The Covid-19 crisis has thrown many challenges at the veterinary world. After the first (and incredibly stressful) lockdown, vets had to deal with a massive backlog of work in which many pets required neutering, restart of their vaccinations etc. On top of that practices saw a surge in puppy and kitten adoptions, which meant even more vaccinations and health checks to keep those pets healthy.
Due to the increased workload vet practices have also been understaffed and coupled with tricky working conditions - additional PPE, cleaning and sanitizing the surfaces of the consult rooms, stressed out and anxious clients - it’s been a very tough period for the veterinary profession. In addition, we now must deal with a second lockdown and the backlog of work that will come with it.
It can be difficult to stay positive, but it is important to try to find ways to look after yourself and your mental health and there are many resources out there to help. While everyone’s circumstances are different and individuals are experiencing this global pandemic in different ways, many have found relief using similar approaches.
Look After Yourself
It is well known that physical and mental health go hand in hand. Make sure you eat healthy, well-balanced meals and drink enough water. Try to avoid drinking too much caffeine and alcohol and go easy on the sugar. Take the obvious precautions to stay safe – washing hands and wearing masks etc. It is worth taking Vitamin D as this has been shown to help protect against the virus.
Good-quality sleep makes a big difference to how we feel, so try to maintain your regular sleeping pattern and stick to good sleep practices ideally 7-8 hours a day.
As it gets darker it is vital you make time to get some fresh air and exercise. So, go to a park, walk or exercise whenever you get the chance. If you are staying at home, you could try exercising indoors, there are lots of free online classes with quick 10-minute workouts.
Practicing meditation and mindfulness can really help to keep things in perspective. There are many apps such as Gaia that are great. Also, some employers are providing these as a salary perk eg Perkbox.
Focus on Your Goals
Setting some goals either personal or professional ones will really help you get some perspective and stay positive during these unprecedented times. Aim to set some clinical or financial goals and try to work towards your ambitions to stay focused and organized at this time.
As physical socializing is not possible now, take this think of all the clinical things you work to work on such as improving your imaging skills or surgery and medicine knowledge. Now is the time to have a good think on what is making you happy, what kind of role works for you and how you can progress into your desired role.
It remains particularly important to get feedback and regular assessments on your performance at work and evaluate how happy you are about your clinical progression. Your managers and mentors should be there for you and you can both work out ways to help you stay happy. One positive thing about this crisis is that there are now many ways to do virtual meetings so please make sure to have frequent meetings (weekly, monthly or quarterly) where you can discuss any issues and find a way to resolve them.
If you are getting stressed please speak to your manager and ask for help. If you are experiencing any issues in your workplace or feeling more stressed than usual, please don’t leave it too long, address them quickly.
Challenging Clients
Whilst there was a lot of good will initially during the first lockdown, we understand that client complaints have increased a lot. This seems to be a combination of lack of face to face contact and hence bedside manner. Also they are experiencing their own stresses and pressures. Try to stay calm and work as a team to address concerns and do not take them personally. Remember the vast majority of clients are grateful of your work.
Stay Connected with Others
Maintaining healthy relationships with people you trust is important for your mental wellbeing. Get a support network of trusted colleagues around you and check in with one another regularly. You may feel worried or stressed, but it is important to remember that you are not alone, and it’s ok to feel like that. Colleagues or other vet professionals are probably experiencing the same issues as you so reach out and you might find the support and help you are looking for.
Social media is another way to get support and connect with fellow professionals. However, please be careful of the echo chamber effect as you could easily get overwhelmed by the lack of positivity and the bad news grapevine.
Veterinary work is such a stressful job that it is essential to reach out to people for support. Think about ways to stay in touch with friends and family either by phone, messaging, video calls or social media.
Don't be Hard on Yourself
The changes the veterinary profession have faced through this year have been unprecedented and many veterinary professionals have faced challenging situations as everyone is feeling more stressed and worried at this time. Particularly vets who are often predisposed to perfectionism had to deal with ethical dilemmas and situations where they have had to act outside their normal ways of working and felt compromised and exposed to morally distressing situations.
Please don’t be too hard on yourself! Remember, during this difficult time, that your work is important, you are caring for and saving the lives of animals. It may sometimes feel that your efforts are going unnoticed, but you are doing an excellent job, and you are not alone.
This profession may be this is the most rewarding job but also can be very stressful. If things get too much, there are also organization like Vetlife,
Finally, we have seen that many vets and nurses consider a career change during these times. If your current role is not working for you in the way that you would like, or you don’t get the support you need from your mentors and managers, then contact us. The veterinary profession offers many career options and you can explore what path works for you either in Full or part time, locum or permanent, Corporate or independent, sole charge or multivet hospital, telemedicine or emergency we can match you with your ideal role.
Take care – remember what a fantastic job you are doing. Stay safe.
From the VetMatch Team.