My mindful dentist…
I was brushing my teeth this morning and remembered a few years back at my six-monthly check-up my dentist noticed that there was more plaque than usual on my back molars.
He asked if I’d changed anything about how I brushed my teeth. I couldn't think of anything.
He told me I needed to focus on brushing my teeth more carefully and not get distracted.
To be more present in the task and make sure that every surface of each tooth gets attention.
Looking back, I think I was at a particularly stressful time in my life.
I was under pressure at work, feeling I'd lost my way a bit, and I was becoming distracted at home and found it difficult to focus.
I wasn't really all that conscious of this as it was happening but with time and distance I can see it.
And I think even when I brushed my teeth I was distracted and not present for the task.
Since then it has become part of my daily ritual, which reminds me first thing at in the morning and last thing at night, to be present in each moment of my day.
It has helped give me a sense of calm, focus and presence on the day ahead.
It turns out that’s a real thing.
Psychologists call it cognitive diffusion.
It’s when your body is in one place but your attention is somewhere else.
When that becomes a habit, we lose the simple grounding that keeps us steady.
Attention is a finite resource. Chronic stress drains it, keeping the mind scanning for threats or unfinished tasks.
Since then, brushing my teeth has become a daily reminder to be present.
A small, private ritual that anchors me in the moment.
It’s what neuroscientists call attentional anchoring.
It’s a way of telling my body: you’re here, you’re safe, you can slow down.
The result is a subtle shift from agitation to calm, from noise to focus.
There’s deep wisdom behind that.
Zen Buddhist teachers talk about “When you wash the rice, wash the rice.”
Stoics like Marcus Aurelius urged, “Do what is before you well. This alone is sufficient.”
Modern flow theory says alignment between attention and action is what creates meaning.
Different languages, same idea: presence isn’t just found in stillness, it’s found in paying attention to the small daily tasks that are right in front of you.
For leaders, this matters more than we often admit.
When we’re distracted, our teams feel it.
When we’re fully present, even in small moments, that calm becomes contagious.
It’s the foundation for better decisions, deeper conversations, and steadier organisations.
So now, every morning and night, when I pick up my toothbrush, it’s a quiet reminder:
Start the day grounded.
End the day clear.
Everything else flows from that.
It’s funny how a visit to the dentist could be so life-changing…
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👉 What small daily moments help you come back to presence?
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