 minutes (like charging your tablet) above anything else.

Disengage from your phone

Of course, you need to check your phone when you first wake up — you don’t want to miss any important messages. But you don’t need to check Facebook shortly thereafter. According to a survey from CareerBuilder, 75% of employers report that at least 2 hours of productivity are lost per day thanks to distraction, and smartphone use and texting accounts for 55% of this time-suck. Why begin your day with a time-suck?

Blue-light special

According to the results of a low-powered study — no pun intended — Korean researchers found that when compared with warm light, 1 hour of exposure to blue-enriched white light on waking boosts alertness, mood, and visual comfort, and decreases melanin levels. With regard to cortisol — the other important circadian marker in the study — no difference was observed.

The authors concluded that blue-enriched LED light may be an effective countermeasure for morning drowsiness. What are you waiting for?

Exercise

What kind of list would this be without exercise? According to Harvard researchers, regular exercise helps with blood pressure, weight loss/maintenance, energy levels, mood, stress, anxiety, and heart health. Exercise also stimulates brain regions involved in memory, and causes the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which rewires memory circuits for the better.

Eat breakfast

In one study, Spanish researchers found that teens who ate a high-quality breakfast experienced improved health-related quality of life and lower levels of stress and depression compared with those who ate unhealthy breakfasts. Moreover, those who ate unhealthy breakfasts had lower quality of life and more stress and depression than those who skipped breakfast altogether.

Make time for family

Researchers have shown that parents have the greatest impact on the success of young people by promoting learning vs supporting school activities. In other words, spending time with your family before you go into the clinic not only warms the cockles of your heart but also helps your kids ou

Little acts of kindness !

The horror in your patient’s eyes says it all. You accidentally uttered words you should never say in front of unsuspecting patients.

The second you said what you were thinking out loud you knew you’d messed up. Not only did you see the surprise in the patient’s eyes, but in other team members eyes as well. Hopefully, everyone learns a lesson from the slip-ups and won’t do it again.

 

STOP BITCHING AROUND

“The work your previous doctor has done on your health is terrible”

Why would you say that to a patient? It’s a strict NO-NO. Whenever you say things like this about a doctor, it leaves an impression that you are not supportive of your own fraternity and …you will talk about things like this beyond your patients back (he might imagine you say — “he is a terrible patient”)

If you can’t say something good, SHUT UP, but don’t hurt feelings

Imagine when you are in pain and the staff in hospital mistreats you or your loved one. Would you ever go back to that hospital, that doctor no matter how good they are?

 

Words of Appreciation matters

Instead of saying “Sorry for the wait”, say thank you for waiting so patiently. I appreciate how well you are following my instructions. Gift your patients a care package, a coupon when you see they are regulars, something to make them feel appreciated when they refer more patients to you.

 

Hire compassionate people

People who cannot empathize with patients in pain cannot be left with patients and are naturally, not a good fit for a healthcare organisation, prioritizing tik-tok videos and Facebook over patients leave a negative impact on the caring ambience you are trying to create. Imagine a patient in pain who is waiting for his appointment, your receptionist instead of assuring him about the treatment is busy listening to Bhojpuri songs. Teach your staff to be courteous, compassionate, professional and most of all kind.

 

Robinhood approach is not wrong

It is okay to sometimes give the best treatment to the ones who cannot afford while you know that there is a specific section in the society who can easily pay any amount that you quote.

Subtle signs of a toxic relation that you have been ignoring because “it’s practice”

 1) It’s making you insecure:

To the limit of obsession. You have put in all your time and energy into your practice. Needless to say sweat money and blood into it. But your practice is not performing enough and is making you worry to the extent of taking a toll on your health. You might have taken loans thinking your practice will pay it off and now it is giving you nightmares.

2) It is holding you an emotional Hostage :

Whenever you take a day off to yourself, you feel guilty about it. You feel guilty over the stuff you really have no control over, like patients not walking in, or you expecting more from a day’s work.

3) Overstepping of Limits:

If your practice is what is on your mind, and your practice is all that you do then you need to think rationally. Your practice is dominating your life without giving you a break.

4) Pulling you down?

Do you feel your good work is not getting the right appreciation that you deserve. Basically, if at the end of the day you have hijacked your good mood. You need to rethink where exactly are you? Is it because of your skills as a dental surgeon or the “employer” the clinic at who is driving you crazy and making you question yourself? Are they making you feel worthless or putting you down in front of your patients?

Take a break. Think Hard.

Realize what is wrong, where are you going wrong? Are you giving enough time to yourself and your family? Are you stuck in a stagnant relationship with your practice?

Once you realise what is wrong, do not hesitate to take help. If you are a fresher and have a new set up find mentors who will help you with managing your practice. Maybe they will point out a few reasons why your practice is taking all your energy and giving you nothing in return. You can always find many courses online to make you better at the skills you lack and give you valuable lessons of life.

Find time and pamper yourself at least once a week. Don’t forget that you are also growing older every day. Take care of your health diet and be happy even if you had just one walk in. Have patience things will change.

As for your toxic relation with your employer, you need to figure out your shit. There are many many people who will pay you and value you as a dental practitioner. They might even be mentors to you to help you set your own practice once you are experienced enough. You can find employers looking for associate doctors on Indian Doctors Network app from all over India. You can search have one on one talk with them before deciding to join their practice.

If you keep on staying in a relationship like this it can take away your mental peace, confidence and eat away your happiness and sense of freedom so discreetly, that you wouldn’t even know what is happening.

You are the protagonist in your story. It’s your job to do everything in your hand to shine in your story.

O WoMANia!

On the occasion of women’s week, every nook and corner of social media must be filled with how the world is indispensable without women. IT IS! The caregiver, the one who can do anything, the one who can do everything literally.

I am not going to add more to the bulk of posts lying around everywhere on the internet. My thoughts, my ideas have taken another tangent. What about men, the guys who opened up and embraced the woman inside? There should be no shame in writing, saying or accepting that. Even Lord Shiva is incomplete without Shakti.

I came across women who juggled through the pandemic between housework, daily chores, kids and cooking like pros, but there came men who disregarding many things

Give a check to Indian Doctors Network and be an integral part of your association’s dynamic and ever growing community.

and tasks which are so gender biased that the stereotype was impossible to break! And that’s what this pandemic did, it made people learn about equality in a wonderfully weird way.

To the men who cooked, cleaned and dusted while their spouse was in a meeting. To the men who made sure that their better half was well rested just by taking a truckload of her work and to the men who entered the kitchen for the first time; you might get mocked, you might get called upon but fear not you are the ones who are worthy of the respect you deserve.

To the men who enjoyed a warm bath and a face pack after a hard days work, agree to disagree but we all know how much you enjoyed it :P

Disregarding the “Man-Woman” fight I am hopeful that one day there will be no women’s day or men’s day to create a divide to begin with.

What do you have to say about this?

Why is your patient lying to you?

 

Did you know about 80% of patients lie to their doctors. I wonder how many of you have realized that and how many of you knowing the fact that your patient is lying to you and still go ahead with the treatment.

Here is something interesting:

• 46% lied about smoking.
• 43% lied about exercise.
  
• 38% lied about drinking.
  
• 29% lied about their sexual partners.
  

 Here are a few reasons why and here is what you can do about it 
1: They are embarrassed:
This might be because they are ashamed of their habits, knowing the fact that an unhealthy diet or a sedentary lifestyle is harmful they still go ahead with it and end up lying to their health care providers.
What can you do about this?
Do not judge,let them trust you and they might come back to you maybe telling half the truth.

2: They are unable to understand your instructions:
This happens even to the geniuses , why is that ?
You ask your patients to take a medication in a certain way or follow a routine when they are under your medication. Do you follow up after the instructions whether they understood or not, if not then it’s on your head why your patient lied to you.
Make sure before your patient  leaves your office they have understood all your instructions.

3:They're worried about being pigeonholed as someone who doesn't make good decisions :
Every patient wants their doctors to think highly of them, when they end up with an ailment or a problem; the patients tend to believe that they have lost the respect of their healthcare provider. Make sure your patient knows, whatever be the situation you are always there with them.

4:Doctors overlook patients overall experience:
It is your duty as a doctor to make sure your patient feels confident in revealing all their confidential information without feeling embarrassed or worse that you are not worth trusting.

What is your lesson here?

1. Don’t start shouting at  patients who admit to an unhealthy habit. One man said he lied about his smoking habit  to avoid a lecture from his doctor and this is the tip of the iceberg.
   
2. Realize people may not be truthful if a family member is in the room. One young woman said she lied about her sexual activity because she didn’t want her sister to know what she was doing.
   
3. A 10 second pause can sometimes pull out the truth. All it takes is not responding when they lie to you and the silence makes people respond with the truth.
   
4. Don’t be judgmental. Try not to look judgmental because you want them to feel welcome to correct themselves and not hide further,Usually when they see that you are on their side and not their enemy they will open up and  tell you things they have shared with no one else.
   
5.  Don’t get confrontational if you think your  patient is lying.Try not to get in arguments and usually will hear patients out but these relationships usually become toxic and patients will often seek out another physician,Let patients know that you have their best interests at heart. You should make them understand that as a doctor you have no other motives than to help them.
   
6. Make patients aware of the consequences of lying. For example, if they lie about medications they take, they might be prescribed something that interacts and can have serious health effects. Some people will say they have problems or symptoms to get a treatment, but the treatment can cause serious problems as well, and they are putting themselves at unnecessary risk.
   
7. Recognize that some lies can be dangerous. The most prominent example is patients taking dangerous medications in a way that the doctor did not prescribe and then lying to the doctor about it.
   
   To get more thoughts and ideas on patient management download Indian Dental Network and Indian Doctors Network.