Balancing work and life is not always easy. On the one hand, you want a fulfilling career that pays well. On the other hand, you need to preserve enough time to take care of your family and yourself. The good news is that as a dental assistant, achieving that balance is not usually difficult! This blog post contains some helpful tips that can help you keep work and your personal life in their proper places.

Dental Assisting: An Easy Path to a Balanced Lifestyle

Dental assisting is an excellent career choice because it has built-in perks that make it easier to balance work and life. For example, most dental practices are not open on weekends. If they are, they tend to have limited hours. They also may have very limited evening operations (if they are open in the evenings at all). That allows you plenty of time to spend with your family, get chores done and relax.

Other advantages that you might enjoy include:

• A competitive salary that covers your needs and a lot of your wants.
• The freedom to choose part-time or full-time work.
• In-demand skills, so you may be able to find a job with an easy commute.

Keeping Work and Life in Their Places

Of course, as with any career, dental assisting might require that you be proactive about establishing a good work-life balance. Here are some tips that could help:

• Communicate with your employer. From the time you are interviewing for a position, it is wise to set boundaries about when you are available and how much you are willing to work.
• Make a schedule. Making to-do lists and organizing tasks according to urgency and importance can help you to keep your priorities on track.
• Seek support. If you feel like you are in danger of burning out, talk to your family and your employer to see what adjustments might help you regain your energy and enthusiasm.
• Set boundaries. As someone in the healthcare field, you might experience some powerful emotions at times, perhaps with regard to your patients. It is good to care, but caring too much can bring its own challenges. Try to keep your experiences in perspective so you do not take work home with you.

Work-life balance might seem like a fantasy, but with an accommodating career and good time management, it can become a reality!

Get in Touch with NE Dental Academy

At NE Dental Academy, we are proud to be training the next generation of dental assistants. If you enjoy working with people, are enthusiastic about oral health and want a fulfilling career, we would love to talk with you about our programs. To learn more about us and the education we provide, get in touch with us at 508-425-6644.