Organizing Your Chaos: 6 Tips to Bring Your Best Self
As a dental manager, you oversee the day-to-day operations of the practice, employees, and patients. But you’re not just an office manager but a leader in your practice.
When I stepped into this role, I quickly learned how chaotic a day could get as you are pulled in many different directions at any moment. I became overwhelmed and questioned if this leadership role was right for me.
But being a good leader means stepping up, owning the role, setting the tone, and leading by example. This starts with getting organized and setting the tone for your work day.
Here are six organizational tips to help bring your best manager self each day.
1. Organize Your Workspace
Efficacy and organization go hand in hand. There is nothing like sitting at your desk in the morning with a clean and organized area. Keeping your workspace clean and tidy helps reduce stress, improves focus, and promotes productivity. Make this space your own, where you enjoy being. With an organized workspace, you are setting the stage for a smoother, faster, and more enjoyable work day.
2. Focus on What’s Important
With each new day brings new challenges. When you arrive at the office, give yourself some time to gather your thoughts, and remind yourself of your long-term goals.
At times, these goals can get lost in the chaos. But having systems in place can help conquer this.
You can start by setting daily priorities to meet your goals. I also love to keep photos of family or inspirational pictures nearby. This helps me conquer my day with positivity and ambition!
3. Create a Routine
Speaking of setting priorities, try being organized and ahead of the game by making yourself daily, weekly, and monthly to-do lists of important tasks. Review these tasks and prioritize what is most important to you.
This process will determine in which order to complete them, ensuring that the most important and urgent tasks are addressed first. Routines and to-do lists are helpful for maintaining productivity and remaining organized throughout the day.
4. Manage Your Time Well
There are just some days when it is so crazy that you wonder where the time went and if you even accomplished anything. When this happens, it’s good to remind yourself of ways you can help manage your time.
An effective strategy I have found to help manage my time is to time-block my day. After you prioritize your tasks, estimate the amount of time required to complete each task, and create time blocks in your schedule for each.
Completing your most challenging work when your energy is at its highest will save less demanding work for other times.
5. Delegate Tasks
At the beginning of my career, I found the thought of delegating tasks to be challenging, but a very vital management skill to learn.
Refusing to delegate will not only overload your schedule and prioritize the wrong tasks, but your team will also miss out on valuable learning and growth opportunities.
Being an effective leader means knowing when to let go and how your team can help you through the tasks.
6. Use Calendars and Planners
Whether you utilize today’s technologies with online software or prefer the process of transferring these thoughts onto paper, it isn’t just about organization; it helps declutter your mind. Use these tools to help schedule appointments, deadlines, and goal setting.
Cultivating Daily Habits That Elevate Your Work and Well-Being
As you can see, setting systems in place, such as organizing your workplace, creating routines and schedules, time management, and prioritizing tasks, can help clear your mind to become the best version of yourself. These skills enhance their effectiveness and contribute to a positive and productive work environment.
I would encourage you to end your day by decluttering your mind and space. Not only does this offer many benefits, but it also promotes a sense of control and well-being.
So, at the end of your workday, take a moment to clear your desk, putting each item in the appropriate place. Each day, remember to reflect on the day’s accomplishments and challenges. Celebrate what went well, learn from the challenges, and celebrate your team.
About the Author
Nikki Babcock, CDA, CDBP, DAADOM
Nikki has served in the dental field since 2006, when she started as a Dental Assistant out of high school. She is the Practice Manager at Rockford Downtown Dental, Dr. Chad Conlin, FAGD.
Nikki is a lifetime AADOM member. She received her AADOM Fellowship designation in 2023, her MAADOM in 2024, and her DAADOM in 2025.
Outside of the office, Nikki enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids.
