Can you believe that 2017 is almost at an end? 2018 will be here before we know it and with the busy holiday season approaching, you should be preparing for the new year right now before time slips away.
The best way to prepare for 2018 is to take some time to reflect on how this year has progressed for your practice. What are the aspects of your business that have worked well? What falls into the “needs improvement” category in order to help your practice run more effectively? Now is a great time to look at all of your processes and day-to-day duties and come up with a plan so that you can start January off on the right foot.
Starting fresh in 2018 doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. You can get organized and improve your effectively in 2018 with these 5 proven steps:
1. Analyze your Tools and Processes
One of the first steps to start off 2018 on the right foot is to figure out what is and isn’t working for you. Analyze the tasks and processes that take up the majority of your time and then brainstorm ways you can automate those processes to make them more efficient. Even simple things such as a poorly working printer or an antiquated filing system can make your job more difficult than it needs to be. Upgrade your tools so that you can run your practice more smoothly. (Hint: Owl Practice can help!)
2. Out with the Old, In with the New
One of our most dangerous habits is to fall into the thinking that “I’ve always done it this way so that’s how I’ll keep doing it.” Just because you’ve done something the same way for the last 10 years doesn’t mean it’s the best way to do it. Continuous improvement is important in all aspects of your private practice. Technology has advanced so much in the past few years and practice management has been made much easier with tools like Owl Practice. The world’s leading productivity experts recommend using project management software to manage your practice and Owl Practice is Canada’s top choice for Canadian therapists, psychologists, and social workers.
Introducing a new client management system will help you revolutionize the way you secure client documents and data. It helps you to organize your client data so that it’s easily accessible by you and (if you have one) your team, saves the environment by preventing wasted paper, and can help you declutter by allowing you to get rid of the stacks of paperwork taking up space on your desk.
3. Simplify your Invoicing
Invoicing your clients and tracking payments is a necessary task for any successful practice, but most people don’t want to spend much time on bookkeeping. As you prepare for 2018, now would be a great time to simplify your invoicing and make that process more streamlined. Owl Practice has a great invoicing functionality that keeps track of all of your client account balances in one easy-to-use format.
4. Make your Calendar Work for You
One of the most under-utilized tools in this industry is your practice’s calendar. By optimizing your schedule with the full lineup of your calendar’s functions, you can maximize the productivity. If you’re looking for a better calendar management system, Owl Practice has you covered there too. By using calendar tools like time blocking, grouping client appointments, calls, and meetings, you can save time in your day. Plus, Owl Practice’s innovative features such as letting clients book their own appointments will take the work off of your plate and will appeal to your younger clients.
5. Improve your Work-Life Balance
Even if New Year’s resolutions aren’t a priority for you, maintaining a healthy work-life balance should be one of your goals for 2018. Being able to provide support and assistance to your clients can only be done if you make sure you’re taking enough time to take care of yourself as well. The holiday season is a great time to spend with family and friends.
We hope these 5 steps will prove helpful in preparing you for 2018. Practice management can be simple and efficient with tools such as Owl Practice. Request a demo for a personalized tour of the system, and start planning for 2018 now!
And as always,
Practice Wisely
