How Can Veterinarians Protect Their Time?

It’s no secret that the vet med life takes a toll on those in the industry. Veterinarians carry heavy mental health burdens that can lead to burnout or worse. But constant reminders to build self-care into your day aren’t always helpful. It can feel like that’s just one more thing to make time for in your crazy schedule.

Rather than focusing on self-care to-dos, let’s borrow a page from Zelda. The video game Zelda, along with other role-playing games, gives a great example of replenishing your resources before a battle or quest.

While you’re not going into battle in the technical sense, you are facing tremendous challenges and hurdles every day in your practice. Intentionally replenishing your tangible and intangible resources will keep you ahead of the game and poised for success.

VetBadger is an excellent tool for doing just that. Our focus on your wellbeing means our practice management software helps you protect your valuable time and energy while building a thriving practice. We invite you to schedule a free live demonstration of the software to see how it will support you and your team.

Feeling Depleted?

Although mental health for veterinarians is making strides in the right direction, vets still face high levels of exhaustion and burnout. What can it look like when your personal wellness resources are low? You might experience any of the following:

• Overwhelming fatigue
• Forgetfulness
• Irritability
• Disinterest in personal hobbies or activities
• Headaches
• Other physical ailments

If you find yourself experiencing these symptoms of depletion and burnout, it’s time to channel your inner Zelda and replenish your resources as you prepare for (not quite) battle.

What Do You Need To Continue Effectively?

In Zelda and other RPGs, there comes a time when your character must restore their energy and stamina and choose the tools or weapons needed for their next steps. Veterinarians need to do this, too - minus any actual weapons!

Of course, in real life, replenishing is more complicated than clicking icons on a screen. So what steps can you take to make this happen? Here are a few best practices to keep in mind for building up your energy, enthusiasm, and wellness.

Physical Replenishment

No matter how much you love your work and your clients, you can’t serve them well if you aren’t rested, hydrated, and nourished. Before you can tackle other issues that are sapping your energy and wellness, you have to focus on these basics.

• Set timers or alarms to remind you to drink water and eat a nourishing snack.
• Consider meal delivery plans that take the prep and guesswork out of creating healthy meals.
• Remove electronic devices from your bedroom to help ensure more restful sleep.
• Build at least one longer break into your day that you can use for taking a walk or getting a good stretch.

Mental Replenishment

Once you’ve dialed in some supportive habits for your physical wellbeing, it’s easier to focus on mental wellness for you and your team.

• Get outside a few times each work day, even if just for a few minutes of fresh air.
• Commit to seeing a counselor or therapist who works with medical or veterinary professionals. Connecting with someone once or twice a month will replenish your emotional toolbox so that you can work with clarity and contentment.
• Invest in tools that streamline and simplify your daily work routines while empowering your team to take tasks off your plate.
• Take. A. Vacation. It may feel like there is no way to step away from your practice, even for a couple of days. But with the right tools and team, you absolutely can. And your clinic will probably not only survive, but thrive because of it.

Back in the Game!

Running a vet med practice is no joke, and it’s not a game. But by taking a cue from Zelda, you’ll remind yourself to replenish your resources regularly to stay healthy and eager to do the good work your clients rely on for their beloved animals.

VetBadger is proud to help you and your team build supportive work systems and relationships that keep your practice running well. Connect with us today for a free demo to get started.