Women in Dentistry - Blog

How to Live Your Life at 100%

There is nothing worse than coming home from work late, running on empty with nothing left to give to your family—let alone yourself. You started your career with passion and purpose, yet somewhere along the way, the demands of dentistry, the endless to-do lists, and the constant pressure to do more have drained your energy.

Does this sound familiar?

It’s easy to feel obligated to say yes when your team asks, “Can we squeeze in one more patient before you go?” After all, you want to help and saying no feels uncomfortable. But this small yes creates a domino effect: you skip the gym, miss family dinner, and by the time you finally get home, you have nothing left for yourself. You collapse into bed, only to wake up and repeat the cycle the next day.

What If You Could Live Differently?

Imagine leaving work on time without guilt. Walking into your home and feeling present with your family. Having the energy to enjoy your evening, rather than simply recover from the day. Waking up refreshed, knowing you’re in control of your schedule rather than being controlled by it.

This isn’t just a dream. It’s completely possible when you shift from running on empty to living at 100% every day.

The Shift: From Running on Empty to 100%

Living at 100% doesn’t mean doing more—it means doing what truly matters. It’s about aligning your daily actions with your core values, setting boundaries that protect your well-being, and designing a life where work supports your happiness rather than depleting it.
Here’s how to make that shift:

1. Discover What Truly Matters to You

When was the last time you paused to ask yourself: What do I truly want? Too often, we chase achievements that society or our profession tells us are important without questioning whether they align with our personal values.

Take a moment to reflect:

• What activities make you feel most alive?
• What do you want more of in your life?
• What do you want less of?

Clarity is power. Once you define what truly matters, you can start aligning your choices accordingly.

2. Say No Without Guilt

Saying no is a skill that many high-achieving professionals struggle with. You don’t want to disappoint others, and you’ve been conditioned to believe that being a “team player” means always saying yes. But the truth is, every yes to someone else is a no to yourself.

Here’s how to say no gracefully:

• Be direct but kind. “I’d love to help, but I need to leave on time today.”
• Offer an alternative. “I can’t stay late today, but let’s find a way to schedule that patient earlier tomorrow.”
• Remember your why. You’re saying no so you can say yes to your health, your family, and your peace of mind.

3. Create Boundaries That Protect Your Well-Being

Healthy boundaries are essential for living at 100%. They ensure that your time and energy are spent in ways that serve you, rather than being drained by obligations that don’t align with your priorities.

Consider these boundary-setting strategies:

• Set clear work hours—and stick to them. Communicate them to your team and patients.
• Block personal time in your schedule. Treat self-care appointments with the same respect as patient appointments.
• Limit work-related communication outside office hours. Your time off is sacred; protect it fiercely.

4. Find Harmony Between Work and Life

The goal isn’t to “balance” work and life as if they’re competing forces—it’s to create harmony where both coexist in a way that feels fulfilling.

Ask yourself:

• Does my work schedule allow me to enjoy my personal life?
• Do I have time for hobbies, rest, and meaningful relationships?
• Am I prioritizing my well-being as much as my career?

If the answer is no, it’s time to make changes. You don’t have to overhaul your life overnight, but small shifts—leaving on time, reclaiming your weekends, making space for joy—can have a massive impact over time.

The Life You Deserve Starts Now

Are you ready to break free from the cycle of exhaustion and start living life at 100%?

You’ve worked hard to build your career, but your success should not come at the cost of your happiness. You deserve to enjoy the life you’ve built—not just survive it.

The first step is giving yourself permission to make a change.
The next step?
Taking action.

Start small. Spend the next week simply noticing what gets in the way of you leaving on time—whether it’s a last-minute patient, a quick favor for a colleague, or a habit of saying “yes” without thinking. Write these down so you can spot patterns.

Then, choose one small boundary to implement right away. It might mean saying no when your colleague asks you to stay late, rescheduling a patient to the next day, or protecting your lunch break like any other important appointment.

These small, intentional steps create momentum and show you that change is not only possible—it’s already happening.

This is your chance to stop settling for less and start living the life you truly want.

Are you ready?

Dr. Stephanie Stoddart - 100% Life Catalyst

Dr. Stephanie Stoddart is a life coach, dentist, and mother who helps high-achieving female dentists reclaim their calm, reconnect with what matters, and finally feel like themselves again- even when life is overwhelming.

Known as the 100% Life Catalyst, Dr. Stoddart blends nervous system regulation, mindset coaching, and whole-person wellness to guide dental moms out of burnout and into a life that feels calm, connected, and alive. Her approach goes beyond surface-level self-care. She teaches sustainable tools to regulate stress, rewrite limiting beliefs, and build rhythms that honor both their ambition and their well-being. Through her 90-day coaching experience, Dr. Stoddart helps her clients stop running on fumes and start living the life they worked so hard to build- with joy, energy, and clarity.

Her mission is simple but powerful: To help female dentists live their 100% life - rooted in calm, sustained by connection, and aligned with their deepest values.