Charge your worth

Saving Time in Private Practice

Nicole Goodrich, MS, RDN Private Practice

AUTOMATION.

Every business owner needs more time. Lots more of it. Unfortunately, we cannot purchase time or create more time ... or can we? There is one word that will give you back your time: automation. The more processes you can place on autopilot, the more time you will have to do other things. Invest in software that has built-in features for automation with client scheduling and onboarding. Look for software that will allow for online scheduling, send out appointment reminders and forms, and a porthole where clients can confirm or cancel their appointments without having to call or email your team.

ONLINE SCHEDULING.

You want software that can be integrated into your website so clients can book Deanna Wolfe, MS, RDN Corporate Wellness Here are my top tips for how to increase your revenue and save TIME (which is money, right?) when working in corporate wellness:

1.Automate your programs

Are you creating one-off wellness programs for companies? Automate the process with an online platform like Teachable or Thinkific. Create a coaching program with all your resources through an easy-to-use directly from your site. Remember to put the link in several places on your website. Create an easy URL that can be referenced on your voicemail, and can be added to your marketing platforms such as email blasts and social media. Estimated time

savings of 20 minutes per client.

ONLINE FORMS.

When clients can book online and complete their paperwork immediately, it saves you even more time. Collecting important information such as credit card and insurance details upon online booking cuts out several more steps of your having to ask for information and enter it. You can even have templated “onboarding” forms such as Consent, Financial Agreement and HIPAA preloaded, and with a click a form is on the way to the client. Estimated time

savings of 10 minutes per client.

APPOINTMENT REMINDERS.

Most software lets you set up the frequency of appointment reminders. There are many choices such as text message reminder, voice calling, or emailing. You want to select the system that is interchangeable to ensure you meet your client’s needs. platform instead of recreating the wheel for every company you work with.

Are you doing one lunch-and-learn but don’t have a package offer? Think outside the box of lunch-and-learns as a dietitian. Can you manage the wellness committee? Can you assess its physical workplace? There are so many other things we can offer to corporations so put those in your package when corporations are asking for your expertise.

Do you feel you’re taking on too much, or on the edge of burnout? I’ve been there.

And it’s because I was undercharging for my services. Increase your prices and you won’t be spinning your Also, it needs to be interactive with the client allowing her/him to select “Yes” or “No” directly. Estimated time savings of 5

minutes per client.

Lastly, select software that has other features such as billing and charting available. When all your practice needs are integrated, ideally in one software, it makes automation effective while saving you a lot of time. By investing in practice management software, you can save an average of 35 minutes per client. So, demo some of the software companies out there and pick the one that meets your needs to get lots of time back.

Nicole is a passionate dietitian who is the founder of several businesses including Anderson’s Nutrition, a Business Consultants and Services, which is geared to assist dietitians in creating and growing their businesses. She is a mom to two young kiddos, married to a foodie and loves to travel. Over 20 countries toured and many more on the list.

Increase Revenue, Save Time

2. Offer a bundle package

3. Charge your worth

multi-state, multi-dietitian private practice, and Nutrition wheels. Start high, as companies always negotiate. Companies who understand the importance of well-being in its cultures will understand the investment.

Convince them by thinking bigger than just impacting health; what about how wellness will impact productivity, turnover and sales? That’s where you will get the attention of a CEO/CFO.

Deanna is the founder of Dietitian Deanna, LLC, and helps women drop dieting and learn how to fuel their bodies. She also has been working in corporate wellness for 7+ years in sales, product management and leadership. Deanna lives in a city but always seems to travel where she can be outdoors with nature, has never met an almond croissant she didn’t like, and loves connecting with others in her online community.

Chart Your Way to Success

Jessica Beardsley, MS, RD, LD Second Career Dietitians

Charting and writing notes can take a lot of time. I was trained in the Assessment, Diagnosis, Intervention, and Monitoring/Evaluation (ADIME) format, but after the initial assessment I found it more cumbersome than helpful for my weekly follow-up appointments. When I was a new dietitian I typed out almost everything a client told me, not knowing what I should edit out. As you can imagine, it was quite cumbersome to review my long prose-style notes. I would often spend time at the end of the day reviewing and editing each note and trying to add details that I had left out. This was time-consuming, and not always accurate after seeing four clients in a row. Several of them would inevitably blend together and I couldn’t remember who said what.

Another time-intensive task was prepping for a full day of clients. This required reviewing previous visit(s), considering their trajectory and planning the next step. I was taking time during and after each visit, and then again before the next visit, because my notes were inefficient. Guys, something you should know about me is: I LOVE efficiency! If I can find a faster way of delivering a quality service (maximize quality, minimize time/effort), I’m all over it. Here’s the method I’ve developed over the years. In addition to being familiar with my client’s medical history, I focus on being keenly aware of three main things for my client: 1. What’s her/his problem/goal/ motivation? ... determined at initial assessment 2. What action step(s) did he/she commit to? ... updated at each visit 3. What should I cover on our next visit to help her/him on this journey? ... taken from initial assessment and each follow-up visit as things come up

During our session, as well as at the end, I would repeat back the SMART goal(s) that my client committed to and type them in my note under “Actions” as I said them. I urged my clients to make these as SMART as they could be so I could ask them about the goal specifically at our follow-up.

For example:

• “Client will hard-boil five eggs on Sunday evening to have for breakfast M-F.” • “Client will keep granola bars at work to eat at 4 p.m. before going to gym at 5 p.m. (T/H)” • “Client will stop when half of dinner is eaten to assess hunger (using scale) before finishing. Will track on provided handout.”

When a client states or hints at another area for improvement that I can’t address immediately, I add it to my list under “Follow-Up” along with a potential intervention. For example: • “Late-night eating, chips during TV [Hunger Scale, Emotional vs. Physical

Hunger]” “Eating at computer [Mindful eating, Satiety]” • “Elevated LDL and TC [Lipid-lowering strategies, Recipes]” • “Training for April marathon. Runs A.M. 5x/wk [Sports nutrition, Timing]”

It helps to have talking points and/or handouts for common nutrition, medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and lifestylerelated topics. When you’re in a follow-up appointment, you can’t cover every topic that comes up; you must be strategic and use your time efficiently. By charting well you can improve your continuity with clients and ensure that important topics get covered and not forgotten. Your clients will know you are listening well when you keep them accountable for their SMART goals as well as circle back to potential challenges they have mentioned in the past. Give them a heads-up at the end of a session by saying: “At our follow-up let’s talk about _______” or “We can brainstorm some more ideas for ______ at our next visit.” This also gives them something to look forward to (that helps with client retention too!).

Note: These tips work well for most follow-up visits with my client population which consists mainly of adult females seeking nutrition counseling for weight management, diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia.

Jessica is a nutrition and lifestyle counselor in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She loves to read cookbooks but hardly ever follows a recipe as she prefers to use them as “inspiration.” She specializes in intuitive eating and sports nutrition (her passions). When Jessica isn't cooking or talking about food, she enjoys rock climbing, dancing and reading with her two daughters.

Not Enough Time in the Day? Think Again! Simply Repurpose.

Kimberley RoseFrancis, RDN, LD, CDE Hub Manager

Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Pinterest! Ever struggle with there’snot-enough-time-inthe-day syndrome? If so, you’re not the only one. How is a dietitian supposed to show up on all (I mean ALL) social media platforms, manage the back-end of her/his business and spend time with friends and family? While it is true that it is easier to go all-in on one social media platform, let’s face it, not everyone shows up on just Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn. As entrepreneurs we must be ready for NE-thing. I hear you; if only there were more than 24 hours in a day, right? Here are some tricks on how I show up on all social media platforms by dedicating 30 to 60 minutes a day.

Monday & Tuesday:

I dedicate one uninterrupted hour each and every Monday and Tuesday to plan all my Instagram posts and stories. As tempting as it is, I try not to waste time scrolling through my timeline, peeking at other people’s Instagram stories, and getting lost in Insta-world (side note: I dedicate my weekends for that). To make my life easier, my Instagram posts usually consist of the same prompting and I encourage you to do the same. For instance:

1. Share an expertise that sets you apart from others. 2. Repurpose a post from another social media platform (ex: YouTube, Pinterest). 3. A personality picture with a catchy caption. These posts create flavor, diversity and personality.

My Instagram stories are a bit different. I usually share: 1. A life quote or affirmation 2. A peek into a professional day in my life 3. A peek into a personal part of my life, such as family or friends. These posts create content you can share on your LinkedIn platform.

Wednesday & Thursday:

LinkedIn is a professional, social-media platform that has the potential to build your brand, rank your name in Google, and possibly find your dream job. Showing up on LinkedIn for just 30 minutes provides you an endless supply of connections in and outside of the profession. Simply repurpose your content from Monday and Tuesday while researching your favorite company, making new friends and engaging with the posts from your favorite corporate wellness companies. Thought Pinterest was dead? Think again. Pinterest is a great way to attract clients looking for your services. Simply repurpose your content and post it to your boards. One great way to attract others is by creating and/or joining community boards. By dedicating 30 minutes you’ll be sure to see your following and monthly views increase. I know I sure did.

Friday:

Give a little extra love to whatever platform you feel needs it. Lately, I find myself giving a little extra love to Facebook. Believe it or not, I just joined Facebook so it is my newest platform. I know I’m late to the game and still learning the ins-and-outs of the platform. Again, dedicate an hour to posting, commenting on the NE Facebook group page, creating your own group and networking.

Kim is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and a Certified Diabetes Educator with close to a decade of clinical experience. She thinks of herself as a virtual cheerleader. Kim has two passions, the first of which is for students and dietetic interns. For this reason, Kim started a YouTube channel and has created step-by-step nutrition support videos and worksheets to help future dietitians accomplish their goals. Her second is for those newly diagnosed with diabetes or with uncontrolled diabetes and related complications.

Are Your Beliefs Creating Time or Taking Away Time?

Chere Bork, MS, RDN Abundance Ambassador

An RD coaching client wrote, “I never have enough time. When I wake up I feel this overwhelming list. I am beating myself up for not being in my office enough. I find myself doing other nonbusiness stuff that I need to do, but actually I feel guilty most of the time.” Does this sound like you? Maybe you have run out of time and have created days filled with guilt and regret. You feel like you need to update your website, create an amazing business plan and have digital relationships with the world to create a successful business. However, none of this even matters if your beliefs stop you before you even start. Here are some ideas on how to create more time looking at your beliefs.

Happy registered dietitians are successful business owners who possess positive beliefs. Their positivity drives their actions, and their actions create their success. But let’s face it, every day we don’t wake up positive.

Our beliefs are never neutral. They are helpful or hurtful. We often forget that we get to choose our beliefs and that they can move us closer to our vision or further away.

Call to Action: Notice your beliefs.

Everyone defines success differently. So, dump the RD “comparitis.” Life is really about the actions you do or do not do each day, and your actions are based on your beliefs. My success formula is easy: my beliefs + my habits = my life. What positive empowering beliefs will move you forward? What negative limiting beliefs stop you before you even get out of bed in the morning?

Call to Action: Notice if your beliefs are empowering or limiting. Notice what percent of your day you are “positive” or “negative.”

Your beliefs determine your feelings and from that you make decisions. If your dream is to have a successful RD entrepreneur business but secretly you think it’s going to be really difficult, your thoughts will win and you will feel behind and out of time.

Call to Action: Notice your feelings throughout the day and notice what behaviors triggered your empowering or limiting beliefs.

How do you go from limiting beliefs to empowering ones? It is all about choice. You get to pick your beliefs because they are not a fact. When I feel my beliefs going “south” I think of the most positive person I know: Gary, my husband. And ask myself, What would Gary think about this?

Chances are, it is NOT what I am thinking.

Call to Action: Who are the most positive people you know?

I think James Allen says it best in his book As a Man Thinketh, “Man does not attract that which they want, but that which they are. His wishes and prayers are only gratified and answered when they harmonize with his thoughts and actions.”

Struggle is overrated. All the business planning doesn’t matter if you have limiting beliefs. What matters is you get to pick your beliefs. And remember you can start over every day or every hour if you like. And you can create more time. You have one life to live; just imagine it is the one you love. Better get busy creating success beliefs and more time.

Chere Bork, aka “The Dietitian Energy Igniter,” is the happy owner of cherebork.com and a Law of Attraction coach. She gives RDNs a confidence boost to live the lives they have always wanted. She helps them find clarity so that they can be the best they can be. She thought she was a failure many times in her career. And every time the challenge and adversity created a more beautiful meaningful life. She wants that for you – a beautiful meaningful life!

Slay Your Social Media in 15 Minutes a Day!

Emily Holdorf, MS, RDN, LDN Technology/Social Media

We all know that social media can become the ultimate time-suck if we aren’t careful. Try these simple tips to master your social media routine in just 15 minutes per day.

Five minutes in the A.M.: Use this time to respond to comments on your most recent posts and engage with your audience. If you’re notorious for getting a little sidetracked when logging in, set a timer on your phone to keep yourself on track. This will allow you dedicated time to respond Catherine Brown, CDM/CFPP Student Article When I started my culinary degree in 2014, I did not plan to also pursue baking and pastry arts, community health, dietetics, and turn our off-grid homestead into a viable business venture simultaneously. Yet here I am, successfully putting checks in a lot of boxes. I’m still on my professional journey with beginning a master’s degree this fall, completing several certifications, plus applying for a dietetic internship and sitting for the national exam … phew! This, along with increasing growing space on our small-scale organic farm, reaching new customers, and ensuring quality time with my youngest before he flies off on his own in a year, means I have a lot of moving parts to manage. Along the way, however, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks to work more efficiently and keep all the balls in the air. Here are five tips you can start using now: 1. Remember your WHY and don’t overanalyze HOW. Keep your purpose front and center. Some refer to this as a mission statement or their life’s purpose. If you haven’t thought of your reason for being, thoughtfully and meaningfully to your most dedicated followers.

Five minutes at lunch time: Interact with like-minded professionals, people who frequently comment or like your posts, and find new accounts to follow or others to engage with. This chunk of time lets you comment on others’ posts and really get the conversations going. You could also use this time to pop into your Instagram stories or upload some highlights of your day so far.

Five minutes at night:If you like to have a more relaxed posting routine - maybe you post right in the moment or at certain times of the day in real time - you could utilize this time to do so. You could also use this time to schedule posts or quickly write some copy for tomorrow’s posts. do that now. Be concise and write it down. Post it everywhere you will see it frequently. Every goal and task should support your purpose. If it doesn’t, strike it. 2. Record information in the moment.

Write it down, type it into your electronic device or record voice notes. When inspiration strikes, or you cross paths with an interesting person, or someone says something you want to remember, don’t trust your memory later. Valuable time will be wasted tracking down information or trying to recall that thing you didn’t want to forget. 3. Prioritize your to-do list. We all make lists of things that need our attention, but lists can quickly get out of hand or make us feel defeated if we don’t check off all the things. To keep my list manageable and prioritized, I ask myself a few questions:

What will happen if I don’t do this thing in an hour, a day, a week, a month? and How does this affect number one above? You’ll likely be surprised by how many items you can strike from your list. 4. Learn to say “no, thank you.” As a new entrepreneur and a dietetic student competing for scholarships, awards, an internship and ultimately clients, it can feel like you need to do ALL THE THINGS right now. Pursuing every opportunity or saying yes to everything that comes Using this method of periodically checking into social media and having a plan for what tasks you’re going to accomplish can help you to feel more focused and intentional with your time. This also helps you to feel less like you’re on social media all day long. Try it out and see how it works for you and your business.

Emily is the owner of EmPowered Nutrition, which focuses on Intuitive Eating for busy, young professionals. You can typically find Emily in the kitchen creating recipes and taking pictures of food for her blog. When she’s not practicing nutrition, she’s exploring new restaurants and wineries,

Five Ways to Use Your Time More Effectively

eating ice cream and spending time with family. your way is the fastest route to a stressful, unbalanced life. Instead, evaluate each by asking yourself What will I learn from this opportunity? Compare this list to number one above. Seek and accept only those experiences that support your ultimate purpose.

5. Reach out. You have many more people ready and willing to provide answers, support, mentorship and cheerleading than you realize. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you need to figure everything out yourself. Also, join professional listservs, social media groups or other passive forms of learning. Jump in and offer your own experiences and ask questions.

The road to becoming an RD/N and a successful entrepreneur may feel endless. Keeping your focus on your purpose and learning to maximize your time will help you reach your goal. You can do this!

Catherine Brown, CDM/CFPP, is the chef, organic farmer and writer behind A Seat at My Table where she shares creative, simple recipes based on whole food ingredients. She is a Marine Corps veteran, the mother of three (almost grown!) children, has grown food in four states, and works as a chef at DiCocoa’s Café in Bethel, Maine. Her mission is to inspire more plant-based eating, teach people how to use whole foods to feel their best, and promote spending more time enjoying nature and less time in front of computer screens.

Essential Strategies to Reduce Distractions in Your Practice

Melissa Mitri, MS, RDN CEU Article

In the age of social media and our current world of information overload, there are distractions all around us. If we’re not careful, it is all too easy to allow ourselves to get distracted. As an entrepreneur, distractions can severely decrease your productivity, focus and ability to meet your daily goals. The ability to maintain a clear focus and reduce distractions as an entrepreneur is an essential skill. If you are finding yourself often looking back at your day and asking yourself what did I accomplish today? Or feel like you are working constantly but not getting real work done, this article is for you.

The first step in reducing distractions in your practice is being aware of where these distractions are coming from. The second step is then knowing how to reduce them. While we cannot eliminate every single distraction, there are steps we can take to set our environment and schedule up for success so that we are not being constantly pulled from the important work we do.

Ever wonder how some entrepreneurs seem to be “doing it all” – writing a book, seeing clients - and are still able to be regularly active on social media? Even though it may seem so, they are not superhumans. They likely use their time wisely, set strict boundaries and limit distractions in their everyday work.

Why is it so important to reduce distractions? If you are constantly moving from task to task in short bursts and always changing directions, it is not only exhausting, but it also ends up taking twice as long to complete those tasks than if you completed them undistracted. So, if you feel like your tasks are always taking a lot longer than you expected, it may be because you’re allowing yourself to get pulled from a task.

Here are the top five ways you can reduce distractions in your practice:

1. Stop trying to multitask.

The definition of multitasking is switching back and forth between multiple tasks. As business owners, we have so many tasks on our to-do list and it’s tempting to try to do multiple tasks at once in order to more quickly check items off our list. With many dietitians being Type A personalities, it is even more common to want to be able to check off the box and be done with a particular task, as long lists can feel overwhelming.

However, as humans, we are not designed to be able to multitask. It is not an innate skill. To demonstrate this, I want to provide an example. If you have little kids and try to talk to them when they are watching TV or on the computer, you’ll probably find they are very slow to respond to you, if they do at all. You may need to talk louder or even yell to get their attention. This is because naturally we don’t have the innate skill to do two things at once. If we try to, it’s difficult and not efficient.

Research shows multitasking does not improve productivity (1). In fact, it shows it takes longer to complete a task when we aren’t focusing on that one single task.

To reduce multitasking, focus on your top three priorities.

Write them on a sticky note. Use that to plan out your day and focus on one task at a time. If you have a longer list of all your todos, don’t allow yourself to see it until you’ve completed those three tasks. That will help reduce the overwhelm of a seemingly long to-do list and help you focus on the most important, revenue-generating activities in your business first.

Don’t consume any content or do anything else work-related until you complete that first task.

It’s amazing how we can be supermotivated when first starting a task and then start to get distracted by other things shortly into it. If you find your mind wandering or starting to think about other things you have to do for work, jot them down on a notepad so you don’t forget. Get it out on paper so that you can get it out of your mind and then continue on the task that you’re focused on. Don’t consume any content on social media, TV or anywhere else for that matter until you complete those tasks. Consuming more content may pressure you to do more things and often makes you feel like you need to be adding more to your already filled plate.

2. Put down your phone (do-not-disturb, shut off, or put away).

Your cell phone is probably one of the biggest distractions there is. It’s amazing how powerful such a small device is. We bring our phones with us everywhere and if you also use your cell phone for your business, you may feel pressured to be on constant alert and have it with you at all times.

But your phone can really reduce your focus and limit your productivity. If you find yourself constantly drawn to it or checking it to just “see” if you have any messages or new client inquiries, there are ways to better manage your time and use your phone more effectively.

Set daily time limits on your phone, track it, and stick to it.

First, you’ll want to track on average how much you’re using your phone in the first place so you know you’re setting a realistic time limit for yourself. Then, go into your settings and set a daily time limit. Continue to track it weekly so that you can monitor your progress and see if you need to modify it. Setting clear boundaries with the amount of time you spend on your phone will force you to be intentional and clear with the time you spend on it, so you’re not texting on and off all day or checking Twitter for the fifth time that day. This will assure you don’t go down the dreaded internet rabbit hole.

Remove tempting apps or put them into a hidden folder.

If you have certain apps that you are tempted to constantly open and they keep screaming out at you, remove them or simply put them into a folder so it’s harder to see them. It doesn’t mean you can never use them, but if they are harder to access, you’ll have to put more thought into opening them. This will help you really think about why you’re trying to go onto them in the first place so you’re not wasting time.

Especially when you’re working on tasks requiring more focus, like writing or a project, putting your phone on “do not disturb” will assure you are not interrupted. Put your phone in your desk drawer or somewhere out of sight so you’re not tempted to check it. If you are still finding yourself looking for it, turn it off completely and hide it until you’ve completed that task. There is no shame in admitting it if this is what you have to do.

3. Set aside a specific time to check email.

On average, professionals check their email every 37 minutes, or about 15 times a day. This translates to about 1.5 hours spent DAILY on email. This is a lot of time spent, not to mention it is utterly exhausting.

Email is a necessary mode of communication, but seeing all the new emails coming through can be very overwhelming. It is important to not let it take over your day and to use it effectively.

Turn off email notification alerts.

Turn off alerts on your email so you are not constantly seeing them pop up on your computer. This can be so distracting and it is almost impossible to ignore. Turning off these alerts will allow you to focus your energy on the task at hand, not add more tasks to your plate that are coming through on your email.

Check only once or twice throughout the day.

You can set up a canned email response to specifically say that you only check email during x time each day, and so you are being upfront on your boundaries and when someone should expect a response from you. For example, you can check your email first thing in the morning and during your lunch break. When you go onto your email, fully engage and respond to the emails you are reading. If you are just reading them but are not responding, you are increasing the length of time you will spend on that task. Don’t plan on opening your emails unless you are prepared to respond at that time or else you’re not truly taking action on them.

4. Track your time.

Use time blocks to plan your daily calendar and track your time to assure you’re sticking to it. One way to track your time is using an app called Toggl. This app helps you to track how you’re using your time and can be a huge eye-opener. You may be surprised how many times you are stepping away from what you’re doing, checking another website or tab on your computer, or checking social media for the 25th time to see what everyone else is doing. If this is not serving you, tracking your time can be an extremely useful activity to see how you can improve your time management.

5. Limit social media and use it with intention.

Many of us have a love-and-hate relationship with social media. If you have an online business, social media is a necessary business and marketing tool. However, if you let it, it can quickly creep into your personal life and before you know it, you’re spending hours aimlessly browsing Instagram and feeling more overwhelmed than ever.

Social media can be a wonderful tool to get clients and also to connect with other health professionals. But if you use it without a solid plan, you may start to focus too much on what others are doing and start the comparison trap. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and that you are never doing enough, which can really zap your energy and productivity.

Limit the time you spend on social.

Just as you will do on your other phone apps, you can also set a daily time limit on social media. This can include Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or any other social media platforms you use most regularly. Set a time limit and stick to it. Your phone will notify you when you’ve reached your limit. If you reach your limit and aren’t done with a post or comment, just let it roll over to the next day. Be clear and realistic with how much time you can devote and how much time you truly need to spend on social so you don’t get distracted.

Use social media with intention.

Set specific times to go on social media, and don’t go on without a purpose. If you don’t know why you’re clicking on that app, don’t open it. If you don’t have a plan in place, you will likely start going down that rabbit hole and wasting time.

Instead, go on for a reason. For example, maybe you’re going to post a video or picture to your Instagram stories, or you want to respond to comments on your post at the end of the day. It is much more efficient to do this all at once, rather than going in multiple times per day and responding to comments one at a time as they come in.

Also, don’t feel like you have to share EVERYTHING on social media. If you don’t want to spend a lot of time, only share what is important to your ideal client - a recipe or nutrition tip the client could use today, for example.

Focus only on one or two platforms at a time.

If you’re trying to “be everywhere” and be present on every social media platform, you’ll quickly burn out. It’s virtually impossible, and it is not at all necessary. Picking just one or two primary platforms at the most to stay regularly engaged in will allow you to focus your energy and time on building relationships on that platform. Pick the one where your ideal client hangs out the most. In this way you’re not stretching yourself thin and spending hours on social.

Final Thoughts

Setting up a plan to reduce distractions in your practice will help you to get more important tasks done in less time. The more you can limit the most common distractions mentioned in this article, the more focus, energy and growth you will start to see in your practice.

As business owners, we may often feel the pressure to be “everywhere” and constantly present on social media, but in reality that is not the case. By creating a clear schedule and picture of what your day will look like, you’ll begin to use social media and email with intention and make the most of the time you are spending on them. Registered dietitians who set clear boundaries with their time and don’t allow themselves to get distracted are the ones who will go further, without feeling burnt out in the process.

REFERENCES

1. Buser T, Peter N. Multitasking. Experimental

Economics. 2012;15:641-655

CEU quiz at NEDPG. org. Login and go to Resources & Information > CEU Library. Scroll down to the Newsletter Courses. Passing the quiz with 80% will grant you immediate access to your CEU certificate.

Melissa Mitri, MS, RDN, is the owner of Melissa Mitri Nutrition, a private practice where she specializes in helping women lose weight and improve their relationship with food without strict diets. She also is a freelance writer and selfproclaimed science nerd.

MEMBERS ON THE MOVE

Melissa Halas, MA, RDN, CDE, is the founder of SuperKidsNutrition.com and MelissasHealthyLiving.com. She recently resigned from 20 years of teaching sports nutrition, functional foods and family health to focus more on her writing. Melissa released three books in 2019: The PlantBased Boost, Nutrition Solutions for Athletes and Exercise Enthusiasts; The Plant-Based Boost Cookbook, 100+ Recipes for Athletes and Exercise Enthusiasts; and The Super Crew’s Breakfast Cookbook for Kids, 50 Tasty Recipes + 100 Nutrition Activities.

Karen Duester, MS, RD, is pleased to share Food Consulting Company’s new service for food labelers - Food Label Insiders. This community provides instant answers to everyday and challenging nutrition, labeling and regulatory questions. Membership gives you quick access to a comprehensive, curated library of expertly-authored content, answers to anonymous questions during monthly office hours, and a community discussion board. Insiders.foodlabels.com. Lettuce celebrate Lisa C. Andrews, MEd, RD, LD, Owner of Sound Bites Nutrition LLC in Cincinnati! Lisa designs and sells food-pun swag (tee shirts, note cards, mugs and totes). A portion of her proceeds go to programs that support those suffering from food insecurity. In January, she teamed up with Clancy Cash Harrison to collaborate on a royal-blue “Lettuce Beet Hunger” tee. The color is Clancy’s signature hue. Clancy, a champion in the food insecurity world, will use the tees that say #FoodDignity (on the back) for her podcast guests and attendees of her talks to raise awareness about food insecurity. Ketchup with Lisa’s line of food-pun humor at soundbitesnutrition.com/shop.

With the success of their culinary nutrition webinar series last year,

Abbie Gellman, MS, RD, CDN,

and Julie Harrington, RD, have turned it into a culinary nutrition cooking class series in New York City, helping other healthcare professionals gain confidence in the kitchen to help translate evidence-based nutrition into “food talk.” Focusing on different disease states, Abbie and Julie are hosting both hands-on and demo-style cooking classes. Learn more at CulinaryNutritionWorkshops.com. Earn 7.5 CEUs for workshops & 2 CEUs for demos.

Diversity in Dietetics

Dalina Soto, MA, RD, LDN Diversity Article

In this Ventures Diversity Q&A, we connect with Dalina Soto, MA, RD, LDN, the founder and bilingual Registered Dietitian at Nutritiously Yours, based in Philadelphia. Dalina received her bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences from Penn State University and completed her master’s degree and dietetic internship at Immaculata University. Throughout her career, Dalina has worked in the community of Philadelphia as one of the few Spanishspeaking RDs helping clients ditch diets and eat healthy.

Tell us a little about your background.

My parents are from the Dominican Republic and I am a first-generation Dominican American. I grew up immersed in the culture and speaking Spanish as my first language. I grew up in Philadelphia and completed my bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences from Pennsylvania State University and completed my master’s degree and dietetic internship at Immaculata University. I currently live outside of Philadelphia.

How has your background enhanced your dietetic practice?

Being fluent in Spanish has greatly enhanced how I practice. I have always been an advocate of speaking to clients in their native languages, and being one of the few RDs in Philadelphia who can communicate with the Latino community in Spanish has opened up so many opportunities.

What is your definition of diversity and why it is important in the dietetics field?

Diversity to me is inclusion of all body sizes, abilities, ethnicities and races. This is particularly important in dietetics because every client deserves to work with someone who looks like her or him and understands his/her language and culture.

How do you encourage people to honor the uniqueness of each individual?

I encourage everyone to continue to honor their cultures, specifically with food. Every country has unique dishes that mean a lot to their people. I love learning about traditional dishes and giving my clients the OK to enjoy them without guilt. There is something to be said about having a dish that reminds you of home, which truly makes you feel comforted and loved.

How do you challenge and promote sensitivity and inclusion in the dietetics field?

I am always speaking to students, colleagues and anyone who will listen about the importance of being culturally sensitive; I love that the question uses this word (sensitivity) instead of “competent.” Competent makes it seem like you can conquer a culture and know all about it, when in reality that is not always the case; even within cultures there are variations. Being sensitive means you are open to learning and listening about another culture and willing to understand and empathize. This is why I am such a supporter of Diversify Dietetics; it truly embraces cultural sensitivity and allows students to flourish within the field of dietetics while embracing their culture.

How has diversity helped you in your job role?

For me it has been KEY in helping me become the dietitian I am today. It has driven me to be the business woman that I am. I am always focusing on how I can bring my culture into my counseling, my website, my social media. I have so many women reach out to me because they feel “seen” for the first time in nutrition. Many feel that there’s a lack of representation of Latino foods in a lot of the recommendations for nutrition. Making sure that I bring my diverse background to the forefront of all I do has helped me reach a lot of women.

What is one tip you have for others to be more culturally sensitive/aware?

Listen, always listen, and ask questions. Stay curious and learn all that you can about that person's culture before making a nutritional recommendation. And be sensitive to how important certain foods are for people, cognizant of the nostalgia and comfort foods can bring.

How would having more diversity in dietetics providers improve our field?

It would make many patients and clients feel heard and understood. Speaking to someone in her/his language or speaking to someone who looks like you and knows your culture can make all the difference in how that patient takes the information you provide and uses it.

Product REVIEWS

Title: Mindful and Instinctive Eating Practitioner (MIEP) Certification Program (8-week online course) Date issued: N/A Version Number: N/A What is included in the price: $1,997 if paid in full (saves $367) or 12 monthly payments of $197. Includes lifetime access to the MIEP Training, use of the MIEP Credentials (upon successful completion of certification exam), course Study Guide, access to a private Facebook group, live Q&A to connect with your instructors and fellow participants, and 48 CEUs approved by CDR.

Required/recommended equipment:

Access to a computer with internet Major Function: 8-week online training program Target Audience: Exclusive to Registered Dietitians, RDs-to-be, and Registered Dietetic Technicians Capabilities: N/A Limitations if any: The course enrolls in cycles, so you might have to wait a few months before your group officially starts.

Review:

Do you feel like you’re spinning your wheels, but not gaining traction with your clients? If so, this course is for you. This eight-week online course is an excellent resource for anyone seeking to improve the way she/he counsels clients to promote lasting behavior change by refining your motivational interviewing techniques. For both the topics of mindful eating and instinctive eating, you will learn about seven different elements that help you understand your client in a different light. The course is thorough, thought-provoking and quite refreshing. It is evident that a ton of heart, experience and dedication was put into it. The modules are presented as a spoken slideshow, so it is important to know that in advance as it may not be an ideal learning method for some. In full disclosure, I was graciously granted access to just a portion of the modules and therefore this review is based on those alone.

Reviewer: Dawn Dragone, RD, LD/N Title: Clinical Dietitian/ Virtual Nutrition Coach Affiliation: Department of Veterans Affairs (this review reflects my personal views, not the views of my employer)/ Dietitian Dawn Nutrition & Wellness Title: Finally Full, Finally Slim Author: Lisa Young, Ph.D, RDN, CNN Date: 2019 Publisher: Center Street Price: $19.89

Review:

Let’s face it, science is confusing and hard to digest; nutritional studies are not the exception. Just what it takes to lose weight and keep it off can seem elusive if not contradictory to many. And fad diets are aplenty. Dr. Lisa Young, Ph.D, RDN, CNN, author of The Portion Teller, provides credible science simply and engagingly in her latest book Finally Full, Finally Slim. Information is broken down into “BiteSized Goodies,” “Wedges of Wisdom” and “Slices of Advice,” amidst an engaging text that guides its readers toward healthier living by addressing portion control, healthy plating, mindful eating, and so much more. It includes simple recipes, easy swaps, and even ways to decrease stress and improve your sleeping habits. This book is an inspiring, easy read. It can be used by entrepreneurial nutritionists to help explain and guide their clients toward healthier living. Dr. Young is an internationally recognized dietitian/nutritionist and portion-size expert. She is an adjunct professor at New York University (NYU). You can find her book Finally Full, Finally Slim at amazon.com.

Reviewer: Title: Website:

Lauren O’Connor, MS, RDN Food & Nutrition Consultant Nutri Savvy Health Title: My Indian Table: Quick & Tasty Vegetarian Recipes Author: Vandana Sheth, RDN, CDE, FAND

Date: 2019 Publisher: Self-Published Price: $24.99 on Amazon.com

Review:

In My Indian Table, Vandana shares her deeply personal and heart-warming connection with the cuisine of her Indian culture. This well-written and easy-to-follow cookbook serves to inspire a love for healthful Indian cuisine that aligns with the time-pressed schedules of families around the world. As a novice with Indian cooking myself, I found Vandana’s suggestions for success, cooking tools/equipment list, summary of ingredients, and culinary terminology to be tremendously helpful. Each of the more than 60 vibrant recipes also includes a detailed explanation about its history, flavor profile and ingredients, as well as any notable nutrition callouts. Purchasing unique and unfamiliar ingredients can be intimidating; however, Vandana was mindful to incorporate those that can be easily found in a local grocery store. When this isn’t the case, she provides substitutions or simply suggests omitting them. Readers of this cookbook will also appreciate her thoughtfulness in limiting the number of different spices and ingredients required throughout, while repurposing them across various recipes. As a dietitian, I applaud Vandana for her creation of this beautiful resource that promotes such a healthy way of eating. This cookbook would be a colorful addition to the collection of any individual who seeks to enjoy vegetarian cooking and traditional Indian flavors all in one.

Reviewer: Beth Stark, RDN, LDN Title: Manager of Nutrition and Lifestyle Initiatives Affiliation: Weis Markets (This review reflects my own opinion and not that of my employer)

Roberta Schwartz Wennik, MS, RDN Guest Article

Googling the words “maximizing your time” turns up 46,100,000 results. So, if you believe you’re the only one with the problem, rest assured you’re not alone. The usual tips include: • Make to-do lists. • Take a break from your social media apps. • Stop multitasking. • Don’t handle paper twice. • Do the most important tasks first even though doing the easily-accomplished tasks would clear off your list faster. The list could go on and on. But I have a better approach. One where you don’t need lists of ideas for how to become more efficient. Besides, following somebody else’s ideas may not be right for you. When they don’t work, you may feel like a failure.

No, you need to be in control and determine what is best for you. You simply need to ask one important question about everything you do or need to do … Is it worth it? Too many of our hours are frittered away doing things that waste our energies on matters that aren’t worth our time. However, if you decide something is of value, your time becomes maximized.

If you have the tools to make that decision, you're on your way. And I have the perfect approach for you — a personality-based approach. I’m a certified practitioner of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®). It has guided most of what I’ve done as a dietitian, allowing me to work with people according to who they are, not what I think is best for them.

Is It Worth It?

The Very, Very Shortened Description of Using the MBTI® for Making a Decision

To make the decision about the question, “Is it worth it?” you need to know the bare basics of the MBTI®. There are 16 personality types, each with four letters (standing for different preferences) per type name. For now, I’ll just share the letters that are involved with making decisions: Sensing (S), iNtuiting (N), Thinking (T) and Feeling (F). The order in which you use these preferences is referred to as the Z-Pattern, as shown in the following infographic:

How to Use the Z-Pattern to Maximize Your Time

Here's an example. Suppose you’re asked to make a presentation. Is it the best use of your time? The answer requires a decision applying the Z-Pattern. First, using Sensing (S), you have to consider what your workload is right now. Also, you should try to remember whether you’ve been in this kind of situation before and what the result was. Did you get behind on other things because you took on too much? Next, consult iNtuiting (N). Maybe giving the presentation will open up other opportunities for you down the road. But preparing for it will take away time from other projects that are now in the pipeline. Let Thinking (T) analyze what you’ve come up with so far. Doing the presentation can be considered part of your marketing plan for your business. It could also be an income source if you’re getting paid for your time. Is the business value of the presentation greater than the value of the project you’re working on now? Feeling (F) gets the last say. You need to put your stamp of approval on whether to do the presentation or not. Will it personally give you a confidence boost? You know it may take time away from your business, family and/or friends. How will that affect you and them?

Your decision?

I can’t make that decision for you. That’s the beauty of this method. It’s totally yours. If you decide to do the presentation, go through the Z-Pattern again, sometime afterwards, to analyze the effects it had. There’s always a next time to make a different decision if it didn’t have your intended results. If it did, you know you maximized your time. In other words, it was a “good" decision.

Roberta Schwartz Wennik, MS, RDN, is the owner of Advantage Diets. She is a certified practitioner of the MyersBriggs Type Indicator® (MBTI), a personality-based tool that has been an integral part of her nutrition practice. She is also an editor and writing coach. When she isn’t writing books, she loves to cook, garden, knit, hike, bike and travel.

Ventures

Enterprising News & Ideas for Nutrition Entrepreneurs

Kim Hoban, RDN, CDN, CPT 24 Copperbeech Road Saint James, NY 11780

www.nedpg.org

Have You Heard?

We started a new private facebook group during FNCE ® 2019 that is exclusive to YOU, our NE DPG members. Joining is easy! Head to Facebook and request access to the group Nutrition Entrepreneurs DPG *Members Only* and you will be asked to provide your Academy number and email address associated with NE DPG so we can verify it’s you.

This group gives you a chance to interact in real time over social media with your fellow NE members, applaud their accomplishments, share job opportunities, ask challenging work questions, stay up-to-date on the latest happenings with NE DPG events, and share what you’ve been up to. The last Sunday of every month is “Self Promotion Sunday” where we encourage you to share your latest accomplishment, business venture, certification - ANYTHING, big or small, that you are proud of that month. This does not take the place of our Member Marketplace and Hub on our website, but provides another alternative to timely communication with NE members and the executive committee. We invite you to engage with our posts, ask questions, and respond to prompts as you feel comfortable.

Here are some of the great conversations that have been happening so far in this group: