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10 Ways to Stay Productive Over the Holidays

November 19, 2020
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  • Advice
  • Career
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The holiday season is in full swing which usually means slower days in the clinic. But don’t let the slow season stall your career goals. With these helpful tips to stay productive over the holidays, you can glide into the new year with a clear strategy and leg up on your competition. 

Refine your messaging

Here’s a quick test to know if your messaging is confusing or, worse, non-existent. Beyond listing off your services, can you confidently tell prospective patients what you do? Can you succinctly explain why they should choose you over another clinician? Could everyone on your team recite the same mission statement? If not, consider seeking out a messaging/branding expert or grabbing a copy of Building a Storybrand in order to facilitate your own workshop. With a clear message, you’ll be able to communicate your value effectively, inspire customers, grow your business, and lay the groundwork for future sales and marketing campaigns. 

Call in the SWOT

According to a 2017 Forbes analysis, winter is the least productive season for employees. Fill the gap by conducting a SWOT analysis with your team. SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats—a self-explanatory exercise in identifying just how well (or poorly) things are going. Your SWOT can be a granular analysis that lasts half the day or brief enough to brainstorm over lunch. Use Hubspot’s free how-to guide and template to complete the exercise with meaningful takeaways and deliverables. 

Launch a lead generator

Does the thought of acquiring new patients in your sleep sound too good to be true? It’s not complicated–you just need a sales funnel! To begin, create a piece of free content your patients would be excited to exchange for their email address. Commonly treat lumbar pain? Partner with a local yoga practitioner to produce a short video on yoga for the lower back. Is patient after patient exhibiting signs of inflammation? Create a PDF titled: The Anti-Inflammatory Shopping List. Add the content to your website alongside an email automation service and start engaging leads!

Create a vision board

No longer reserved for new age enthusiasts, vision boards are highly regarded by pro athletes and motivational speakers alike. Even if you don’t subscribe to the law of attraction, looking at a vision board daily can help bring your deepest desires forward into your conscious mind. Start with your preferred artistic medium—canvas, journal, playlist—and outline your goals creatively. No rules! Chart an aspirational roadmap for the next decade or create a visual representation of your alter ego per Todd Herman. 

Make your list, check it twice

Chances are you already have career goals in mind. Why not use the new year to set them in motion? Make a list of 5-10 actions that will take you closer to your goal. Whether you’d like to start a cash-based practice or streamline patient documentation with EMR software, now is the time to formulate a game plan. Start with research—seek out mentors or industry experts who’ve done precisely what you hope to achieve—then baby-step your way toward the finish line. 

Befriend your Google Calendar

Set yourself up for success in the new year by scheduling the tasks you usually put off. Note continuing education deadlines, licensing renewals, quarterly accounting reviews, etc. For a more detailed management, try Asana for campaign coordination, long term projects, shared docs, and more. Your future self will thank you for the preparation.

Build your e-library

Listening to a podcast or ebook is a fantastic way to level up as the year winds down. Tune into APTA Podcasts or Psoas We Were Saying for helpful insights from prominent physical therapists. Geek out on audiobooks about the mind/body connection such as The Body Keeps The Score. By incorporating audible content into your daily routine, you can keep your mind sharp and easily stay productive over the holidays. Try it in lieu of music while walking the dog, cooking a meal, or traveling back home. 

Launch a referral program

If your business relies on word of mouth advertising, up the ante with an official referral program. Incentivize existing patients—your strongest marketing tool—and watch the warm leads roll in. Offer a discount or free session for each referral or host a giveaway encouraging social media shares. Remember: asking for business doesn’t make you annoying; it makes you confident in your ability to deliver exactly what your patients need: pain relief. Studies show retention rates are higher among customers who refer which, in the PT world, means they’ll complete their entire plan of care. 

Update your assets  

If Seneca was right in saying, “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity,” you’d be remiss to not have your professional assets polished and ready at all times. You never know when you’ll need an updated headshot or new patient testimonial, so why not collect them now? Review your Facebook business page and LinkedIn profile for outdated information. Give your website an SEO makeover. Spend a few hours updating your professional assets and public-facing accounts and you’ll be ready to put your best selfie forward in the new year. 

Outsource that thing

Every business owner has a “thing” they avoid doing either because it’s not in their wheelhouse or they lack the time to get it done. To stay productive over the holidays, consider hiring a freelance contractor to help write your content, launch your website, or balance your books. Leverage Fiverr or Upwork to prescreen candidates who can alleviate your most dreaded Q1 tasks. The seasonal hiring freeze means you’ll get your top pick of independent contractors. They’re ready. Are you?

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      Shannon Arndt, MSPT, JSCC, is a distinguished physical therapist and owner of Soundview Center for Well-being, Lone Lake Physical Therapy, and Sage Counterstrain. She holds an MSPT from the University of Rhode Island, where she graduated at the top of her class, and is a Board Certified Specialist in Strain and Counterstrain. Shannon’s expertise extends to her work with The Bridge Back Project, where she uses counterstrain techniques to support veterans and first responders in their recovery from PTSD. Passionate about patient education, she thrives on uncovering the complex interconnections of physical impairments and empowering individuals to manage their health autonomously.

      Dr. Kim Braun, PT, DPT, brings over 30 years of experience to her practice as a doctor of physical therapy, with a focus on comprehensive pain and dysfunction treatment. She earned her initial PT degree from the University of Iowa and later completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy at St. Scholastica College. Passionate about infant care, Dr. Braun specializes in treating and preventing torticollis and plagiocephaly. Her dedication to patient-centered care is rooted in integrity, efficacy, compassion, and advocacy, utilizing a holistic approach for rehabilitation, prevention, and wellness. Dr. Braun has pursued extensive post-graduate study in the Fascial Counterstrain technique through the Jones Institute and with Brian Tuckey, PT, OCS, JSCCI, and is excited to leverage Counterstrain when other interventions have proven insufficient.

      Michael Wangsness, PT, DPT, ATC, CSC I, holds a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Nova Southeastern University (2007) and earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Minnesota (2010). He began incorporating Fascial Counterstrain (FCS) into his practice in 2011 and has advanced to teaching roles, serving as a Teaching Assistant since 2016 and a Lab Instructor since 2020. In 2022, Michael was among the first to receive his CSC I certification. Passionate about FCS, he has been privileged to train extensively under Brian Tuckey. Michael currently practices at an outpatient clinic for M Health Fairview in Woodbury, MN. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing, coaching hockey, and spending time with his wife, Heather, and their three children: Olivia, Gavin, and Amelia.

      Greg Zadow has been a self-employed physical therapist since 1998. He earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in physiotherapy from the University of South Australia and Doctor of Physical Therapy from the Rocky Mountain University of Health Professionals. Greg is the owner and clinic director of Green Ridge Physical Therapy and Wellness, his Oregon-based private practice. In 2011, he became certified in the Strain Counterstrain (SCS) technique and continued on to complete a mastery program with Counterstrain Academy and become a Jones Strain Counterstrain Certified Instructor (JSCCI) of Fascial Counterstrain (FCS). Greg has been using Counterstrain ever since his first introduction to the technique in 1991 and now holds over 20 years of continuing education experience in the field of manual therapy.

      Kyle graduated from San Diego State University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Miami in 2014.​ Kyle immediately started his private practice and became certified with The Jones Institute after witnessing the powerful effects of Counterstrain on his patients. Kyle currently lends his expertise to the Doctor of Physical Therapy programs at both San Diego State University and the University of Miami. Since joining The Jones Institute as a lab instructor in 2015, Kyle has taken on additional roles in managing the company’s domestic headquarters, developing the curriculum for a new anatomy program, and teaching Anatomy Dissection as the lead instructor.

      Eryn Milian earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and environmental science from William Smith College along with a Doctor of Physical Therapy and PhD from the University of Miami. Her doctoral work focused on anatomical sciences and measurable outcomes which inform her current clinical expertise in orthopedics and sport physical therapy. Since joining the University of Miami’s faculty in 2013, Eryn has expanded her role as assistant professor to become a course master for neuroanatomy and instructor for both pelvic anatomy and the university’s orthopedic, sport, and neuroscience residency programs. Her research interests lie primarily in knee injuries and the development of reliable and valid measures of assessing ACL risk in adolescent athletes via musculoskeletal ultrasound.

      Tim Hodges has worked in the field of physical rehabilitation since 1996. Since joining The Jones Institute in 2004, he’s assisted Brian Tuckey, PT, OCS, JSCCI, in the development of several Fascial Counterstrain techniques and taught numerous Fascial Counterstrain courses as a certified instructor. Tim continues to apply his knowledge and expertise through Counterstrain Academy—a mastery program designed for licensed Counterstrainers throughout the country. In addition to developing the program’s curriculum and overseeing its mentorships, Tim is currently practicing at Counterstrain Portland, his Oregon-based private practice.

      Larry Ham graduated from the University of Southern California in 1978 with a Master of Science in physical therapy. He took his first Counterstrain course in 1986 after Lawrence Jones, D.O., treated him and successfully eliminated all back and sciatica pain. He’s now certified to teach Strain and Fascial Counterstrain courses for the spine and extremities and the viscera, respectively. In addition to teaching Counterstrain in the U.S. and Australia, Larry has served on the sidelines of over one thousand sporting events as a Certified Athletic Trainer. Though nearing retirement, Larry still practices in Spokane, Washington, and enjoys spending his free time with his wife, sons, and grandchildren. You can catch him scuba diving with sharks, remodeling his home, or hydrofoiling on the lake.

      Robert Dowd holds a Bachelor of Science in medicine with a certificate in physical therapy, Master of Healthcare Administration, and Doctor of Physical Therapy. Robert is now a Jones Strain Counterstrain Certified Instructor (JSCCI) who’s dedicated to presenting Counterstrain the way Lawrence Jones, D.O., advised his students to do at his final course offering. Robert applies the philosophy of Counterstrain to all clinical settings from the outpatient orthopedic clinic, acute care hospital, and ICU to the nursing home and hospice industry. When he’s not practicing in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Robert can be found writing, fishing, hunting, or riding his motorcycle.

      Holly Christy earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington, Master of Acupuncture from Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, and Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University where she currently teaches as an adjunct clinical faculty member. Holly started her practice in 2000 and became a lead instructor for Counterstrain Academy in 2014 after a mastery-level internship with Tim Hodges, LMT, JSCCI. In 2019, she became a Jones Strain Counterstrain Certified Instructor (JSCCI) of Fascial Counterstrain (FCS) for the nervous system. Though Counterstrain is her primary modality, Holly also offers primary care, acupuncture, prolotherapy, custom orthotics, and intravenous nutrient therapy.

      Brian Tuckey, a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Maryland School of Physical Therapy, became board certified in orthopedics in 1995. Under the tutelage of Lawrence Jones, D.O., Brian became one of only four physical therapists in the world to be certified in the Strain Counterstrain (SCS) technique. He was also the first practitioner to recognize Counterstrain’s impact on the fascial system which led to his development of Fascial Counterstrain (FCS) with over 800 anatomically-specific techniques in addition to the FCS Cranial Scan—a proprietary assessment that identifies dysfunction in all systems and regions of the body. When he’s not teaching, Brian is treating complex patients at Tuckey and Associates Physical Therapy in Frederick, Maryland.

      Randall Kusunose founded The Jones Institute in 1988 with Lawrence Jones, D.O., the original developer of Counterstrain. He was the first therapist to be board certified in orthopedics by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties in California. Randall has trained all Jones Strain Counterstrain Certified Instructors (JSCCI) in the U.S., France, Italy, and Australia, and developed over 60 Jones Strain Counterstrain techniques along with the Facilitated Counterstrain curriculum. When he’s not practicing, you can find Randall skiing, scuba diving, and relaxing on the sand in the beautiful beach town of Encinitas, California.