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Give yourself some curing time

BDJ Student volume 32, pages 100–102 (2025)Cite this article

Coming to terms with the workload that life as a dental student brings can be a challenge and remembering that you need to balance a personal life with this is even more demanding. Being efficient whilst also being effective is a skill that takes years to master, both academically and clinically. The pursuit of success can easily lead to non-stop work, making careful balance essential. Relentless scheduling often leads to burnout, which is why tools like to-do lists (Todoist), paper planners and simply knowing deadlines in advance help keep track; whether you prefer to meet or beat them. Intertwined with being an academic weapon, it's imperative to plan for some downtime, because sometimes it's good to be busy… doing nothing.

Achieving good overall well-being helps in many areas; a state of being both healthy and happy. Stress can be a good motivating force, but when it crosses a certain threshold, it can become harmful to well-being. Developing self-awareness and recognising when stress shifts from being productive to detrimental is key to maintaining balance and preventing burnout. This idea is further explored later, focusing on accepting the journey of development and rewards of marginal gains. Understanding the benefits of self-care, mindfulness and resilience is essential for dental students to navigate the demands of training.1 Prioritising these helps maintain optimal mental and physical well-being, while balancing sustainable habits fosters long-term success and professional growth.

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References

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  1. Cardiff Dental School, Cardiff, United Kingdom

    Sami Nguty

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  1. Sami Nguty
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Correspondence to Sami Nguty.

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Nguty, S. Give yourself some curing time. BDJ Student 32, 100–102 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41406-025-1539-3

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