Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor • April 2017 • Keys To Your Practice

If you don’t think of your next day in the office as one filled with excitement and extreme importance, then you will likely continue to practice in a mediocre manner.

The universe will deliver exactly what you ask of it. If you want to be busier and serve more people, then you need to start preparing for your day as if you are already busy and seeing tons of people.

Let’s look at a three-step process that you can start doing to help prepare you for a bigger and better day.

Having a good day tomorrow means you finish your day today right. Do everything in your power to get your desk cleared off and all necessary paperwork done before you leave for the day.

The number one complaint I hear around this topic from chiropractors is that they just don’t have the time to do it during the day. The real issue is lack of efficiency and/or wasting time during the day.

Another way to finish your day right is to have a huddle with your staff to discuss wins, challenges and any other business that has to be dealt with. You should not carry anything home with you when you have a clear opportunity to deal with it that day. This will keep you from getting into a negative mindset, which will no doubt affect you going forward.

Lastly, I can’t overstate the value of getting proper rest. You cannot give your practice 100 per cent of you if you are not fully rested and restored.

This begins with trying not to start your day in chaos. We have families and commitments, I know, but a chaotic mind will lead to a chaotic practice. Try to wake up a little earlier and have a routine. Exercise in the morning is a great way to prepare your body for the day. It could be as simple as a walk, cardiovascular exercise or even yoga.

Now that you have your body prepared, your mind needs attention as well. Meditation is a great way to get both your mind and heart ready to serve for the day. Affirmations and visualization are other ways to get your mind ready for your busy day. I personally like to recite and affirm my purpose, mission and vision on my way over to the office. It centres and grounds me for every decision I have coming throughout the day.

Lastly, get to your office early. It surprises me, when I do consults or visit other offices, how many chiropractors are showing up five minutes before they start. I was once set to observe with a chiropractor who was 15 minutes late to start their shift. I will never forget the looks on the patients’ faces and the internal panic I saw in them.

Once you are there early, a huddle with your staff is crucial to get the whole team started off on the right foot. This will free your mind to give each individual your complete and undivided attention and energy.

There are other things that you should be doing regularly to ensure you have the energy and stamina to serve a large practice. These include things like strength training, mobility and cardiovascular exercises. You will only be able to serve emotionally and mentally as much as your physical body will let you.

Another thing to remember is to make time throughout your week to serve yourself. You need to give back to yourself the same extent in which you give yourself to others. This is crucial to preventing burnout and to be mentally and spiritually balanced throughout your week. For this to regularly happen you need to book this sacred time in each week and pencil in whatever your heart desires. This may be breakfast with a friend, a golf game, trip to the bookstore, or whatever you desire. A more rested and balanced chiropractor will be far more ready to serve a large practice on a regular basis.

Considering these three steps to prepare for your big day will undoubtedly lead you to a busier and more exciting practice.

In addition, make sure you are able match and/or exceed your top patients’ energy and focus; otherwise, you will run the risk of having disengaged patients, which can lead to dropouts.

DR. ANGELO SANTIN, DC, operates a busy subluxation-based family practice in Thunder Bay, Ont., and is president of the Thunder Bay Chiropractic Society. Santin is also a Carter Universal proficiency-rated chiropractic coach. He can be reached at [email protected] or 807-344-4606.