My Working Day – Dr Sameer Patel – CEO & Clinical Director of Elleven Dental

As the leader of a company, you are there to set an example and to lead and inspire a team of individuals to achieve a series of business goals. But how do these business leaders go about their daily routine? We spoke to Dr Sameer Patel, CEO & Clinical Director of Elleven Dental, about his working day.

What time do you usually wake up?

I wake up at 5:30 am in the morning with no alarm clock.

What do you typically have for breakfast?

I have a simple breakfast of black coffee, and I usually try to fast till 1 pm.

What is the rest of your morning routine?

I generally start my morning with yoga and meditate for 30 minutes whiles gradually getting ready for the day. If I don’t meditate, I try to do at least one session of exercise as this helps me to refresh my mind for the day.

What is the first thing you do at the start of your working day?

I start my day with gratitude. I believe it’s so important and helps to feel positive about the day and what is to come. Besides this I enjoy yoga and meditation with no one around that early – I consider this as ‘Me Time’. As a leader, you are constantly helping people problem solve, so I treasure this time a lot as it helps me to focus on myself.

How do you prioritise your day’s work?

I make my plan for the week ahead on Sunday evening and prioritise meeting my core goals.

Do you plan meetings or are they a waste of time?

I need an agenda for any meeting and a time when to stop. If we do need more time, we can always make it happen, but this helps me not to overwork myself knowing that a time and plan is in place.

Do you have a working lunch, or do you take a break?

I try and practice one mindful meal a day and find lunch is the easier one with three daughters at home. I ideally try to get out for a walk and get some natural light. It is crucial to stay upbeat and positive for us all – and we all know that some natural light does boost one’s mood. The more lux light the better.

When does your working day finish?

I try my best to finish my working day by 3-4 pm.

How do you prepare for the next day’s work?

I see my evenings as a way to prepare for the next day, whatever I do in the evening impacts my morning. I avoid carbs where possible and go to bed early – 10 pm is late for me.

What’s your favourite piece of technology?

The Firstbeat which measures my sympathetic output and stress. As a CEO, my day can be very demanding and my Firstbeat precisely detects when stress is using up my resources and when rest is helping me recover and recharge. I think this is amazing.

How do you switch off?

I switch off with sports and my favourite TV programmes.

What is the best piece of advice you have received?

Work hard when you are younger, not when you are older.