“Back to school” season is a time of new beginnings. Students get their new class assignments, gather all of their books and supplies, reconnect with friends, and kick off a brand new year of learning. The opportunities are endless; it’s all new and fresh and full of possibility.

Wouldn’t it be great to tap into some of that excitement and apply it to your practice?

Here are six ways you can get reinvigorated in your practice:

1. Get a Deal on Office Supplies

Let’s start by being practical. One of the best ways to relive back to school feelings of excitement is by buying some new office supplies, software, equipment and other office essentials that you need for your practice. And now is the perfect time to do it because you can take advantage of all of the back to school sales being offered at office supply stores.

2. Learn Something New

In a more literal sense, you can follow the lead of students everywhere and go back to school, too, by enrolling in a community or online course to enhance your skills. Continuing your education not only gets you back to school, but it can be a great way to expand your knowledge, sharpen your skills and ultimately grow your practice.

3. Set a New Goal

There’s a reason why we set goals and make resolutions at the start of a new calendar year; we want to take advantage of the fresh slate and do something bold. Or if you have goals you set last year but haven’t conducted a goal check-in lately, now is the time.

4. Get Out There and Network

There is quite a bit of growth that comes from interacting with peers and navigating the social scene at school. You can duplicate this social experience by participating in networking events. Look for an upcoming conference and get ready to network with fellow practice owners.

5. Revisit Your Business Plan

As students are digging back into the school routine, their teachers are following the curriculum they planned out for the year. You need a plan to follow, too, so revisit your own “curriculum” by taking some time to update and improve your business plan. If you don’t have a business plan yet, you better get started now. And don’t forget about your marketing plan either.

6. Plan Your Next Break

If you took some time off during the summer, it may seem a little too soon to plan a vacation, but this is actually the perfect time. We all know that if you don’t plan ahead, it can be nearly impossible to carve out some “me time” when you’re a healthcare practice owner. So in order to avoid unnecessary stress and burnout, think ahead for the next nine months and get a few breaks on the calendar, even if it’s just a day here and there.

Now, that you are armed with some strategies for joining in on the back to school excitement, you can create your own new beginning for your practice, starting now. You may be surprised how much momentum you can build as you start the year on a high note.