Don't sweat the small stuff.

This article is the third one in the stress series.

This one comes from the seminars that I run. Often I get asked very hypothetical questions, especially by younger dentists: "What would you do if the patient came into the room, stood on their head and did a pirouette?"

I often reply: "Has that ever happened?", to which the usual reply is: "Not to me but I know someone it happened to."

You could spend all day figuring out how to handle one in a thousand scenarios, but we are all much better off to focus on things that commonly happen and get better at those.

Idea #3

Don't sweat the small stuff.

Once an eccentric patient started to tell me about his podiatry problems. I just said: "We don't have time for that. Let's get on to your teeth."

At the end of the appointment he started to take off his shoes so he could show me his feet. I said: "Wrong end of the body." and left the room.

Weird situation.

I could have agonised over how to handle such situations in the future but I reckon you're better to ignore such things and just respond naturally to weird situations when/if they arise.

Don't stress over weird things. Focus on what's in front of you, especially the common things.

As Shakespeare said: "A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once."

If something weird happens just respond naturally and honestly then mentally drop it and say "Next!"