HOW TO PRIORITIZE PERSONAL WELLNESS

MAKE YOURSELF A PRIORITY. You care for sick animals for a living. There will always be someone in need. If you don’t look out for yourself, you will give until there’s nothing left.

IDENTIFY THE SIGNS OF BURNOUT. Not exercising, not socializing with your friends, no down time, getting impatient very quickly, not eating healthy.

DECIDE ON WHAT YOU NEED. Whether its a walk at lunch, an hour to work out, or one evening of complete down time. Identify and prioritize the things you need.

LEAN ON THOSE AROUND YOU. Hate dealing with a certain client? Taxes got you stressed out? Didn’t have time to grab lunch? Lean on those around you - you are not alone.

BUILD ROUTINE AROUND SELF-CARE. Can’t seem to get into the habit of doing things that make you feel better? Whether its a clean workspace, finishing off your patient notes, or drinking 8 glasses of water a day, routine can help build the muscle memory to do these on the regular.

REWARD YOURSELF. You are saving lives! That is amazing. Don’t forget to pat yourself on the back from time to time!

SPEAK UP. Is there something one of the vets or techs can be doing better to make the workplace more pleasant? Let them know - sometimes tiny changes in our day can have a huge impact.   

TRANSFER SKILLS. Teamwork, coaching and mentoring are shown to reduce stress and will pay dividends over time, as your team is better able to support you. 

SLEEP! Sleep is one of the most important things for wellbeing. Make sure to prioritize a good bedtime schedule (no screens!) so that you can get the rest you need.

MAKE IT ABOUT YOU. Again - your life saves lives. You wouldn’t abuse the ultrasound machine, or run your car on an empty tank - take care of you or you can’t take care of others.