Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Nagivating Work-Life Balance: A Peek into Our Weekly Routines
17 Plays11 days ago
About the Hosts:
Dr. Savanah Craig is a dedicated dentist known for her expertise in navigating the challenges of transitioning from dental school to a thriving professional career. She co-hosts the podcast "Beyond Graduation" where she shares insights on professional development and work-life balance. Dr. Craig also actively engages with her audience through her Instagram handle @savanahcraigdds.
Dr. Ronnetta Sartor is a dentist with a passion for both clinical excellence and personal well-being. She runs her dental office with a focus on maintaining a reasonable work-life balance, emphasizing the importance of mental and physical health in a demanding profession. Dr. Sartor interacts with her community on Instagram at @dr_sartor.
Episode Summary:
In this engaging episode of "Beyond Graduation," Drs. Savanah Craig and Ronnetta Sartor delve into a topic of great interest: the week-to-week life of a practicing dentist and the art of balancing professional commitments with personal wellness. Their conversation vividly paints a picture of the varied schedules that define their lives after dental school and offers listeners a candid glimpse into the realities of early-career dental practitioners.
The discussion covers essential aspects of maintaining a healthy work-life balance, offering practical advice and personal experiences. They explore the intricacies of their weekly routines, discuss the benefits of a four-day work week, and emphasize the importance of taking time for self-care amidst a busy professional schedule.
Key Takeaways:
- Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is crucial in the demanding field of dentistry.
- Effective time management involves planning, setting priorities, and accommodating flexibility for personal care routines.
- Structuring work weeks to include dedicated days for administrative tasks fosters more focused patient care.
- Strategies like meal prepping and early morning routines can enhance overall productivity and well-being.
- Professional growth is possible when creating a consistent and manageable work schedule tailored to individual needs.
Connect with Us:
- Savanah Craig, DDS: @savanahcraigdds
- Ronnetta Sartor, DMD: @dr_sartor
- FutureDentists Beyond Graduation: @futuredentistsbeyondgraduation
- FutureDentists: @futuredentists
- IgniteDDS and IgniteDDS Coaching: @ignitedds and www.ignitedds.com
Explore the dynamic world of post-graduation dentistry with Drs. Craig and Sartor as they share their personal journeys and offer practical strategies.
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction & Work Schedule Perks
00:00:00
Speaker
Renetta, how many days a week do you work or how, I guess when you work is when your practice is open probably, yeah? Yeah, so we work four days a week. My day off is Wednesday, so I only work four days a week.
00:00:14
Speaker
The perks of dentistry. Join Drs. Savannah Craig and Renetta Sartor as we navigate life beyond graduation. Real conversations about forging our own paths in our early years in our careers.
00:00:26
Speaker
There's a reason it's called practicing
Post-Graduation Work-Life Balance
00:00:28
Speaker
dentistry. Welcome back to another episode of Beyond Graduation. i am Savannah Craig. And I'm Renetta Sartour. This week, we thought we would give a little peek inside our ah day-to-day lives, the schedules of our week, what our office work hours are, all of those things.
00:00:47
Speaker
Um, because when I was in dental school and you're just grinding five days a week, sometimes on weekends, you wonder what will, what will work-life balance or my schedule look like when I'm out of here?
Office Hours & Adjustments
00:01:02
Speaker
So we thought we would share what that looks like because I think we both have a similar, but, but probably a little different schedules. So Renetta, how many days a week do you work or how, i guess, when you work is when your practice is open, probably, yeah? Yeah, so we work four days a week. We are open Monday through Thursday from 8 to 5.
00:01:27
Speaker
um When I first purchased the office, we did Tuesdays until 6. Yeah. um i am an early riser so by a certain time of the day my brain does not process and for that duration of time when we worked until six o'clock at five o'clock it was like my brain would shut off so i was yeah we have to change this it's not going to be good for anyone Did you get pushback from your team or your patients or anything? um From the team, because I think part of why that Tuesday was a late days so that some patients would not have to take off to come and have their teeth cleaned or work done.
00:02:14
Speaker
um My thought process was that the truth of the matter is if it was a day that not only or time that not only I didn't want to be there, but the team didn't want to be there too. We still weren't doing our patients a good service.
00:02:31
Speaker
it would be much rather better to have them come during hours where we could be our best for them. um But it was more so, you know, the assistants advocating for the patients.
00:02:44
Speaker
Yeah. I like that perspective though. in hygie is assistance And assistants and hygienists. Yeah. Yeah. I like that perspective. And then Fridays, for the most part, are like my volunteer days or travel days if I'm going anywhere. But um consistently, it's the days when I do most of my administrative work.
00:03:06
Speaker
as it pertains the office and work on the office instead of being working in the office to help with growing it and all that. And then we take lunch 12 to 1, but Monday through Thursday, most of the time I take meetings.
00:03:22
Speaker
During that time to kind of free up time on Friday.
Work Schedules & Challenges
00:03:29
Speaker
it used to be that would work Friday, the same hours doing administrative stuff in the beginning.
00:03:36
Speaker
Yeah. And then I realized very quickly that um that wouldn't last long and I wouldn't last long doing that. So I try to be done by 12. Nice.
00:03:47
Speaker
nice Yeah, but if I work, I mean, I'm an early riser, so the earlier i start working, the sooner I'm finished. Absolutely. What about you? What's your Monday through Friday situation?
00:04:01
Speaker
Yeah, so the office is open monday through Friday. um friday all of the offices are 8 to 2. Yeah. My day off is Wednesday, so I only work four days a week, the perks of dentistry.
00:04:18
Speaker
But the office itself, I think across the board, we're open 7.30 6.00.
00:04:25
Speaker
but um It's group practice. So we have staggered shifts. So some people are there early. Some people are there late. Monday, Tuesday, I am the late doc. So I'm in 10 to 6.
00:04:39
Speaker
Wednesday, I'm off or in the OR in Cincinnati. And then Thursday, 8 to 4. Friday, 8 to 2. Pretty good. Yeah. do you Do you, did it take you a while to remember what day you're supposed to be where and what time?
00:04:54
Speaker
Yes. i It's nice that it doesn't flip flop that I just know Monday, Tuesday are 10 to six. And then um the other half of the week ah is earlier.
00:05:08
Speaker
When I first started, I was at one office Monday, Tuesday, and then a different office Thursday, Friday. So that's how I kept it separate in my brain. Things have shifted a little bit, so it's a little more complicated now. But the plan is come about March, I will just be at the one office working those same hours.
00:05:27
Speaker
The hardest part is we wear different colored scrubs at the different offices. So that's what I have to remember ah is what color to wear. Only once have I shown up in the wrong color, so not bad.
00:05:38
Speaker
That's pretty good. Yeah. So what time do you start your day each day? Is it consistent or do you vary or? Um, I mean like what time you, you rise? Yeah. What time do I get up? i it depends. My goal would be for it to be consistent.
00:05:58
Speaker
The winter, I have been more getting up later on Monday, Tuesday, just because it's cold and dark and I don't, want to get out of my bed, but I am usually, I think my alarm goes off about 5.30 or 6 consistently through the week. Wednesdays are hit or miss because if I'm not doing anything, then I'll just get up when I want to get up. Monday, Tuesday, it's nice to be able to get a workout in or sometimes I'm able to schedule like doctor's appointments and things in the morning before i head into work so that I don't have to use my day off for those things. So I typically you wake up between 5 and 5.30. of the time it's 5 or sometimes I'll just lay there and meditate until 5.30.
00:06:42
Speaker
um But it's nice to get up and like you say, get a workout in or read something or meditate before work. What time do you go to bed?
00:06:53
Speaker
I try to be in bed by 8.30, 8.45. Okay. That's the part that I'm not so good at. i can't I need to go to bed earlier if I'm going to get up that early. But i especially when I work later, I feel like I don't have as much downtime to just like be awake but do nothing. So I think those nights are harder for me too.
00:07:15
Speaker
So the only the only days that it's really harder
Weekly Routines & Self-Care
00:07:21
Speaker
for me is... um My chiropractor days. Okay.
00:07:26
Speaker
Because that's typically on Wednesdays and it's after I leave work and I have to drive to get there and back. So I get home later. so on those days I try to be in bed by at least nine. Okay.
00:07:40
Speaker
um But it's like you said, pretty much home, eat, wash, bed. Yeah. And then, you know, wake up and do it all over again. Yeah. So what other things aside from work are you fitting into your week?
00:07:55
Speaker
Obviously, every week's going to look a little different, but for the most part, what's your consistent routine? So Tuesdays are therapy days, um every other Tuesday, and then every other Wednesday is chiropractor day.
00:08:10
Speaker
And those are after work. I also do like I get massages and like um do red light sauna therapy and just red light therapy um to help with my back. Most of the time, those are Friday days.
00:08:25
Speaker
Unless there's a local place that I go to for those things. So unless I need it um during a week and most likely that'll be after hours.
00:08:37
Speaker
Got it. But I'll try to be done with with that if possible by at least seven so that I can get home and do what I need to do to start a day.
00:08:49
Speaker
So for me, that's why it's more important that I wake up earlier so that if I'm even if it's just doing yoga to kind of get my body ready for the day. um I get the movement out of the way early on because sometimes my days late.
00:09:06
Speaker
late um and then sometimes I'm in part of like local study clubs and, um, dental associations type stuff. So some evenings will go, you know, to about eight o'clock. So then I got to get home and get ready for bed. Yeah.
00:09:25
Speaker
How about you? Yeah, it goes fast. Um, so, recently i Recently, as was in literally this past week, but started doing some um physical therapy for jaw, neck, head sort of things. So that's now...
00:09:43
Speaker
they have really early morning appointments, which I super appreciate, but I'm shocked for them. So they actually start at 6.30. So I've got 7.30 appointment on Tuesday. 7.30 to 8.30, and then I'll head into work, work 10 to 6.
00:10:03
Speaker
That's a regular one. i also try to do my workouts in the morning. i feel like it's It's really hard to work out after work and then calm yourself back down to go to sleep, in my opinion.
00:10:16
Speaker
So I try to do that. Again, I've not been so good at that in the cold and winter. It's really hard for me to get up. Because I had been going to like a workout studio.
00:10:28
Speaker
and it's just hard to convince myself to get out of my warm bed. but but And then... Most of my other, so I do chiropractor about once a month. I try to schedule that on Wednesdays when I'm off.
00:10:43
Speaker
It's the whole thing of everybody works the same hours basically and that can be really hard to get everything to fit together. it is nice on Fridays being done at two so you can sneak in a haircut or things of that nature.
00:10:57
Speaker
And, but I really, I really take advantage of my Wednesdays and I'll try to stack like, you know, your PCP appointment or your dermatologist and like, just pick a Wednesday and like, all right, this day is just going to be 75 doctor's appointments.
00:11:14
Speaker
And I'll hate it, but then it'll be over. Then we have a study club that we're a part of once a month. That's Wednesday nights. It's the third Wednesday of the month, and it always falls on my OR day at Cincinnati. So those weeks are chaotic.
00:11:29
Speaker
So I'll work Monday 10 to 6, come home, pack for Cincinnati, because then I'm going to leave Tuesday after work. So i'll then I'll work 10 to 6. Drive from work straight to Cincinnati. i stay with one of my dental school classmates, which is fun. I get to see her and her family.
Morning Huddles & Flexibility
00:11:49
Speaker
But usually get there about eight o'clock, 8.15. We eat dinner, catch up from the month. Then... I'm in the ah or I typically get there about 7, 7.30. Do OR case. I'm in Cincy until about 3.30. then I drive back to Columbus for study club Wednesday night, which goes till about 9. So those weeks are lots of lots of car time. was going to say, so that gives you lots of time to listen to audio books and podcasts and all that stuff.
00:12:24
Speaker
Yeah. So it sounded like it's no no rest. It sounded like these schedules are booked pretty tight. What um do you all do a huddle, a morning huddle at your offices?
00:12:40
Speaker
So our individual teams do, not the full office, because we have that sort of staggered. Staggered? Okay. So what does that look like when you say your individual team?
00:12:50
Speaker
Yeah. What would a huddle look like, for example? um so say we start at 10, 10. ten We'll all be there by 930. Gives me a time to look at the schedule. I'll grab my assistant and my EFTA and we'll just run through real quick what our schedule, sit there and look at our schedule, what it looks like, any strange things to be aware of or patient preferences to be aware of. Make sure our lab cases are there.
00:13:20
Speaker
um i try my best, I'm getting better at this, to also look at the hygiene columns and see when Um, I'm going to be needed for checks over there.
00:13:33
Speaker
ah but that's, that's really, we just get together as a little team. And if there's stuff that I've noticed on the hygiene schedule or other schedules, I'll go check in with that hygienist or whatever, but.
00:13:45
Speaker
Cool. So we do our huddle at 740 every morning. Um, and we all see our first patients at eight. Yeah. 8 a.m. And it's pretty much the same. You know, we celebrate wins and huddle and...
00:14:01
Speaker
Talk about how we did the day before, what we're planning to do today in terms of a production standpoint, um areas for opportunity.
00:14:14
Speaker
um you know Like you said, if it's anything the schedule where um we need to talk about with patients or anything like that, we'll discuss that as well.
00:14:26
Speaker
I'm excited to I loved bouncing between the offices and I'm really going to miss the team at the office I'm no longer going to be at but I do think it's going to make things a little easier to have that consistency and to look ahead at the week and know what's coming versus now when I'm bouncing back and forth.
00:14:46
Speaker
because So right now I'm only at the one office on Tuesday. and so a lot can change in a week with the schedule. um And then you show back up on Tuesday morning, you're like, oh, actually, we're doing this today and not this. And i'm I'm grateful that that doesn't freak me out as much in residency. That probably would have set me over the edge when you're like, I thought I was doing all of these extractions, but that patient came off and now I'm doing endo and I'm going to have a panic attack. But now it's just come what may
00:15:22
Speaker
or oh, that patient scheduled their implant. That's okay. I you know already planned that surgery. It's going to be fine. But I feel like in residency, I needed like two weeks notice for any big procedure just to get my head around.
00:15:38
Speaker
And now the schedule changes too much to not all the time, but I always feel like when I have a big, i don't know why root canals still freak me out, but anytime I have a big endo, I'll like panic about it for two weeks. And the next thing I know, the patient's moved the appointment. I'm like, I just wasted so much energy and time.
00:15:59
Speaker
What advice would you have for any of our listeners out there in terms of schedule and,
00:16:11
Speaker
you know, just making
00:16:14
Speaker
making time for the things that are important, building ah building it around their work schedule? Oof. I don't know that I figured that out.
Planning & Flexibility in Routines
00:16:27
Speaker
i am a planner girl. I love my planner, so i could not keep my life together without it.
00:16:37
Speaker
I think...
00:16:40
Speaker
Knowing that it's okay for it to change and look different in different seasons is something that has taken me a while to get used to and give myself grace of, oh, in the winter, I don't feel like working out as intense as maybe I do in the summer and just being okay with that flexibility
00:17:01
Speaker
and trying to actually block out time for things and know that it's not just going to come to you spontaneously. You're not just going to wake up naturally at 5am and be like, I'm going to go do yoga. you need to, at least I'm not that type of person. So set your clothes out the night before, try to find the time for that. Yeah. What about you? How, obviously this has probably changed in various seasons for you.
00:17:36
Speaker
Even when I was an associate, I would try to plan my week on Sunday. So yeah um i like to meal prep and I get tired of the same thing. So I have to like do a few different things. um Like you said, to have my clothes out the night before.
00:17:55
Speaker
Or if I know that I have a meeting after work or I know ah have some sort of appointment after work, have change of clothes ready to yeah night before. Yeah.
00:18:09
Speaker
And you said it like, I know if I don't get myself up, whether I'm kicking and screaming or not at 5 a.m., then it's going to impact the rest of the day.
00:18:22
Speaker
Yeah. But also like there are times where like if I... have a really intense adjustment at the chiropractor. I'm going to give my body and everything grace and get up later.
00:18:34
Speaker
yeah and so maybe that's a day that even though I shouldn't, I might skip um getting up and working out or doing yoga. yeah, go ahead. yeah ah go ahead I was going to say, I think meal prep is a big um light bulb for me. Finding there are a lot of like sneaky ways to get your time back who and finding those ways that work for you. Meal prep is a big one for me.
00:19:01
Speaker
Adam hated it for the longest time. I mean, that's how I survived dental school. Right. And Adam hated it. He's like, there's so many dishes. And I'm like, yeah, but we, then we do all the dishes on Sunday And it sucks that every pot and pan we own is in the dishwasher, but then it's over. Right, right. And so he has eventually come around to my my decision there.
00:19:27
Speaker
Or other things like I'll sit and dread like cleaning the bathroom or whatever, but it really doesn't take as much time as you think. And if you just get up and start doing it before you know it, you're almost finished. Yeah.
00:19:40
Speaker
Most days. Yeah. Throw on a podcast and run around. is That's what I do. If it's not a podcast, it's an audio book.
00:19:51
Speaker
before you know it, when you're multitasking like that, you're finished. yeah I think the other thing, as much as we talked about finding time for all the things you need to do for yourself, is being really intentional about the time with your people.
00:20:07
Speaker
So no matter how much we're running around, we try to sit down and eat dinner together, even if it's in front of the TV, which isn't. great but we spend some time together and the think the cats have made made us have to slow down and you know if we don't take 10 minutes to play with them they're gonna scream at us so it gets me off my phone and those sorts of things too which is nice Oh, yeah.
00:20:37
Speaker
And then it's nice. Technology is nice, too, because my phone will let me know, okay, it's time to wind down. Yeah. And by that point, I want to have done everything I need to do for self-care, if it's reading a book or taking ah but a bath and making it like a spa or something like that.
00:20:57
Speaker
um But I agree. um Just ending the stress cycle every day that we talked about. Um, it's super important. And a lot of times giving back to yourself and spending times with your time, what your people helps to renew you, to get a good night where rest, to be able to do it all over again tomorrow.
Engagement & Listener Participation
00:21:17
Speaker
I would love um for people to share what their schedules look like, especially i know there are after work workout people and i am not one of you, but I always find that fascinating. So let us know what that looks like and how you sort of wind things down after that.
00:21:35
Speaker
And let us know what your office hours are. I'm always curious to hear the different schedules that people have and how they work their patients into their schedule. So let us know.
00:21:46
Speaker
You can find me at Savannah Craig DDS on Instagram. And you can find me at Dr. Underscore Sartor on Instagram as well. We will catch you back here next time. Thank you for joining us for this episode of Beyond Graduation. If you enjoyed this week's episode, be sure to share it with a friend. Connect with us on social media at Savannah Craig DBS and at Dr. Sartor.
00:22:12
Speaker
And remember, you are not alone on this journey. Thank you for listening to Beyond Graduation brought to you by Ignite DDS and Future Dentists. This episode was sponsored by Ignite DDS Coaching. We build self-determined futures. For more information, please reach out to the Ignite DDS team.