While very few people dispute the importance of self-care, many argue “there just isn’t enough time!” Especially during the summer, we are pulled in many different directions whether it’s work (covering for coworker vacations), child care (while school’s out), vacation (if we actually get around to scheduling it), family functions (reunions, barbecues, etc.), and the list goes on! And although most of us enjoy these activities that summer has to offer, the disruption in routine and unusual busyness can cause self-care to become an afterthought.  

During this episode, we discuss the importance of self-care when life gets busy. We also break down what gets in the way of our self-care and how we can overcome these obstacles. A practical tool is available for download, which provides simple statements for saying no and setting boundaries. 

Resources

Simple Statements for Setting Boundaries and Saying No (PDF Download): www.marieholowaychuk.com/simple 

Eight Tips for Taking a Self-Care Staycation (Blog Post): https://marieholowaychuk.com/2022/07/06/eight-tips-for-taking-a-self-care-staycati/ 

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For more practical pointers and tangible tips related to veterinary mental health and wellbeing, subscribe to my e-newsletter: www.marieholowaychuk.com/newsletter. 

Questions or Suggestions

Email [email protected]   

A team debriefing after a distressing situation such as a difficult euthanasia procedure, an intense client conversation, or another traumatic episode allows the team consider the experience and how it has impacted them, as well as what might be done differently next time. Performing a team debrief within 24-72 hours of the inciting incident can help to reduce the emotional reactions of those involved and lower the risk of experiencing post-traumatic stress. 

During this month’s episode, we discuss when to hold a team debriefing and when to seek further mental health professional support. We also break down the steps, aims, and suggested prompts for holding a team debriefing. A practical tool is available for download, which can be used to facilitate debriefings within veterinary teams. 

Resources

Team Debriefing (PDF Download): www.marieholowaychuk.com/debriefing 

Wellbeing Resources for Veterinary Teams (PDF download): www.marieholowaychuk.com/wellbeing 

Shanti Project - Veterinary Mental Health Initiative: https://www.shanti.org/programs-services/veterinary-mental-health-initiative/ 

Video Version: 

Questions:

[email protected]   

Mindfulness, or focusing attention on the present moment, has dramatic beneficial effects on physical and mental wellbeing. Which is why celebrities like Katy Perry, Jerry Seinfeld, and Oprah admit to meditating regularly. Professional sports teams and millions of other people are also adopting daily meditation and mindfulness practices. And with fMRI capabilities, we are able to track the effects of these practices on the structure and function of the brain.

During this month’s episode, the research-backed benefits of meditation are shared, including studies investigating the impact of mindfulness practices on human and veterinary healthcare providers. We also discuss some ways for you to jump-start your own meditation practice, which you’ll definitely want to do once you are convinced of all the benefits.

Research Studies

Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Doctors' Mindfulness, Patient Safety Culture, Patient Safety Competency and Adverse Event: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35328968/ 

Association of an educational program in mindful communication with burnout, empathy, and attitudes among primary care physicians: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19773563/ 

Hospice and Palliative Care Provider Experiences With Meditation Using Mobile Applications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29683121/ 

The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Stress and Burnout in Nurses: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33998935/ 

Mind-body therapies: an intervention to reduce work-related stress in veterinary academia: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30282662/ 

The impact of a brief embedded mindfulness-based program for veterinary students: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28206840/ 

Effect of a mindfulness exercise on stress in veterinary students performing surgery: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30693966/ 

Book Recommendations

10% Happier by Dan Harris

Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn

The Mindful Brain by Dan Siegel 

Blog Post

10 Tips for Starting a Meditation Practice: https://marieholowaychuk.com/2022/05/04/10-tips-for-starting-a-meditation-practice/ 

30-Day Mindfulness Challenge (ends May 30, 2022)

www.facebook.com/groups/30daymindfulnesschallenge 

Link to Video Version:

Questions: please email [email protected]

You’ve probably heard that “sitting is the new smoking”. A 2011 study followed 800,000 people and their sitting habits and found that people who sit the most, compared to people who sit the least, have a greater risk of disease and death. And unfortunately, with electronic medical records demanding more of our time in veterinary practice, much of our day can be spent sedentary while speaking on the phone or typing in front of a computer.  

During this month’s episode and in honor of April being Move More Month, the research-backed benefits of regular movement are shared, as well as strategies for incorporating activity into your everyday life. We also discuss simple tools and tactics for getting more exercise, especially if you are busy or can’t seem to get motivated.

Blog

Seven strategies for getting more exercise: https://marieholowaychuk.com/2022/04/06/seven-strategies-for-getting-more-exercise/ 

Video Version: 

Questions: Please email [email protected].

Now that we are two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to take a step back to assess the impact of these extraordinary times on the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary professionals. Recent research conducted by Merck Animal Health in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Association brings newfound awareness and understanding to the impact the pandemic has had on veterinarians, vet techs, and support staff. 

During this episode, the main findings from the 2021 Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study are shared, in addition to other recent studies investigating the impact of COVID-19 on the veterinary profession. Some strategies for employers and employees to help boost wellbeing in the context of this research are also discussed. This is an important episode that all veterinary team members will benefit from listening to.

Video Version

Research Studies

Communication challenges experienced by veterinary professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic (Australian Vet J 2022): https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/avj.13125 

The Initial Months of COVID-19: Dog Owners' Veterinary-Related Concerns(Front Vet Sci 2021): https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.629121/full 

Veterinary Student Perspective on COVID-19 and Veterinary Medicine (Front Vet Sci 2021): https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.723890/full 

Small animal general practice veterinarians' use and perceptions of synchronous video-based telemedicine in North America during the COVID-19 pandemic (JAVMA 2021): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34061604/ 

Merck Animal Health Veterinary Wellbeing Study III: https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/about-us/veterinary-wellbeing-study 

Frequency, Stressfulness and Type of Ethically Challenging Situations Encountered by Veterinary Team Members During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Front Vet Sci 2021): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8071942/#SM1 

Blogs

Ethically Challenging Situations Have Risen Dramatically in Veterinary Medicine During the Pandemic: https://marieholowaychuk.com/2022/03/02/ethically-challenging-situations-have-risen-dramatically-in-veterinary-medicine-during-the-pandemic/ 

Resources

Subscribe to my bi-weekly newsletter and receive the PDF download “10 Tools for Battling Burnout”: www.marieholowaychuk.com/subscribe 

Register for my 8-week online program “From Burnout to Balance: Building Thriving Veterinary Professionals”: https://successful-artisan-2096.ck.page/fbtb  

Download the PDF “Healthy Strategies for Veterinary Wellbeing”: https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/offload-downloads/mah-healthy-strategies-infographic

Questions

[email protected]

Everyone has witnessed or been the victim of an online critic or cyberbully attack. Veterinary team members are more vulnerable to these incidents with public access to online review sites and social media pages. These situations can have devastating consequences for individuals and deeply impact the wellbeing of the entire veterinary team. 

During this episode, I review the different means by which veterinary teams are exposed to online critics or cyberbullies, as well as what to do when they occur. Practical tools for protecting mental health and wellbeing under these circumstances are covered. 

Video Version 

Resources

Research Studies

How common is cyberbullying among adults? (NZ 2019 Study): https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/cyber.2019.0146 

Experiencing online harassment (USA 2014 Study): https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2014/10/22/part-1-experiencing-online-harassment/ 

Blogs

How to deal with cyberbullying on social media? (LifeLearn)

https://www.lifelearn.com/2015/09/04/how-to-deal-with-cyberbullying-on-social-media/

Five Simple Steps for Responding to Negative Online Reviews (Marie Holowaychuk) https://marieholowaychuk.com/2022/02/02/five-simple-steps-for-responding-to-negative-online-reviews/ 

Resources

AVMA Online Reputation Management (Members Only): https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/practice-management/reputation/monitoring-your-online-reputation 

Australian E-Safety Commissioner: https://www.esafety.gov.au/ 

Check out my online program “From Burnout to Balance” for more information and to register: www.marieholowaychuk.com/burnout

Dr. Marie Holowaychuk is a small animal emergency and critical care specialist. She is a certified yoga and meditation teacher, with a passion for improving the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary professionals. Marie facilitates online CE-approved wellbeing programs for anyone working in the veterinary field.

Subscribe to my Newsletter and Receive the PDF Download “10 Tools for Battling Burnout” www.marieholowaychuk.com/subscribe 

Questions: [email protected]

Despite a slight improvement in caseload and staffing within most veterinary practices, veterinary team members are still experiencing persistent or habitual burnout. This phenomenon is becoming more prevalent and requires awareness and intentional steps to allow individuals to recover.

During this episode, we review the research regarding the different stages of burnout including the symptoms. Most importantly, practical strategies for prevention, management, and recovery from burnout are shared. 

Video Version 

Resources

Research Studies

Burnout in Healthcare Workers - Prevalence, Impact, and Preventative Strategies: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7604257/ 

Compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress among full-time veterinarians in the United States (2016-2018): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33978434/ 

CVMA Wellness Survey (2012): https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/news-events/news/resources/vet-health-wellness-cvma-national-survey%20results

Dr. Marie Holowaychuk is a small animal emergency and critical care specialist. She is a certified yoga and meditation teacher, with a passion for improving the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary professionals. Marie facilitates online CE-approved wellbeing programs for anyone working in the veterinary field.

Subscribe to my Newsletter and Receive the PDF Download “10 Tools for Battling Burnout” www.marieholowaychuk.com/subscribe 

Questions: [email protected]

Research consistently demonstrates the benefits of volunteering, especially among individuals who believe others will benefit from their contributions and that they are being appreciated for their efforts.

During this episode, and in honour of International Volunteer Day, I review the positive impact of volunteering on mental health and wellbeing, and share strategies for optimizing volunteer opportunities in and outside of the veterinary profession. The importance of establishing boundaries in the context of volunteering time and energy is also discussed.

Video Version 

Resources

Research Studies

Merck Animal Health Veterinarian Wellbeing Study (2020): https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/about-us/veterinary-and-consumer-affairs/article/veterinary-wellbeing-study-2020 

Motives for volunteering are associated with mortality risk in older adults (2012): https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2011-17888-001 

Does Volunteering Make Us Happier, or Are Happier People More Likely to Volunteer? Addressing the Problem of Reverse Causality When Estimating the Wellbeing Impacts of Volunteering: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-020-00242-8 

Dr. Marie Holowaychuk is a small animal emergency and critical care specialist. She is a certified yoga and meditation teacher, with a passion for improving the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary professionals. Marie facilitates online CE-approved wellbeing programs for anyone working in the veterinary field.

Subscribe to my Newsletter and Receive the PDF Download “10 Tools for Battling Burnout” www.marieholowaychuk.com/subscribe 

Questions: [email protected]

Every 10th Reviving Vet Med podcast will feature a BONUS episode! Our first BONUS episode is a 25-minute gratitude meditation, just in time for the holiday season.

Gratitude is one of the most powerful human emotions and can lift your energy or mood after experiencing anger, frustration, grief, or sadness. You are invited to practice this meditation anytime you wish to relax or invite a sense of gratitude into your day. (But please do not listen to this episode while driving!).

Recent veterinary wellness studies have tended to focus on the negative aspects of veterinary work, with little mention of the positive components.

Eudaimonic wellbeing is having fulfilling work that contributes to the greater good and can promote career satisfaction among veterinary professionals.

During this episode, I review the research around job characteristics that contribute to eudaimonia (meaning) including actualizing self, helping others (animals or people), and a sense of belonging (to team or profession). Practical strategies for nurturing meaningful work are also shared.

Video Version

Resources

Research Studies

Finding the Balance: Uncovering Resilience in the Veterinary Literature: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28206... Merck (AVMA) Veterinary

Wellbeing Study: https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.c...

Meaning of work and personal protective factors among palliative care professionals: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30841...

Meaningful work and well-being: a study of the positive side of veterinary work: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31563...

Veterinary technicians and occupational burnout: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/...

Recommended Reading: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Dr. Marie Holowaychuk is a small animal emergency and critical care specialist. She is a certified yoga and meditation teacher, with a passion for improving the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary professionals. Marie facilitates online CE-approved wellbeing programs for anyone working in the veterinary field.

Dr. Marie Holowaychuk’s website: