5 Habits to embrace as a PT new grad 

A habit is a lifestyle to be lived. Not a finish line to be crossed.

~ James clear

We are all products of our habits. What we do each and every day matters in the long run. If you haven’t already I recommend reading Atomic Habits by James Clear. The books talk about how small consistent habits compound into significant results over time. Today we will be looking at some of the habits to embrace as a PT new grad. 

P.s: No, I am not going to say something like exercise daily

Duh! Although that is very important, y’all are physios and well aware of the benefits!

Here are the habits that we are going to talk about: 

• Networking 
• Continuing your education 
• Building an online presence
• Nurturing a growth mindset 
• Performing weekly and monthly reviews

#1 Networking

Networking can mean different to different people. When you look at it as a business skill, it may feel like a pretty big deal. But here is the thing, it doesn’t have to be. The first key rule is to think about how you can help someone else before thinking about how they can help you. Be sincerely willing to help and it works like magic. 

“It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

How you can embrace this habit 

You can use social media to network instead of mindlessly scrolling through your feed. I feel this is a good starting point, especially for introverts.

Although we seem to be living in the era of zoom, I believe meeting someone in person still has its own charm. So try and meet people in person as soon as possible.

Once you form connections with others, remember to nurture those relationships. The general rule of thumb here is don’t burn the bridges as you go ahead!

#2 Continuing your education 

We all want to grow in our careers. For the most part, our professional growth remains our own responsibility. The organization that you are working for may or may not offer that opportunity but it shouldn’t stop you. 

Remember to continue learning even after your graduation. One of my professors once told me, “You will learn more from your patient than you will ever learn from a book.” I couldn’t agree with her more. That is why I feel observership has its own value. 

How to embrace this habit

Start your observership when you are still in college.

Learn from your professors, seniors, and colleagues.

If you are working, I know it is hard to find time for in-person courses. But thankfully now you can learn online. 

One platform I know is MedBridge. Medbridge is a huge online library of physiotherapy webinars (Including live ones). With their yearly subscription, you get access to evidence-based courses covering a variety of topics and specialties for the entire year! 

MedBridge has:

• 50+ new courses are added monthly to keep you up to date on current techniques and strategies
• Case-based quizzes with clinical reasoning behind every answer to ensure knowledge retention
• Patient demos and case studies in every course reinforce the practical application of evidence-based skills

You can learn from experienced international industry leaders from the comfort of your home. Online courses can be completed at your own pace while with live webinars you get to interact and ask questions to your instructors. 

I am super excited to tell you that I partnered with Medbridge to get my readers an exclusive discount of $150 on their yearly subscription. Just use my affiliate code ‘PTCAREERPATHS’ at the checkout to get $150 off! Check this link out to avail the discount.

#3 Nurturing a growth mindset

Carol Dweck talks extensively about growth mindset vs fixed mindset in her book Mindset. Having a fixed mindset means believing your abilities, circumstances, and talents can not change. Having a fixed mindset leads to people achieving success within the boundaries of their limiting beliefs. 

Often people with a fixed mindset will have an idea (starting a blog for example). But their next thoughts would be “I don’t know how to do that, this feels hard”, and they stop there. 

On the other hand, a growth mindset believes that your abilities, circumstances, and talents can be improved. But most importantly it is knowing that you can do something about that. In a nutshell, a growth mindset is what Marie Forleo famously says, “everything is figureoutable.” 

So in the same example, people with a growth mindset think something like, “I don’t know how to do that but I will figure it out.”

How to embrace this habit

If you have ever been stopped by a thought, “I don’t know how to do that” then the “everything is figureoutable” approach is a habit to adapt. 

Everything you want to know is available on the internet today. Make sure to google the skill you want to learn, and you are likely going to find a PT mentor in the area you are struggling with. 

So when you hear a negative trend in business next time, try and assure yourself that it doesn’t have to be true for you. The most important belief to nurture right now is “I can figure it out!”

#4 Building your online presence

Building an online presence not only grows you professionally but also personally. It opens a lot of career opportunities while keeping your creativity flowing. Once you start putting yourself out there, you will be noticed by other professionals. You will get an opportunity to collaborate and network with people who share similar interests. Based on the work you have been publishing, someone may reach out to you for your expertise. 

Another way you can grow your career is through an entrepreneurship journey. You can build a business around an online presence as a physiotherapist. However, it is vital that when starting out, your sole intention doesn’t revolve around money.

How to embrace this habit

Start a hobby blog/ youtube channel, and push yourself to be consistent. Building your online presence takes a lot of time! It is hard, especially in the early months and years. It is the time when you will likely not be making any money. The odds are you are not going to have a big following. But if you stick around in those days, chances are you will be noticed.

Start slow and expand later as you go. It will be especially useful if you discover your niche and stick to it. That way you will attract the right audience for you. Remember when you try to attract everyone, you end up attracting no one! 

#5 Performing weekly and monthly reviews 

Working to further your career is an ongoing process. It may take a while for you to reach your milestones. That is why when planning your career goals, make every effort to stay on track. Keep in mind that when it comes to your goals you need to constantly seek clarity. This isn’t just a one-time thing. 

Performing weekly and monthly reviews are a great way to keep track of your progress. Even though you fall off the wagon for one week, you can catch up in the next week. Reflection and reviews are important to make you aware of your mistakes. That way you can consider other options and correct the mistakes right away. 

How to embrace this habit

Well, you are in luck, my friend! I made this free printable just for you! This weekly worksheet will walk you through 4 important questions you need to ask yourself to keep you on track for your goals. Click the link below to grab your copy!