Why do voluntary activities matter most for a dentist’s happiness?
Because they are the part of happiness you have the most control over. Your set point is fixed and many of your conditions are stuck, but voluntary activities are wide open. The research is clear that these move the needle: physical exercise, anything from a walk around the block to an Ironman, learning new skill sets, picking up a procedure or rebuilding a car or learning an instrument, meditation, volunteering, and real face-to-face social time. Even vacations count, though the surprise is that planning and anticipating a trip can deliver as much happiness as the trip itself. So if you want a happier professional life, stop waiting for circumstances to improve. Choose to add things. The act of learning and building is itself the source. Pick one new skill this quarter and start.
If the answers you are finding here resonate with you, my team and I work with a small group of clients each year. The next step is a complimentary Discovery Consultation and Practice Review with Dr. McAnally.