The reset you didn’t know you needed
Message from Dr Rana
July already. How did that happen?
I’ve just returned from a meditation retreat - one of the most grounding things I do for myself each year —-and the moment that has stayed with me most is a 6am walking meditation on the beach. No agenda, no notifications, just the sound of the water and the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other with full attention.
It reminded me of something I talk about frequently but don’t always get to practise as wholeheartedly as I’d like: the power of deliberately stepping out of your ordinary environment to reconnect with what actually matters.
When you work in dentistry - high-stakes, time-pressured, emotionally demanding - that kind of reset is not a luxury. It is a professional requirement.
I came back with something else too: a new morning habit. I’ve kept that 6am ritual going since returning home, and it has made a measurable difference to my clarity and energy throughout the day. If you’ve ever tried and failed to make a new habit stick - and who hasn’t —-there’s a reason for that, and there’s a system to change it. More on that below.
Enjoy the July edition.
With warmth, Dr Rana Al-Falaki Founder, NAIL-IT in Dentistry
🎧 This Month on the NAIL-IT Podcast
Zainab AlMukhtar on burnout
Zainab brings both personal honesty and clinical depth to one of the most under-discussed crises in dentistry. If you or someone on your team has ever run on empty and struggled to name why, this episode will do exactly that - and give you a clear way forward.
Ben Atkins on success without the labels
Ben is one of the most refreshing voices in the profession - someone who has built real, lasting success by questioning the conventional definition of it. This conversation is about identity, ambition, and what thriving on your own terms actually looks like.
Both episodes are available now. Listen at: www.nailitindentistry.com/nail-it-podcast
đź“Ł June in Brief - What You May Have Missed
Wellbeing & Compliance Webinar - in partnership with Densura
This month I delivered a webinar on wellbeing as a core thread running through CQC and GDC compliance requirements - not as a soft add-on, but as a measurable, practical, and documentable professional obligation. We covered the signs to look for, the conversations to have, and the steps that protect both your team and your practice. Thank you to Densura for their generous sponsorship.
The ROI of Wellbeing - in partnership with Practice Plan
In a sector that too often treats wellbeing as a cost, I shared exactly how investing in it generates a return — whether you are an associate, a practice owner, or part of a larger DSO or dental group. According to Deloitte, every £1 invested in workplace wellbeing returns £5. I walked through precisely how that plays out in dentistry: in reduced stress, stronger team retention, better patient uptake, more confident delegation, and a more streamlined, energised practice. Watch out for future sessions if you missed this one.
The London Hospital Alumni Annual Dental Conference
It was an honour to speak at this prestigious event on the business of optimal performance - exploring the long-term effects of burnout on retirement age, health, and relationships, and introducing the NAIL-IT system as an evidence-based solution. This work has now been published in BDJ in Practice. Do seek it out if you’d like the full research context.
📱 New: One-Minute Performance Clips
Because attention is short and time is precious, I have started creating quick one-minute video clips to support your performance journey - from manifestation to management, mindset to systems. Everything in one accessible, digestible format.
Find them here:
• Instagram: @ranaalfalakiclips
• TikTok: @dr.rana.alfalaki
• YouTube Shorts: Dr Rana Al-Falaki
Share with your team - these are designed for everyone in the practice.
Making Habits Stick: The GREATSCORER Model
Since returning from my retreat, I’ve been intentionally walking through the GREATSCORER model from the NAIL-IT system as part of my morning practice. I developed this framework because willpower alone simply isn’t enough - and the research strongly supports that position. What makes a habit sustainable is a combination of identity, environment, consistency, triggers, accountability, celebration, and reward - all of which the GREATSCORER addresses in a structured, practical way.
If you want the full detail, it’s in the book NAIL-IT Leadership: Your Blueprint to Optimal Performance. It remains one of the most practically useful frameworks in the book for busy professionals who have tried to change habits and found themselves falling back into old patterns.
Start small. Stay consistent. The compound effect is very real.
Top Tip: Don’t try to overhaul everything at once. Choose one habit, anchor it to something you already do every day, and practise it at the same time and in the same context for at least three weeks. Identity follows action - and action follows system.
“The most powerful habit you can build is the habit of showing up - even imperfectly - because consistency compounds into character.” ~ Dr Rana Al-Falaki
đź’ Question to Reflect On: What is one thing you keep intending to do differently - and what would need to change in your environment or routine for it to actually happen?
🏟 Join Us - The NAIL-IT Experience | 10th October 2026
A day designed to elevate your leadership, energy, resilience, and performance - with practical tools, powerful conversations, and space to reconnect with why you went into dentistry in the first place.
Places are limited. Don’t let this one pass you by.
Join the NAIL-IT Academy - Free Silver Membership
Access videos, downloads, wellbeing and performance resources, and early notification of all events and courses - at no cost, for you and your whole team.
➤ Sign Up for Silver - Free for the Whole Team https://www.nailitindentistry.com
Dr Rana Al-Falaki | Founder, NAIL-IT in Dentistry
www.nailitindentistry.com
Instagram: @ranaalfalakiclips | TikTok: @dr.rana.alfalaki | YouTube Shorts: Dr Rana Al-Falaki
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