August 21, 2008
Life |  Web Exclusive
De-stress yourself

Forget power naps—these adventures take recharging to a whole new level.

by Gayle Lawrence, RDH

	Photo: Getty Images

Have you ever felt like your spirit was being strangled by dental floss? Ever felt like your tooth-centered world of curettes, calculus, cotton rolls and call lists was akin to a vat of quicksand, slowly pulling you down, down, down?

I think that at some point in their practice the majority of hygienists find themselves feeling this way in varying degrees, and unfortunately, many of them do not honor those feelings. Because of a sense of commitment to their work, they don’t always take the time they need for themselves. Recognizing the importance of taking time to nurture yourself can be the deciding factor in long term clinical practice versus professional burn-out.

As a part-time practicing hygienist and owner of Journeys of Discovery – Mind, Body, Spiritual Adventures, a travel service for women, I’ve hit upon just the right balance of work, personal self-discovery and play. My mission is one of motivated self-interest: to create unique experiences for myself that foster personal growth, self-discovery and broaden my horizons, and to share these experiences with other wonderful women who need to claim some time for themselves.

Recharging ourselves can take many forms. Here, I lay out several creative experiences that can help you de-stress and revitalize, hopefully prompting you to clarifying your needs and take steps to meet them!

swim with wild dolphins
Swimming with wild dolphins off the shores of Bimini is something so wonderful, emotionally transformational and joyful that you can’t possibly feel stressed about work. These divine creatures teach us how to play again! I recently took a group of hygienists on this seaside adventure. Here’s what Lisa Vinsack, RDH, has to say:

As the mother of an infant and a toddler I had two obvious excuses to talk myself out of going on this dolphin trip. Who would take care of my kids? What if something happened and I was so far away? What if something happened to me? Then the money factor—I worried about that one a lot! There were so many other things I could think of to spend that money on other than spending it on myself. However, I had dreamed about swimming with dolphins for years, so when this opportunity presented itself, I had to do it.

The serenity I experienced on the trip has carried over into my personal and professional life. The dolphins taught me how to live in the moment and let go of worry, which has made me happier and more at peace with myself. I can let go of stress at work or at home just by remembering the presence of the dolphins. I’ve learned just how important it is to nurture yourself and live your dreams. In turn, this has made me a better wife, mother, and dental hygienist.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

1 of 3