Working as a veterinary professional can be an incredibly rewarding career, allowing you to make a positive impact on the lives of animals and their owners. However, it's no secret that the veterinary field comes with its own set of challenges and one of the most significant is overwhelm.

Many vets feel a lack of control over their lives and that the power needed to deal with a situation is not within them. It is outside of them. Things feel so big, so problematic and so unwieldy they don’t even know where to start fixing it.

‘There are a lot of factors that have influenced the overwhelm I’ve seen in practices. Money is a big one. Clients don’t want to spend it and we don’t get enough of it. Then there’s the unrealistic client expectations. Their goals for care and what they’re willing to pay don’t line up. There’s also an overall rudeness and poor communication. Clients often want an answer NOW but they don’t understand that sometimes that just isn’t possible.’

Alycia Chrenek (a contributor to The Lost Vet book)

 

Yes (but) and No (but)

A great piece of advice is to add the word “but” to the word “yes” or “no.” I always get feedback on how useful and effective this is.

When someone asks you to help, the answer can always be “yes” or “no”. However, by saying, "Yes, but I need to wait until tomorrow before I help you with that”, or "No, but I can recommend someone who could help you”, you place a little distance between yourself and the external pressure you might feel.

I will always…

Setting rules for yourself as a great way to set boundaries. The rule always has to start with the statement, “I will always…”. For example:

• “I will always finish on time.”
• “I will always respect my time.”
• “I will always treat myself with respect and dignity.”
• “I will always protect myself from the worst situations around me.”

Those rules create a set of demands upon yourself that you have to respond to. You can also print your rules out, frame them, and put them somewhere visible at your places of work. 

Every day, check in on yourself: "Am I sticking to my rules?”

By setting the rules, you provide personal accountability for those times when you are feeling emotionally overwhelmed, bringing a practical solution and structure to it.

Reach out

When you’re in the midst of feeling overwhelmed, the first thing you should do is share how you are feeling with another person. 

That can be a friend, a colleague, someone away from the business and your practice, or away from your family; it’s up to you who you choose, but it is extremely important to share how you are feeling with someone you trust. 

Many veterinarians are consistently surprised at just how many others share their own experiences. Even though they’ve read it in newspapers and industry publications, they are always taken aback by how many people are dealing with the same challenges and problems. 

As a simple coping strategy, try to reach out to one person and tell them how you are feeling. Explain your situation, the stress, exhaustion and emotions, simply asking them to listen. They may provide advice or make suggestions, but it is always a great starting point to talk to someone.

Advocating for fair work allocation

One of the key elements to ensuring that work is distributed more fairly is allowing people to see what work needs to be done. 

Often we find that it is usually a small group of people who deliver a disproportionately large portion of the work. But what’s needed is a group ethos where the whole team can discuss the workload, before getting an opportunity to select projects or tasks they’re excited about. 

This way, team members are more likely to stay motivated, working to their unique strengths and abilities. You may find out they have talents and skills you didn’t know about. 

By being inclusive when it comes to sharing the workload, everyone can stay ahead of what needs doing, which tends to ensure the work is done well and consistently.

Here are 3 questions to think about…

1. What one change could I make that would help a little?
2. Who can I share how I feel with, that I can trust to just listen?
3. What is the one compromise I will stop making for my own benefit?

 This blog has been written in relation to The Lost Vet book. Read the full book for more amazing tips.

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• The job you always dreamed of
• More time for you and your friends and family, hobbies and interests
• Increased profit and growth with less stress
• An empowered team
• Clients that truly value the service and advice you provide

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