By Molly Daphne

A healthy work-life balance might seem like an unreachable dream, especially in our profession where we’re constantly managing manic workloads, unsociable hours, compassion fatigue, and the pressures of keeping up with our CPD. The demanding nature of veterinary practice often leaves little room for personal time and self-care. 

Despite this, it is crucial that veterinary professionals consciously carve out space in their diaries for self-care and relaxation. Your mental well-being is just as important as the health of the animals you care for, and as we always say – you can’t pour from an empty cup. 

Why Work-Life Balance Matters 

A healthy work-life balance is important for everyone, no matter what their career. However, for anyone in a demanding role such as veterinary care, where the emotional toll is just as significant as the physical, that balance is vital. 

When you’re dealing with distressed pet owners, managing the life-and-death nature of animal care, handling finances, and so much more, it’s very easy to become overwhelmed and burnt out. Once your battery has depleted, you then face the risk of suffering from anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges that impact not only your professional life but also your personal affairs. 

And it’s not just mentally impactful. Working in veterinary care comes with long hours and high levels of stress, which can lead to physical health issues such as fatigue, cardiovascular problems, weakened immune systems, poor diets, and dehydration. 

It’s easy to forget your own needs when you’re caring for others, and a lot of veterinary professionals work on autopilot, forgetting to take time to care for themselves, which is why actively finding time to focus on you and what you need is paramount. 

A balanced lifestyle improves your focus, your patience, your decision-making skills, and ultimately, your job performance. When you’re well-rested and healthy, you’re better equipped to care for patients and their owners. 

Tips for Achieving a Healthy Work-Life Balance 

• Set Boundaries It’s really important to set clear boundaries between work time and personal time. While at times this might not be easy, establishing specific working hours and sticking to them is one of the first things you can do to help improve your work-life balance. 

Avoid taking your work home with you. Leave your work when you leave the office. This is definitely easier said than done, but it’s a great habit to try and learn, even if it takes time to implement. 

By doing this, you can better schedule in time for pleasure, whatever that might be. 

• Prioritise Self-Care It’s a very common misconception that self-care is a luxury. It isn’t. It’s a necessity. Performing self-care is a form of stress-relief; it lowers cortisol levels, improves sleep, and lowers blood pressure. 

It doesn’t matter what activities you class as self-care: baking, reading, gardening, running, binging something on Netflix, taking a longer bath, or knitting, engaging in your form of self-care is vital for rejuvenating your mind and body. 

Make it your mission to dedicate at least 30 minutes each day to something you enjoy. Schedule that time in like you’d schedule a doctor’s appointment and make it non-negotiable. 

• Learn to Say No One of the most common pitfalls in the veterinary profession is overcommitting. It’s admirable to want to please and help everyone, and while we should all strive to do the best we can for those around us, especially our colleagues and patients, we must say ‘no’ from time to time. 

Saying ‘yes’ to every request is a quickfire way to burn yourself out. It might not feel pleasant to say ‘no’, but it’s important that we do. 

Whenever something is asked of you, take some time to assess your workload and prioritise your current tasks. If a request would overload your schedule, politely decline or request that they ask you again when things are a bit quieter for you. 

‘No’ is not a naughty word – remember that. 

• Delegate Tasks Similarly to saying ‘no’, delegation needs to become something you start practising. You don’t have to do everything yourself – that’s why we work in teams. Utilise the people around you, share your workload if possible, and delegate. Doing this lightens your load and creates a more collaborative working environment. 

If you’re overwhelmed with your workload, don’t just share your tasks, share your thoughts and feelings too. Your colleagues are there to support you. 

• Take Regular Breaks Take a break. Schedule time in your working day for a moment to stop, breathe, and recharge. Even if it’s five minutes to go and stand outside for a bit of fresh air, hydrate, and stretch, short breaks throughout your day significantly improve your focus and energy levels. 

If you’re on a computer, every thirty minutes, take a few minutes to look out the window to give your eyes a break from the harsh blue light of your screen. 

When you’re in the flow of work, running on autopilot, breaks are easily forgotten, so set an alarm on your phone or watch and take that mandatory break to reset. 

• Seek Support Lastly, reach out for support when it’s needed. Whether that’s just talking to a colleague, joining a support group, seeking professional support, or having a coffee with a friend, sharing your experiences and thoughts can be incredibly therapeutic. 

Regularly connecting with other people can be a lifeline, especially when you’re struggling with overwhelming feelings and burnout. 

Conclusion 

In a perfect world, creating a healthy work-life balance would be easy, but we know for most people, that’s just not the case. Everyone has unhealthy work-life habits, and they’re not easy to break. So, embed these tips into your working life slowly. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Over time, you will hopefully see improvements to your mental and physical well-being, and one day, self-care and prioritising your needs will just come naturally.