[00:00:00] If you're looking to grow your business as a registered dietitian, you've come to the right place. If you're not sure what to do or what steps to take next so that you can create flexibility and freedom in your life, then you're going to learn a lot from tuning into our podcast here at Dietitian Boss.
[00:00:17] I'm Libby Rothschild, the founder of Dietitian Boss, a fellow [00:00:20] registered dietitian and business owner. And in our podcast, I share the highs and the lows, and I talk all about how to grow your business. Get it started. And I interview our clients to date. We've had over 200 interviews from clients who share their journey on our podcast dietitian boss.
[00:00:37] Libby: Today, we're going to be talking about a fun topic, [00:00:40] prepping your dietitian practice space. I'm talking layout, decor, and organization. I told you this would be fun. So you might be thinking, why is this important? And I will tell you that you might've heard me talk before about when I worked in clinical with a dimly lit office with no window, it's really important [00:01:00] to have a space set up for yourself that's motivating and open.
[00:01:03] Libby: Also, whether you're virtual or in person, a place that looks professional for your virtual consults or for when you are doing in person and people are actually physically seeing your office, let's not forget to mention for social media, when you're recording reels and you're showing your office [00:01:20] space and stories, et cetera, that it's nice to have a little nook.
[00:01:24] Libby: That looks on brand and that you feel comfortable with. Now, of course, this doesn't come without challenges. You can travel, you might move, you might not have great lighting, but let's talk about what you can do to get this started or evaluate what you already have going on. [00:01:40] So firstly, you want to design an effective layout for your practice space.
[00:01:44] Libby: So you want to think what's functional. So a well designed space is going to ensure that your office space. And then when I say office, this might even be a corner inside of your house. It's just functional and welcoming and it's enhancing your productivity and client's experience. Cause I can't stress enough that [00:02:00] your productivity really is based on your space.
[00:02:02] Libby: And you might have a couple of spaces, right? Sometimes I like to go in a couple of different spaces in my house for like, I call them content nooks, content corners where I like to stay and either do calls or work. So it doesn't have to always be the same spot, but it might be for you. So in terms of tips for layout, I want you to think about [00:02:20] your client consultation area.
[00:02:22] Libby: So where are you doing consults? Again, it's true for virtual or in person, so it should be comfortable and private, right? So you want to make sure that you have a space that's just available for you and the client, and it should be free from distractions. And so that should allow for open, confidential conversations.
[00:02:38] Libby: You might also have an administration area. [00:02:40] Zone. Again, you might decide that you combine these, you might keep them separate, but that's a space where you can do tasks like paperwork. If you have any, you know, mail, things like that in billing, and that could all be on your computer, but you still want to have a place for it and it's going to help keep your client area uncluttered and focused on consultations, especially if you're doing in [00:03:00] person.
[00:03:01] Libby: And then flow and accessibility. So ensure there's a clear flow between your different areas if you have different areas set up. So your clients, if you're in person, should be able to move seamlessly from the waiting area to the consult room. And if you're doing virtual, then people should be able to see and recognize that you have an area that's professional and that reflects your brand.[00:03:20]
[00:03:20] Libby: And if it's hard for you to do this right now, You can always blur the background and just focus on natural light. So what I suggest to do as an action item is to sketch a rough layout of your space and consider how each area will be used. And again, if you're looking for the simplest, just choose one area.
[00:03:36] Libby: And then you can make adjustments and optimize with time [00:03:40] based on your needs and what you see might need improvement. You want to choose the right decor. So that would be a professional yet inviting atmosphere. So your decor should reflect your professionalism and also make your clients feel comfortable.
[00:03:52] Libby: So that might mean that you have a consistent color in the background, or you might have your logo in the background, but something [00:04:00] that will make them feel like you are consistent, but also that they're calm. So some decor tips would be color scheme. So opt for something neutral or calming or just brand colors.
[00:04:11] Libby: If your brand colors are not soft colors like blues, greens, or grays, then choose your brand colors. And these colors blue greens and grays can create a soothing [00:04:20] environment and promote a sense of tranquility. So I do recommend if you don't have brand colors, or if you're not using them, choose something that is going to be calming.
[00:04:29] Libby: And then you want to think about furniture and accessories. So you want to choose something ergonomic. Now, I can't stress how important that is. You want to have your computer at the right level for what your eyes can see and you want [00:04:40] to be near a natural light. So a few decorative touches, also maybe plants and artwork that align with your brand can create a welcoming atmosphere.
[00:04:50] Libby: And if you want to see some ideas and tips of this, let us know. We've got Some past clients that have featured their office spaces, we've shown ours before, so we can definitely give you some visual [00:05:00] inspiration if you let us know on Instagram. Professional touches would be incorporating elements that reflect your personality, right?
[00:05:06] Libby: So that can help build a connection, and that can be as simple as a plant you love, a color you love, a background photo. So select your color palette, whether it's your brand colors or just something calming, and your furniture style, if you can fit furniture with [00:05:20] where you're at, that complement your practice is branding and think about decor elements that enhance comfort and reflect your professional image. For me, that's plants. I just love them. And I think that they really make a space pop. Now you don't have to go plant crazy. Just one is enough. And if you're not able to do a live plant for whatever reason, maybe you've got kids [00:05:40] or animals, you can do a decent fake plant and you can even have it hanging.
[00:05:43] Libby: There are so many great ways to use plant styling and put them on shelves. You can have one of those fake plants that they sell, but online. They're like an olive branch plant. I think that's what it's called, but those are really nice looking. And then you want to stay organized with your practice space.
[00:05:58] Libby: So an organized practice space is [00:06:00] going to improve efficiency and reduce stress. And this goes for physical and digital. So you want to have your files organized, your tabs on your computer organized, meaning you don't have too many of them. I know easier said than done. And then you want to have things in a place.
[00:06:13] Libby: So if you do have paper items, Preferably in the same area drawer or folder. So think [00:06:20] about storage solutions like shelving cabinets and storage bins to keep your paperwork supplies and other materials. Labeling is great to help maintain order. But I think first, just declutter and think about what do you actually need?
[00:06:31] Libby: And you can scan something or take a picture and save it and not keep all of your paperwork so that you can keep things really organized? Organized. Then think [00:06:40] about desk organization. So whatever space you have for your desk area, think about keeping it tidy by using desk organizers and minimal clutter.
[00:06:48] Libby: Now I'm a big fan of like shelves and drawers that are inside the desk because I think that can help a lot with clutter. So, it's really going to depend on the space that you have right now, but think about what you can do to keep things [00:07:00] tidy. Now, when it comes to digital organization, your files can have a clear naming convention and folders.
[00:07:07] Libby: Now, as a dietitian, let's be honest, you're probably already doing this, but things can get sloppy if you grow fast or if you're adding new products and services or a new line of business. Let's say you're an insurance dietitian and you're looking to come over to cash pay. You [00:07:20] might just need a new system or you might have to create more folders for organization.
[00:07:24] Libby: So I'm hoping that this episode can bring you some relief and calm to your process of So using practice management software can also help streamline your client's records. You know, we're big fans of practice better. You can go onto our show notes and even on our [00:07:40] dietitian resources tab on our website and click the link for practice better.
[00:07:43] Libby: It is an affiliate link, but we really love them. So that is a great practice management tool to use. Now, I want you to create a system for organization that works for you and your practice needs regularly to clutter and review your setup to ensure it remains effective and functional. My number one tip is [00:08:00] to declutter, like whatever you have in your space, look and see what you can either throw out or what you can consolidate before you think about organizing.
[00:08:07] Libby: We're so quick to label things, but I think oftentimes we forget that we need to throw out a lot of stuff first. Now we want to balance practicality and aesthetics. Now I like aesthetics a lot, sometimes to the point where I prioritize [00:08:20] aesthetics over what's practical. Think about your space. So finding the right balance is going to mean that you have a pleasant environment, but it should be functional.
[00:08:28] Libby: So , that means that your space is visually appealing, but it's also practical. Like your chair's comfortable, you are facing either towards the window or to the side of the window so that you [00:08:40] have some natural light, but your back shouldn't be to the window because that's just gonna be doom and gloom, and that's a little depressing.
[00:08:45] Libby: And your, face isn't gonna look lit. When you're on virtual consoles or even if you're doing social media. So you definitely want to be near a window if you can, which I know can be tricky depending on how your space is set up, which is why if you don't have an office, you're going to have a little nook and [00:09:00] that's totally fine.
[00:09:00] Libby: Think of a reading nook, but now it's a content nook. Now you just got to make it your own. So tips for balancing would be functional first, even though I like aesthetics. So focus on the practical aspect of your layout and organization before adding decorative elements. It's so easy, right, to start with your favorite photo, but you want to think first about the layout.
[00:09:18] Libby: That's why I suggested to sketch a layout [00:09:20] and organization about where things go, because your space should be functional. And, conducive to your workflow and then we've got the aesthetics. So once the practical elements are in place, like, you know, where your desk is facing, you have a chair that is comfortable enough, then you want to enhance the space with the core.
[00:09:37] Libby: Then, as we spoke about before, we talked about [00:09:40] colors that can help create cohesion and also that can help you. Make your space your own. So I want you to evaluate your space from both functional and aesthetic perspective and make sure that every element serves a purpose and it can contribute to a professional and pleasant atmosphere for you, your productivity and your clients, whether you're in person or virtual.
[00:09:59] Libby: So [00:10:00] some common pitfalls and how to avoid them would be overcrowding your space with unnecessary furniture or decor. So too much clutter can create a chaotic environment and it's actually distracting from the professional image. So you don't want to neglect the importance of the space. Comfort as well.
[00:10:14] Libby: So you want to choose stylish, but not uncomfortable furniture, because that can negatively impact your productivity. [00:10:20] Think about if you're slouching over just because your chair is pretty and you're not really comfortable when you're doing your work, that's just, you know, that's not going to fly. Also, any chance you have for a walking pad or a standing desk, I didn't talk about that too much today, but that's also awesome.
[00:10:33] Libby: It really just depends on the amount of space you have. So we just recently moved and our old place, I had this amazing office, [00:10:40] standing desk, walking pad, everything was great. And then we had a baby and we ended up moving to a space that is a little bit, it doesn't have as much, amenities right now when it comes to my office.
[00:10:50] Libby: So my content corner, my content nook is smaller at this moment and that's totally fine. But what that means is everything I had before that I got comfortable with, I have to evaluate, [00:11:00] which is why I'm sharing these tips because you know, this is all stuff I've had to think about too. So just about assessing your space and thinking about feedback from clients and even your peers to make adjustments and ensure that your space is functional and inviting.
[00:11:13] Libby: So recap, design and organize your practice space or your content corner is key for creating [00:11:20] professional and welcoming environment. Focus on layout, decor, and organization, and that way you can enhance your practice and provide a better experience for your clients. So thank you for joining today. If you're interested in learning more about how to grow your practice after and while you are prepping your perfect dietitian space, I want you to join the library.
[00:11:38] Looking for support to [00:11:40] grow your dietitian business or even get started, I invite you to join the library, our monthly affordable membership that shows you exactly what to do every step of the way so that you can create the business of your dreams. Not sure if it's the right time, the membership gives you an option to.
[00:11:56] Go at your own pace. We have modules, a [00:12:00] roadmap to show you exactly what to do and monthly live calls, as well as new content that we release every single month based on requests inside of the library. We have four stages of business. So whether you come in getting started or you want to enter the membership and grow or scale your business, we have the appropriate resources for you.
[00:12:17] And our team, including myself [00:12:20] available to answer your questions, head on over to dietitianboss. com and check out the library today. We'd love to see you there.
