As a dental hygienist transitioning into myofunctional therapy, setting boundaries in your business is crucial to maintaining your work-life balance, productivity, and mental health. Without clear boundaries, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with clients, work, and the many hats you wear as an entrepreneur. In this post, we’ll dive into five key boundaries that will help you thrive in your myofunctional therapy practice while staying in control of your time.
1. Identify Your Non-Negotiables
The first step in setting strong boundaries is identifying your non-negotiables. These are the aspects of your life and schedule that cannot be compromised. This could be family time, personal time, or specific hours during the day when you refuse to work. It’s essential to define these limits from the start so that your business doesn’t infringe on your personal life. Setting these boundaries early will help you protect your time and ensure that you’re building your business around the things that matter most to you.
2. Set Up Systems and Processes to Include Your Boundaries
Once you’ve defined your non-negotiables, it’s time to set up systems that reflect your boundaries. This includes setting clear expectations around communication, such as when clients can expect responses to emails or phone calls. For example, let clients know your email hours, phone policies, and when you’re available to respond. Establishing these systems from the beginning will help protect your time and reduce the chance of burnout as you grow your myofunctional therapy business. (And don’t you worry…I teach you the 7 essential systems you need in your business inside the Ditch Hygiene Academy™)
3. Teach Clients How to Treat You
One of the most important things you can do as a business owner is teach your clients how to respect your boundaries. This includes clear communication about appointment times, cancellations, and expectations for response times. For instance, if a client tries to reschedule or cancel last-minute, make it clear that they won’t be able to reach you outside of your designated hours. When you teach your clients how to treat you, they’ll respect your time and your boundaries, leading to a more organized and professional relationship.
4. Do Business During Business Hours
Maintaining a strict business schedule is key to creating a thriving myofunctional therapy practice. Whether you’re working part-time or full-time, establish specific business hours and stick to them. Let clients know when they can reach you and avoid taking appointments outside of those hours. Having set business hours helps you stay focused and productive, while also creating space for the things that matter most in your life, like family time and personal rest. (Again, you don’t think I’d leave you on your own–learning how to set your schedule and manage your time? I’ve got you covered with several time management lessons inside the Ditch Hygiene Academy™ + I teach you how to distill your annual goals down into quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily tasks so you know exactly where to spend your time!)
5. Be Assertive – The Power of Saying No
The final boundary is learning the power of saying no. As an entrepreneur, you’ll face many opportunities, requests, and distractions that can pull you away from your goals. Being assertive and saying no when necessary is crucial to staying focused on what matters most to you. Saying no doesn’t mean being rude or aggressive—it’s about protecting your time and making sure that you’re prioritizing the things that move your business forward. No is a full sentence too, BTW.
Conclusion: Setting Boundaries for a Balanced and Successful Business
Setting boundaries in your myofunctional therapy business will help you stay organized, protect your time, and ensure that you’re building a business that aligns with your goals. By identifying your non-negotiables, setting up systems to protect your time, teaching clients how to treat you, maintaining business hours, and being assertive with your “no,” you’ll create the foundation for a thriving practice that supports your life.
Ready take your life to the next level while maintaining control over your time and energy, join the Ditch Hygiene Academy™ today. Enrollment is open for a few more days! I will teach you exactly how to build a successful myofunctional therapy practice with the right boundaries and systems in place.
Let’s get started on building a business and a life that you’re “bonkers” about!
🥂,
Carmen
P.S. Are you tired of building someone else’s dreams? If so, here are some upcoming dates that you will want to pay attention to….
👉 Myo Week (Free 8 Day Training): Jan 10-17, 2025
👉 Next Ditch Hygiene Academy Enrollment: Jan 10-21, 2025
Make sure you are on the waitlist to get all the enrollment information + a super awesome early bird discount!
