How to Grow Your Practice and Enjoy Your Summer

Summer sometimes worries doctors because they fear it as a “slow season” for their practice, but it doesn’t have to be unless you choose to make it so. How do you feel about summer?

I work with many Doctors who want more time off to be with their families in the summer, so we plan and prepare for their year accordingly to create the practice they desire for the entire year.

If you're looking for predictable growth this summer, I have a few ideas to share with you.

Research shows that practices that maintain active marketing and implement member engagement strategies to avoid seasonal dips and slowdowns often experience accelerated growth.

Here’s how you can create predictable growth and summer momentum — without sacrificing your time in the sun, with the fam, at a retreat or whatever and wherever your heart desires:

1. Launch a “Summer Wellness” Campaign
As always, frame chiropractic care as a preventative, protective, and performance-enhancing life choice, especially as part of summer activities like travel, sports, and outdoor fun.

A 2019 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that framing care around active lifestyles increased patient visits by 17% in summer months.

2. Check in on the Flexibility of Your Hours
Flexibility wins in summer. A survey from Chiropractic Economics revealed that practices offering early morning or evening summer hours retained 22% more visits compared to those who kept rigid schedules.

Determine if a minor adjustment to your hours can make a significant difference without compromising your time outside the practice.

3. Host Fun Events
One of the best events I hosted was my annual BBQ and Practice Member Celebration. We would hire “Big Eddie” BBQ, reserve the picnic area at our local park, and have face painters, music, a celebration, with special T-shirts and hats.

A special part of the event was recognition of our team, superstar referrers,  inductees into the Well Adjusted Club, and more. It was a blast for us and our practice members.

Light-hearted events strengthen community and loyalty, and will drive referral growth by up to 30%.

Keep it simple, aligned with your values and culture, because a little goes a long way.

4. Take Time Off
Your energy fuels your practice. A study in the Occupational Medicine Journal found that providers who scheduled “true recharge” time reported 40% higher job satisfaction and improved patient interaction quality.

The reality is that taking time off will improve everyone's mental and physical well-being by reducing stress, increasing productivity, boosting happiness, strengthening relationships, and fostering personal growth. They offer a chance to disconnect from daily stressors, recharge, and develop a more positive outlook on life. Vacations make us better, more well-rounded people.

Plan your time off and staffing accordingly. As we know, subluxations do not take a vacation, so if you do not have an associate or locum, coordinate the schedules of practice members, especially in the first few days, depending on the practice.

Being a great leader is being a great role model; practice members will respect and admire a doctor who models healthy balance and practices what they teach.

Power Up Your Life and Practice

This summer, growth and fun don’t have to be opposites. With a few intentional strategies, you and your team can enjoy your time off and keep your practice thriving.

I'm off to France and Italy next week for fun and to speak at a chiropractic event. And trust me, I will be posting all about it, and I plan to return a better version of the person who walked on the plane, ready to give and serve at a higher level upon my return.

What are your summer plans?