19th December 4pm marks the start of my ‘sabbatical’ part three.
This started in 2016 where I went entirely off the grid for six weeks – no emails, no phone, nothing and wrote in my diary to myself at the end that I had reached a level of contentment I had rarely known.
Last year it was different. I worked at times throughout on a big project but with the complete freedom to pay attention to that without the day-to-day running’s of the business. This year it changes again.
I finish up on the 19th December but I’m back in work on the 21st!!
I have a meeting for two hours to learn some IT skills that I’ve never had before which will stand me in really good stead going forwards with our digital workflow.
I am off until 2nd January and then I go in to have a planning meeting and to see four new patients (new patient consultation and surgery appointments are one of the two most important things I can do in clinical dentistry in the practice)
Throughout January I have a few new patient sessions and a few surgical sessions scattered, not many maybe five, and one strategy day where the Senior Leadership Team of The Campbell Clinic get together and plan the next year.
I have a lecture to do in Reading one Wednesday night about the GDC and the rest of January is entirely free.
I’ll still be on the grid but I won’t be answering emails or telephone calls unless they’re absolutely urgent.
I have planned in two (at least) all day reading days where I’m going to catch up on some of the things I should have read but have just left lying on a desk, books I want to start and not least, JOMI (an implant journal) where I’ve highlighted significant articles that I want to read.
On those days I’ll light the fire at home, send the kids to school and sit down with my dog and read.
I’ll eat clean because I won’t be under the time pressure that makes me not do that and I’ll cycle 5 – 6 times a week.
I’ll do some yoga and mindfulness because I’ll have the space and I’ll pay very close attention to my boy’s football team.
The blogs will still come but there’ll be no replies and I’ll have a little bit of headspace to plan the rest of my life which is one of the best things I get in these periods off.
See you on the other side.
Blog Post Number: 1860