Studying for the dental assisting boards (or school exams) can be exhausting. I have been there and I know the struggle. Sarah felt the same way, but now she is a fabulous CDA®. She passed the RHS®, GC, and ICE® exams! Today, I would like to share a technique that can replace coffee and boost your energy.
Here comes the HEALTHIER way of recharging, the 5-minute process, proven by Harvard psychologists and world-class health experts, to revitalize our minds.
3 steps, 5 minutes, here we go!
1) Two minutes: Assume the (power) position
Amy Cuddy, a Harvard social psychologist, revealed our body language can alter our brain’s chemistry. By “power posing” we experience a 20% boost in testosterone (the confidence hormone) and 25% decrease in cortisol (the stress hormone).
For two minutes, do one of the following power postures:
Your friends and family may think you went crazy, but who cares! It will make you feel GOOD.
2) One minute: Pushups until exhaustion
Do 10, 20, 30, or 100 pushups. It doesn’t matter. The point is to physically exhaust yourself until you can’t go any longer. If push-ups are not possible (because you don’t want to touch the clinic floor), what about squats? Same principle.
Doing intensive exercise sends a flood of endorphins to our brain, ignites blood flow, and boosts adrenaline. It’s not enough exercise to sweat, so it doesn’t matter if we’re in a suit or jeans.
3) Two minutes: Eyes closed, deep breathing
We’ve boosted testosterone and adrenaline, so we’re feeling alert. The final step is focused on improving mental clarity.
For this step, close your eyes and count each in-and-out breath as one repetition. Try to focus on only the breath.
Breath in for 5 seconds, hold it for 5 seconds, then out for 5 seconds (a total of 15 seconds). Do these 10 times, which equates to about two minutes.
If you’re wondering, yes, this is essentially meditation. According to Mayo Clinic, a world-leading medical research facility, meditation will increase focus, reduce stress, and produce greater creativity. It’s the ultimate reset for our minds.
Five minutes later, feel like a new person.
It’s amazing how well it replaces afternoon coffee. Give it a try!
SmarterDA has great STEP-by-STEP courses that give you everything you need. There are FREE trials in each course, 100% FREE. If you are interested in being successful, give it a shot.
The goal is #SuccessandNothingLess. Be the best you can be!
Which FREE Trial do you need?
- Prep Course for DANB’s RHS® (Radiology and Health Safety) Exam
- Prep Course for DANB’s ICE® (Infection Control) Exam
- Prep Course for DANB’s GC (General Chairside) Exam
- Prep Course for DANB’s AMP® (Anatomy, Morphology, and Physiology) Exam
Author: Claire RDH, MS
Claire is the founder of StudentRDH and SmarterDA – exams prep solutions for the dental hygiene and dental assisting students. The online solutions deliver content of the highest quality through the latest e-learning technology. According to some students, studying is now “addictive!” Prior to her career in the dental field, Claire Jeong was an education specialist at Boston Children’s Museum. Claire is licensed to practice in the United States as well as Canada. She provides personalized mentorship and can be reached at ClaireJ@SmarterDA.com and support@SmarterDA.com.
Disclaimer: DANB®, ICE®, CDA® and RHS® are registered trademarks of the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (“DANB”). This article is not sponsored or endorsed by or affiliated with the DANB.