Hello TTD friends ,
Let's chat about stress management today. Why is the ACS exam so stressful? Well, there is lots at stake; people take out loans to prepare and appear for this exam ( that's what I did) and the pass percentage is very low. Then there is this fear of what people would think if I fail. Putting in long practice hours at the center and staying away from family and friends adds to the stress; by the time you get home from the centre, you are so tired that you just eat half-heartedly and collapse in the bed.
The following are a few steps that were suggested to me by my mentors and instructors that I found helpful.
1. Walk every day. I didn't have my car with me in Ontario so I did a fair amount of walking which helped me calm down and also helped me get some fresh air every day.
2. Eat healthy. Consume fresh fruits and veggies. You need to keep your mineral intake up to avoid cramps and other muscle issues.
3. Drink plenty of water. It will instantly raise your vibration and put you in a better mood. Keep sipping water through out the day. The brain needs water to function.
4. Get a regular massage. It helps you relax and put your muscles at ease.
5. Stretch out Throughout the day. Focus on your hand and neck muscles.
6. Listen to motivational podcasts. My favourites that I have been listening to for over two years now are - The QOD (quote of the day) and The Inspire Nation.
7. Read/watch Youtube videos about how to improve your skills.
8. Pray. It doesn't matter who you pray to; it can be to God, the universe, the great spirit, your higher self, angels. It puts your mind at ease.
9. Put in your 110% before the exam; you should be able to say that you did your preparation with extreme devotion, and there was no stone left unturned and leave the rest to the universe.
10. Find someone to talk to, cry if you need to. Sharing you feeling with someone close and someone who you trust will calm you down. ( Make sure you are talking to a positive person)
11. Make sure you are taking your multivitamins, omega 3s etc. You need to be your best self to crack this exam. Coconut water has vital nutrients and it hydrates, I took 2 bottles with me for the exam.
12. Deep breathing is your best friend. I remember, while I was doing a PFM prep, the examination tooth broke! If I had panicked at that time, I would have lost the whole exam. I prayed like I had never prayed before, talked to the examiners, stayed calm, did some deep breathing and waited for their decision. They did decide to replace the tooth. NDEB is a very fair organization. And as I always say, the The universe is watching; it won't let your hard work go to waste. Trust the process.
13. Orientation: Book your ACS orientation at the examination centre that you picked for your exam. The orientation is usually a day or two before the actual exam. My examination centre was The University of Alberta. Staff there was extremely helpful and explained everything in detail and answered all the questions. University of Alberta has electric handpiece so it’s even more important to go for orientation, if you picked this university for your ACS exam.
During my orientation, I practiced putting barrier tape in under 2 minutes, decided where my clean and dirty areas would be, practiced rubber dam application on university dental chair in under 5 minute just to get used to chair operation and I practiced using the electronic handpiece, it was heavier than my NSK air but gave a fantastic finish. I was so impressed with the end results that I decided to invest in a couple of electronics for my practice.
If you have any questions about anything regarding ACS exam or orientation, don’t hesitate to contact me.
If I can help a single soul by sharing my experience, I would consider myself lucky.
Good luck to you all lovely people out there.
Always here for you,
The Travelling Dentist