3 questions every woman in dentistry should ask before 2026
I’m a big believer of timely reflections and re-setting of intentions. The risk of not doing this regularly is that we end up years down the track, very far from where we want to be, and wonder how we got there? Between specialist training and a newborn, I haven’t given much time and attention to self-reflection these past 4 years and girl, has it come to bite me in the ass!
It’s been a juicy year with lots of pulp, as I tried to learn everything, and achieve multiple goals, all at once without being super clear on the exact path. Sure, it’s been great fun, but it’s also been exhausting and I tapped out by August because there was minimal leeway for managing women’s health issues that many of us are faced with.
So, I invite you to join me in taking 15 minutes (more if you can!) to sit with the following questions, so you can start off fresh and clear in 2026, in a sustainable way. Jot down your thoughts, even in dot point or as reminders. Bringing answers into visible existence is the first step to putting it into action.
1. What choices no longer feel right?
2. What am I procrastinating?
3. What’s in my corner?
1. What choices no longer feel right?
It’s easy to be on autopilot because it saves our brain energy. But think about where you would be in a few years if nothing at all changed. Your habits, your work dynamics, your choices and routines. If everything continued as it is now, are you still on the trajectory you want? Do you feel energised by that vision? Does it light you up? It’s ok if not. Our circumstances change, our needs change. It’s ok to let go of what no longer serves you.
The problem is that your brain doesn’t like change, and it will try talk you out of it. You might think “Am I taking the easy way out by letting this go?” You might often end dissatisfactions with “But I should be grateful for what I have”. But if you get very honest and very clear with yourself in this exercise, you will realise what truly matters to you right now, and therefore, what you need to keep, and what you need to let go.
2. What am I procrastinating?
We avoid and procrastinate things out of fear- fear of change, fear of failure, fear of completing the task then having to do the next thing that really means something. Or maybe you’re like me and you avoid paperwork like the plague because there are more interesting things to be doing. But much of the time, we avoid doing the hard thing, the uncomfortable conversations, the stuff that we know will be good for us. We tell ourselves “I’ll do it when things settle down.” When the kids are older.” “When I earn a bit more.” “When I feel more confident.” “When I’ve earnt the right.” Believe me when I say “You’ve earnt it”. Remember that you can’t keep doing the same thing if you want different results.
An easy approach is to break it down to very small logistics steps. You’ve got this.
3. What do I have in my corner?
Look, dentistry is demanding and it can be isolating. Surrounded by people all day but most of them need something from you. So who’s got your back? It’s important to have clear contingency plans for when you need to fill your cup. Just like knowing where the AED is kept, you want access to your support system asap.
Whether it’s a trusted colleague/ friend/ partner/ psychologist, whether it’s a gym membership, a weekly hiking buddy, scheduled bath house visits/ beach walks, a space to get creative, a space that energises you, a space that reminds you of who you are and what you stand for.