The Vet Vault: Fall In Love With Veterinary Science

#139: Stop The Overwhelm: Veterinary Productivity Secrets from the Getting Things Done Master. With David Allen


Listen Later

Veterinary practice can be unpredictable, exhausting, and full of interruptions - not that conducive to getting things done, right? But what if you could handle it all with mind-like-water calm?

In this episode I pick the brain of productivity legend David Allen, creator of Getting Things Done (GTD), to show you exactly how. This isn’t about squeezing more into your day — it’s about cutting mental clutter, regaining focus, and feeling in control, even when it all hits the fan.You'll learn simple, actionable GTD strategies that busy vets can use today:

Master the 5 GTD steps for veterinary practice:

  • Capture: Never lose track of to-dos in a busy clinic again
  • Clarify: Break down complex patient tasks into clear next steps
  • Organise: Build bulletproof systems your whole team can trust
  • Reflect: Create powerful review routines for team rounds and personal clarity
  • Engage: Focus on what matters, when it matters

Beat interruptions without losing your mind

  • Why task-switching drains your brain — and what to do instead.
  • The simple tools that keep you sane and focused.
  • How to ‘park’ distractions and re-engage fast.

Transform team rounds and communication

  • The secret to closing open loops (and reducing anxiety for everyone)
  • How structured reflection makes complex caseloads manageable
  • Balancing roles and flexibility for smooth team dynamics


Join us for Vets On Tour Wānaka, New Zealand, 10-15 August 2025. Limited Early Bird Tickets on sale now. 

Join our community of Vet Vault Nerds to lift your clinical game and get your groove back with our up-to-date, easy-to-consume clinical episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vvn.supercast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Get help with your tricky cases in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Specialist Support Space.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

V⁠⁠isit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for show notes and resources related to this episode.⁠

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠for Hubert's favourite clinical and non-clinical learnings from the week.

Topics and Timestamps

03:09 Mind Like Water: The Key to Clarity

05:15 Challenges in Veterinary Productivity

20:33 Practical Tips for Capturing Tasks

28:58 Managing Multiple Projects and Tasks

29:26 The Importance of Knowing the Next Step

30:14 Dealing with Task Shifting and Interruptions

32:25 Organizing Physical and Mental Spaces

35:43 Team Dynamics and Productivity

38:02 Effective Rounds42:20 Balancing Defined Roles and Flexibility

47:35 Book recommendations 

48:49 Pass along question

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Vet Vault: Fall In Love With Veterinary ScienceBy Dr. Hubert Hiemstra

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

14 ratings


More shows like The Vet Vault: Fall In Love With Veterinary Science

View all
Conversations by ABC listen

Conversations

837 Listeners

Veterinary Clinical Podcasts by The Royal Veterinary College

Veterinary Clinical Podcasts

188 Listeners

VETgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts by Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT and Dr. Garret Pachinger, DACVECC

VETgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts

388 Listeners

Mamamia Out Loud by Mamamia Podcasts

Mamamia Out Loud

593 Listeners

VetFolio Voice by Powered by the NAVC

VetFolio Voice

42 Listeners

Ladies, We Need To Talk by ABC listen

Ladies, We Need To Talk

336 Listeners

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee by Dr Rangan Chatterjee: GP & Author

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

4,035 Listeners

Shameless by Shameless Media

Shameless

822 Listeners

The Dr Louise Newson Podcast by Dr Louise Newson

The Dr Louise Newson Podcast

251 Listeners

Clinician's Brief: The Podcast by Clinician's Brief

Clinician's Brief: The Podcast

104 Listeners

Life Uncut by Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne

Life Uncut

293 Listeners

The Imperfects by Hugh van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton & Josh van Cuylenburg

The Imperfects

507 Listeners

The Derm Vet Podcast by Ashley Bourgeois, DVM, Dip ACVD

The Derm Vet Podcast

132 Listeners

ZOE Science & Nutrition by ZOE

ZOE Science & Nutrition

1,944 Listeners

MID by Mamamia Podcasts

MID

89 Listeners