Is stress taking its toll? Take a look at these warning signs of someone who is out of balance:
- Vague sense of unease or being unsettled
- Unable to sleep properly
- Can’t shake a cold or get several illnesses in a row
- Shortened temper
- Forgetful
- Less energy
- Desire to overeat
These symptoms may take up to several months to appear, but they are gentle hints that you need to stop and take care of yourself. Your coursework may be affected if you don’t have the energy you need to be at your best.
Meditate your way to a more balanced life
One easy way to regain control of a stress-filled life is to meditate or do visualization exercises each day. Simply unplugging for a few minutes can make a big difference.
Here are some things to try:
- Find a quiet room with no distractions
- Turn off your mobile device
- Put on some relaxing music
- Clear your mind
- Reflect on how lucky you are to be working in such a great profession
- Think about a positive patient interaction you had that day
You may be able to sign up for meditation classes at your school, somewhere in your community or through your health club, or just take time to recharge and renew on your own. Benefits can be realized in just a few minutes a day.
You can hear more about meditation in a podcast featuring Uche Odiatu, BA, DMD, a practicing dentist and part-time clinical instructor at the University of Toronto. He is also a lifelong athlete, a certified trainer and best-selling author.
You can hear more about avoiding stress in a podcast featuring Ben Bernstein, Ph.D., a performance psychologist specializing in stress reduction and performance enhancement for dentists.
~ADA Center for Professional Success
This content is sponsored and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASDA.