After all your hard work to become a physical therapist, you’re ready to begin your passion and help people live a better life.
Having early success is important for your overall motivation and drive. Whether the success is big or small, each time you reach a goal or a positive milestone, you’ll want to keep striving. As you learn your way in the industry, having success may seem overwhelming, but keep in mind your success if measured against you, not others. Set realistic goals for your personal growth and career.
Follow these five steps, and you’ll be well on your way to success as a physical therapist:
1. Educate yourself. You’ve worked hard to gain your current knowledge, so don’t let it be forgotten. Take continuing education courses and attend seminars on the latest methods. Not only will this keep your mind sharp, but you will also be a vital part of the team. Many healthcare companies value education when it comes time to promote from within the organization.
2. Choose a specialty. After several months you’ll start to realize where your passions are within the PT industry. You might enjoy working with children, the elderly, or even those hurt in the line of duty. Whatever it might be, decide to learn more about it and become as proficient as possible. Ask your employer about taking classes in that specialty and work to be the go-to person on your team and even the organization for your knowledge and abilities.
3. Create a mission statement. You may think you’ve already done this type of step; after all, you’ve completed your education and training. Think of this step as your “why.” It will be a consistent reminder as to why you are in this field and keep you forward-focused. When you might feel defeated or upset by the daily routine, the mission statement can help you to refocus.
4. Find something outside of work that you genuinely enjoy. When you have something to look forward to outside of your daily routine, you’ll have an outlet for stress. Even when you love your job, there will be days when you don’t enjoy it. This might be a sport, a hobby, movies, or even just time with friends. Carving out that dedicated time to dedicate to your happiness is critical to arriving refreshed for your next shift.
5. Turn coworkers into friends. These are the people you will see on a daily basis. While you need to get along at work, they might turn into friends, and that can be a great thing. Why not go to work with your friends every day? By making an effort to get to know your coworkers, you are investing in their lives and showing them they are important to you, which can go a long way in the workplace. If you’re looking for a new workplace to call home and experience success, contact our team at WSi Healthcare today. We are ready to help you get started in a great environment or make a move to a workplace that suits you better.