AME: "Automaticity"

[00:00:00] Let's be honest, running a dental practice takes grit and determination. Between keeping your schedule on track, supporting your team, and delivering top-notch care, it can feel like there's never enough time in the day. And when things aren't organized, that's when the real stress starts to build. I've talked to so many practice owners who say the same thing. There's got to be a better way to stay organized. And the truth is, there is. They developed the Color Method, a smart, color-coded system for organizing our instruments and materials. We're talking procedure tubs, trays, burr blocks, and affordable cassettes,

[00:00:29] that make it easy to stay on top of everything. So your team works more efficiently and your day runs smoother. I've had the Zerk team on the podcast a number of times to talk more about this. And the fact is, you can no longer afford to ignore lean clinical performance. Just picture it. No more of your assistant getting up to retrieve something mid-procedure. No more frustration with misplaced materials. No more expired materials costing you thousands. Imagine easier onboarding with new hires. And best of all, being self-sufficient for weekend emergency calls. With Zerk's Color Method, you're not just saving time. You're creating an environment where you're

[00:00:59] where your team can thrive and your patients and your bottom line feel the difference. If you're ready to trade clutter and disorganization for control, visit colormethod.com. Trust me, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner. That's colormethod.com. Your path to a more efficient, stress-free practice. Check it out today. Your future self will thank you. This is a production of the Very Dental Podcast Network.

[00:01:28] Alan Mead is a dentist with too much time on his hands and too much recording equipment in his basement. Armed with an obsession to bring entertaining and informative content to the dental world in a way that's never been done before. I give you the Alan Mead Experience.

[00:01:47] Well, hello and welcome to another episode of the Alan Mead Experience. I'm your host, Dr. Alan Mead. I'm a dentist, podcaster, and a commuter. More about that commuting thing in a second.

[00:01:58] First, I would like to thank Zerk Dental Products for supporting the show. We appreciate Zerk. You should go check out their very colorful, very durable, organizational stuff.

[00:02:10] Cassettes, cassettes, tubs, all kinds of organizational things. They're fantastic. They call it the color method. It's a pretty neat thing. There'll be a link in the show notes to go check that out.

[00:02:22] And also, Happy New Year to all of you. This is the first episode of the Alan Mead Experience of 2025.

[00:02:29] And I'm just excited for you guys to be here. I had my first day of work on Tuesday, January 2nd. And it was interesting. So I drove into work like I normally do, except not really.

[00:02:45] I was talking about my commute. And something funny happened to me. I was driving to work like any other day in work. And all of a sudden, I decided to take a different route to work.

[00:02:59] Now, I have a 40-minute commute. It's mostly highway, mostly highway. But over the years, I've taken a whole bunch of different routes to get from my house to the office.

[00:03:09] It's like 40 minutes. So it's 26 to 28 miles, depending on the route that you take. And honestly, when I get in my car to go to work, I don't think very much about how to get there.

[00:03:22] I just kind of like start driving. And then before I know it, I'm there. Because just like many of you, I'm sure, who have any kind of a commute, it is a time where you sort of, it's almost a flow state where you sort of like fall apart from thinking.

[00:03:37] And you just do. And so on my way into work on the 2nd, I decided to take a different route, a route that I don't normally take. It's not a bad route. It wasn't, you know, it's probably a little bit longer.

[00:03:49] But the speed limit is a little higher on some of the highways. So it doesn't take, it doesn't take any longer. It's a little longer mile-wise.

[00:03:55] But what's so cool about that is like the automaticity of the way that I drive to work on a regular basis. I never give it any thought.

[00:04:08] So when you take a route intentionally different, it's weird. It's kind of cool. It's definitely weird. You have to think about it a little bit.

[00:04:15] Not that it's a really hard route to remember, but it's just like, it's different. You're not used to seeing that route.

[00:04:20] Whereas, you know, the route that I always take, the automatic route, I never even think about it.

[00:04:26] So I've been thinking about this automaticity. A lot of things have brought me back to this.

[00:04:31] A lot of things in my life, maybe in your life, but definitely in my life, are a little bit on the automatic side where I just find myself doing them.

[00:04:40] So the term automaticity is a really, it's kind of a cool one. It's a fancy word, but I was thinking a lot about it.

[00:04:49] It's just the things that you do on a regular basis that you don't have to think about.

[00:04:53] And actually, typically, the automatic things are good. It's good that you don't have to think about how to get to work.

[00:04:59] Because, you know, you've got other things on your mind or whatever.

[00:05:02] It's good that you always remember to etch your preparations before placing bonding in.

[00:05:08] It's good that the automatic things are there. And I think that's good.

[00:05:12] But it can also be something that you take for granted because you're not thinking about things intentionally.

[00:05:18] So it's just interesting. It's interesting to me that these things happen.

[00:05:21] So new year, new route to work. And it's not to say that I won't take the regular route to work.

[00:05:27] Because to be honest, I think the regular route to work is probably the quickest.

[00:05:30] I think it's the most efficient. If you look on a map, you'll see that it is the most efficient.

[00:05:35] But it was kind of cool that I took a little bit different route.

[00:05:39] So as I thought about this automaticity, I kind of was thinking about the good things and the bad things about it.

[00:05:45] The good things are it's definitely more efficient to work with automaticity in a dental office.

[00:05:51] For instance, when you and an assistant have been working together for a long time,

[00:05:55] you've done a lot of procedures together and you each know the steps.

[00:05:58] And you don't have to do a lot of communication because everyone kind of knows what's next and what's going to.

[00:06:05] That's fantastic. That's efficient.

[00:06:07] And frankly, the more you do of that, particularly the more that you do the same procedures over and over again with success,

[00:06:14] you form that as a habit and it becomes very efficient.

[00:06:18] Like the bottom line is, you know, you know how to tie your shoes because you've been tying your shoes for a really long time.

[00:06:25] It's not something that you have to think about.

[00:06:28] You know, most of the time for, man, like composite restorations are in with my assistant are very efficient

[00:06:38] because everyone kind of knows what's next and it's a really good way to work.

[00:06:43] But there are some downsides of this automaticity as well.

[00:06:46] Sometimes mindless behaviors are sort of a little less healthy.

[00:06:50] For instance, emotional eating.

[00:06:55] If you're a TV watcher, I don't really watch a lot of TV, but I remember when I did.

[00:06:58] If you're a TV watcher, just the idea that you're watching your show and you have something that you're eating

[00:07:03] and you're not thinking about what you're eating, you're just eating it.

[00:07:06] And that's because it's a habit that you've sort of developed and you're not thinking very much about it.

[00:07:09] And I'll say this, like impulsive online shopping buys, you know, just finishing up after the holiday season,

[00:07:20] there's been a lot of that.

[00:07:21] But the reality is, is, you know, it's very easy when you think of something that, hey, that might be a good thing to get.

[00:07:28] The Internet and online shopping makes it very easy to do that.

[00:07:32] And sometimes you can do that in a mindless way.

[00:07:34] So some of these mindless things aren't so great.

[00:07:36] I thought of the most classic unhealthy, and this is really what honestly inspired this topic.

[00:07:45] When I have a moment that I have to wait anywhere, I find that it's a waiting thing, whether it's in the grocery store line or,

[00:07:55] shoot, I was at a bowling match, my son's bowling team.

[00:08:01] And the way they do it is that they have like eight or nine kids on this team, and only five of them can play per game.

[00:08:08] So there will be a time where he's not playing and I'm not really paying attention.

[00:08:13] And man, I have to tell you, I went right to my phone.

[00:08:16] I was goofing around on my phone.

[00:08:19] And I had kind of given myself that because I'm like, well, it's a time.

[00:08:23] Back in the day when I was a kid, growing up in the 80s, you just got bored.

[00:08:28] You didn't get to go to your phone and burn time with Trivia Crack or Instagram or Facebook or YouTube or whatever.

[00:08:37] Well, now, I mean, it's kind of funny because waiting or time that you're not doing something else that maybe you used to,

[00:08:45] you might have listened to your Walkman or you might have read a book or whatever, you have a computer with access to all of the information in the entire world in your hand.

[00:08:54] So that's kind of great.

[00:08:55] But what's so funny is I can still fall into the mindless stuff with all the things that I might look up or all the things that I might read or all the things I might do on the Internet.

[00:09:05] I don't necessarily make the best choices about what to do.

[00:09:08] Usually I go and do the horrible comparison engine of Instagram.

[00:09:13] So I'm comparing my insides with everyone else's outside and feeling bad about it.

[00:09:18] That is an automatic reaction that I am trying to get rid of.

[00:09:22] And I have to admit, this weekend, I made a conscious choice to cut way back on social media.

[00:09:30] And interestingly, I did really well on Friday.

[00:09:34] On Friday, I probably cut back on any social media stuff by about 95%.

[00:09:42] I did a little bit of Facebook in some Facebook groups to kind of add some posts.

[00:09:47] I texted back and forth with some friends and contacts on social media and then left it alone.

[00:09:52] And then yesterday, Saturday, eh, a little less so.

[00:09:56] I had a few times where I had time to burn and I realized I caught myself being automatic.

[00:10:02] And today, at this bowling match, I was not good.

[00:10:06] I was right on it.

[00:10:07] I was trying to be conscious about staying away from social media.

[00:10:11] But it is funny how automatic it can be.

[00:10:14] So I have to be very intentional about what I do or don't do with social media.

[00:10:20] And it's just one of those things that are automatic.

[00:10:23] I got another thing.

[00:10:24] I got another great one for you.

[00:10:25] As a dentist, I'd like to think that I know everything I need to know about, let's just say, the materials that I use.

[00:10:31] I was bragging about how the automaticity of my assistant and I both knowing what's next in a procedure makes it very efficient and very in flow state.

[00:10:43] But here we go.

[00:10:47] When was the last time you looked at your instructions for any of these materials that you've used for years and years?

[00:10:53] I only ask that because each time I do this, I've talked about this in the podcast before.

[00:10:57] So do yourself a favor.

[00:10:58] Go back and look at the instructions of the materials you've been using.

[00:11:02] And you'll be surprised that it isn't exactly what you – maybe you're doing it exactly the way and you've never changed.

[00:11:09] But somehow or another, we get into this improvisational state where we're not necessarily doing what they're saying.

[00:11:16] Or we're not actually – if we're supposed to etch for 20 seconds, are we really etching for 20 seconds?

[00:11:22] Are we etching for seven seconds and rinsing?

[00:11:24] And so I guess my point about automaticity is understand that it can be a fantastic and efficient way to live your life.

[00:11:34] But it's worth being intentional about the thoughts and the things that you do automatically just to make sure that they're the right thing.

[00:11:45] And whether it's using your materials correctly or whether it's just an automatic move to go to social media just because maybe it's not that healthy.

[00:11:54] Or automatic move to have a beer or four when you get home from work or – I don't know.

[00:12:02] I just think it's worth looking at.

[00:12:04] And it was sort of a New Year's kind of thing.

[00:12:06] It's not a resolution as much as just like, hey, pay attention to the things that happen automatically in your life.

[00:12:14] Because I've started to think about that.

[00:12:17] And frankly, the weekend where I've been really trying to cut back on social media, I think it's been a success.

[00:12:21] But it also has showed me that I've got a ways to go on that because that is a habit that is pretty deep with me.

[00:12:28] Like when I'm not thinking hard about it, I can fall right back into that.

[00:12:31] So it's definitely worth taking a look at.

[00:12:34] But it's worth remembering that the fact that our brains are really good at this autopilot mode, that's a good thing for the most part.

[00:12:49] It really is a good thing that I can drive from home to work without thinking too much about it.

[00:12:55] Because you know what?

[00:12:56] I leave at about 6 o'clock in the morning.

[00:13:00] I'm awake, but I'm not maybe at my most interactive at that point.

[00:13:06] But I definitely don't have to think very hard about – I'm still waking up.

[00:13:09] I don't have to think very hard about getting to work.

[00:13:11] That's not a bad thing.

[00:13:12] That's probably a good thing.

[00:13:13] That kind of automatic.

[00:13:14] But just being aware of the things that you do automatically and being able to judge whether those – the results you're getting with that automaticity, is it a good thing?

[00:13:25] And honestly, like I said, if you think for a second that your social media habits are a little weird because of that automaticity, I highly recommend being very intentional about your social media, whether that's using a tool like a software thing.

[00:13:39] Honestly, there's something I'm looking hard at.

[00:13:41] It's called the brick.

[00:13:42] It's an actual hardware thing.

[00:13:44] That it switches off certain apps on your phone for you automatically and you can't switch them back on until you're very intentional about it.

[00:13:51] Something like that.

[00:13:52] Just for you to be aware of those automatic habits because so much of it you're not aware of.

[00:14:01] That's why it's automatic.

[00:14:03] So there's good and there's bad.

[00:14:04] There's definitely worth checking it out.

[00:14:06] I'm excited for the new year, to be honest.

[00:14:08] It's been a weird one so far.

[00:14:10] And I got to tell you, my Lions are playing tonight probably the most important game the Lions have ever played.

[00:14:17] This is for a playoff seed.

[00:14:18] They're either going to be a first seed and get a first week buy in the playoffs or they'll be a fifth seed because both the Lions and Vikings have a 14-2 record in the NFC North.

[00:14:31] And, you know, that's kind of amazing.

[00:14:34] Two teams that have done really well.

[00:14:35] And frankly, the Lions are pretty beat up.

[00:14:37] They've got a lot of injuries and the Vikings do not.

[00:14:39] So it's going to be a tough game tonight.

[00:14:41] I don't know if I can bring myself to watch it.

[00:14:43] By this time, you'll know whether or not the Lions won or lost.

[00:14:46] Hoping for a win here.

[00:14:49] But I encourage you to check out the automaticity in your life.

[00:14:53] And if there's stuff that you're doing automatically, I'd love to hear actually on the Facebook group.

[00:14:58] Is there stuff that you're doing automatically that's good, that's helping you out?

[00:15:03] Or is there stuff that is unhealthy for you?

[00:15:06] I'd be curious to know about that.

[00:15:08] I'd be curious to know if you have an automatic experience with social media.

[00:15:14] And I'm curious if you do anything to kind of block that automaticity.

[00:15:19] Just an interesting thing.

[00:15:20] If you aren't a member of the Facebook group, I'd love you to join.

[00:15:22] I invite you to go to Facebook and search Very Dental.

[00:15:27] That might be Very Dental podcast or Very Dental Facebook group.

[00:15:30] I ask you to give me one of five passwords.

[00:15:33] The passwords are Lipscomb, McQuethy, Papa Randy, Hornbrook, or Timmerman.

[00:15:37] Any of those five.

[00:15:38] And I really do make people give that to me.

[00:15:40] And for the most part, people do.

[00:15:41] So that's kind of awesome.

[00:15:45] And go in.

[00:15:45] We'll talk about that.

[00:15:46] I'd love to know what kind of automatic things you do or don't do if you notice it.

[00:15:51] Thank you guys a ton for listening.

[00:15:52] I hope your 2025 is going fantastic.

[00:15:55] And I appreciate you listening.

[00:15:57] And we'll catch you next episode.

[00:15:58] Bye.