As dental students and soon-to-be dentists we are groomed to juggle many things at once and multi-task to the max.
Know the patient’s allergies. Recall last semester’s pain lecture. Cavicide the chair. Recite procedure protocols. Always remain pleasant and professional.
These are just a few tasks we perform daily. Aside from meeting constant academic and clinical expectations, we also work to maintain our personal lives. Sunrise to sundown is usually set for us, filling all the time slots with the most to the least priorities in our lives.
We often hear time management is our best friend while in school. The truth is, time isn’t on our side. We battle each day with our inner selves to choose the “most important” item on the to-do list, and what items to keep for the day or push to the next. It’s exhausting.
No wonder anxiety, depression and stress are prevalent conditions in dental students. Who would be well with so much on their plate? And what does it mean to be well nowadays? Are we the best judges of our own wellness?
Read the rest of this article in the September issue of Contour magazine, focused on wellness.
~ Daniela Garza, Texas Tech ‘25
