5 Ways to Change Your Mindset & Improve

If you’ve taken advantage of our free online course, Creating a Mindset that BOOSTS Success, then you know all about how important it is to make sure your mentality is optimized for a great practice. Beyond just yours, the mindset of your entire team is going to make an impact on your patients, ultimately determining whether or not they have a positive experience in your office.

In order to ensure you, your staff, and your patients get the best care possible, you need to set and maintain what is called a growth mindset: A growth mindset means being focused on the idea that everything you do should propel you forward toward your greatest potential. That being said, it’s sometimes easier said than done; especially in the hustle and bustle of a busy medical office.

Here are 5 simple things you can do today:

1. Take a 5-minute walk around your office

Even something as simple as a little breather can make a difference in your mindset at the office. When we’re amidst the minutia of our day-to-day tasks, worried about everything on our plate and how we’re going to get it all done, it can be easy to lose perspective. Carve out 5 minutes from your day where you can hit pause, step away from your desk, and take a walk – whether it be outside around your building, or even with your office.

Doing this can be surprisingly effective at bringing you back to center, helping you remember why you do what you do.

2. Try a short meditation

I get it… not everyone has time to go through a full-blown meditation routine, but we can all find a moment to focus on our breath for a moment or two. Meditation is one of those things that we hear about, we think about, then we never really take advantage of. It’s not just for monks, or those seeking this great enlightened state of being… meditation can help restore your calm during a hectic day of patients!

While sitting at your desk, close your eyes and place your focus solely on your breathing. A simple breathing exercise that I’ve found to be highly conducive to achieving a meditative state in a short period of time (like the 5-10 minutes in between meetings) is called the “box breathing method.”

Here’s how to do it:

1. Close your eyes. Breathe in through your nose while counting to four slowly. Feel the air enter your lungs.
2. Hold your breath inside while counting slowly to four. Try not to clamp your mouth or nose shut. Simply avoid inhaling or exhaling for 4 seconds.
3. Begin to slowly exhale for 4 seconds.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 at least three times. Ideally, repeat the three steps for 4 minutes, or until calm returns.

(Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321805#the-box-breathing-method)

3. Write out a message to yourself on a sticky note and have it on your monitor

One of the hardest things to remember throughout the day, especially for people with a lot on their plate, is that we need to be kind to ourselves. We need to remind ourselves of the good we’re looking to do and the impact we make with our work; so something as simple as a sticky note on your monitor can make a big difference!

So do it! Take a sticky note, write down something you want to be reminded of throughout your day, and place it something at your desk where you’ll constantly see it. I personally have a note that says, “Every patient, every visit. Give them the care they deserve.”

4. Have your team members speak a positive affirmation in your next meeting

Easily overlooked but highly impactful, affirmations are one of the simplest ways of creating a mindset! Something you may not have considered is that affirmations are not just for you, or for the person speaking them, but they can also be shared! Your positive thoughts and words can directly impact others, for instance your staff!

In your next staff meeting, have each member of your team say out loud something they’re looking forward to, something that they’re trying to achieve, or what’s “working” for them. This can become a normal occurrence, even a staple of your meetings, and the impact of this practice can be visible immediately. Give it a try!

5. Express your gratitude to your patients & staff throughout the day

Lastly, and probably most importantly, I suggest expressing your gratitude in real time: with your patients, with your team, and even with yourself! You and your team work hard to ensure your practice stays up and running, and your patients have trusted you with their health and wellness. These are things that you can choose to be grateful for each and every day – they’re blessings! So recognize those around you and the things they’re doing, and let them know that you see them, and that you appreciate their efforts.

If you got something from this blog, be sure to check out our free online course, Creating a Mindset that BOOSTS Success where we go into greater detail about the importance of having a purposeful, success oriented mindset in your practice.

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