How to bring Hygge into the dental workspace

Let’s face it…Dental offices can be so very miserable. Loud suctions slurping up spit, bright overhead lights glaring down, NO natural light, and unpleasantly high pitched drills. I am a dentist and even I don’t want to be there. Add in open dental bays, which create massive overstimulation, and long work hours. It’s no wonder many dentists feel depressed and trapped.

It’s been estimated that we spend 90,000 hours at work, in other words 1/3rd of our lifetime! I don’t know about you, but I do not want to spend 1/3rd of my life in a traditional dental office. No thank you! After reading a book, My Hygge Home, by Meik Wiking, I pondered, “What can we do to improve our dental workspaces?”

In the dental world, we talk a lot about efficiency, flow and modern design. However, there is very little dialogue about how our workspace design affects our mental health and overall wellbeing. It has been estimated that every second your five senses take in 11,000,000 bits of information, much of which is filtered out or stored in your subconscious mind. Just as we can enter a room and feel the energy of the people, we also do this with spaces. Phenomenology is architectural philosophythat examines just this…the humane experience of our built environments. So, I create this challenge…How might you create or adjust your dental workspace to bring more joy and wellbeing?

Natural light, baby!

In a study by the World Health Organization, it was found that inadequate daylight increased the likelihood of depression by 60%. Creating dental operatories that surround a greenhouse/ garden space would immensely elevate the lived experience, for both you and your patients. In another study by Rigshospitalet, the main hospital in Coppenhagan, they found a massive difference in hospital stays, with rooms with greater light dramatically decreasing the length of stay.

If you are unable to have natural light, consider full spectrum or daylight lights, which mimic the color and intensity of natural light.

Honor your nervous system as much as efficiency

Yes, open bays are great for efficiency. But, have you ever wondered what that is doing to your nervous system? I suspect it puts us on high alert, constantly monitoring an entire office full of information. Private or semi-private bays may provide some practictioners with enhanced calm and connection. I always suspected I preferred private operatories and having worked in both types of workspace, I can confirm that private rooms are best for me.

Create spaces for calm, and play

In addition to having a private office, one could consider a play or meditation room for both doctors and the team. How beautiful would having a space to decompress after a busy morning be? Hygge is a term, coined by the Danish and Norwegians, to describe a state of comfort and warmth. It is often in the context of creating a cozy atmosphere or enjoying the company of others in a relaxed setting. Some elements of hygge that could be incorporated into such a space are plants, natural night, soft materials, rugs, and soft lighting. Additionally, one might incorporate opportunities for connection and play during the lunch hour. This might include games, watercolor paint, and supplies, music for dance, and other elements for physical movement.

News flash… nothing is stopping you from a shorter workday

I know… taboo, right? I think many productivity gurus would agree, we are not on our A-game after a certain point. Rather than pushing our bodies through arduous days, and thus creating challenging mornings and nights filled with rush, why not test out 6-hour workdays? Imagine the beauty of going to work at 8 and finishing at 2! By alternating mornings and afternoons, one can cover all their bases and make this work. By creating more space at either end of your day, you will enjoy more sunshine and outdoor time, thus naturally regulating your circadian rhythm and a sustainable, enjoyable life. Will you make less money? Perhaps. But, you may also find incredibly enhanced calm, ease, balance, and joy. Let’s stop working to retire, and instead create a sustainable, beautiful schedule that honors the now.

If you can’t work outside, bring the outside in

I’ve often dreamed of creating an “open-air” dental office, much like open-air schools. That may be a dream, but bringing nature in can create a similar effect. Add more indoor plants and build your office with access to outdoor green space or nearby walking trails if able. If you cannot bring real plants in, pictures of nature and plants will have a positive effect. Biophilia is the innate human tendency to connect with nature. Simply looking at images of plants has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood and improve concentration.

Create calm and comfort for your patients

We can also bring the essence of Hygge into our operatories for our patients. Perhaps you can offer more tools for comfort…headphones with soothing music, squishies, and textures to engage the senses, and a soft blanket for small kids. The more we can create comfort, the more relaxed our patients will feel, and this will affect us whether we realize it or not.

Death cleanse that office! Less is more

I mean, you never know when you’re gonna go. All joking aside, clutter matters. All that “stuff” affects you. Imagine walking into a space that feels utterly fantastic…it is clean, fresh, and uncluttered, with natural light streaming through the windows. There is a Swedish practice called death cleaning, which is decluttering so that when you pass away, your loved ones won’t have to do it for you. Rather than going out and buying a bunch of stuff look around your office and consider what can go. Those old computers and dental equipment piled up just in case… Let that bleep go!

I love exploring ways we can enhance the lived experience. Please share what you have done to create a cozy atmosphere and lifestyle!

With love,

Dr. Camden