Burnout, The Stress Cycle, and Realistic Self Care

Veterinary professionals are highly dedicated individuals who care deeply for their patients, clients, colleagues, and communities. For those who have devoted their lives to the service of others, there are increased risks of burnout and exhaustion.

In most cases, stress can be successfully managed by completing a cycle of stress > response > recovery. Unfortunately, the increasing workload on veterinary teams and the busy hospital environment do not allow adequate time and space to complete the stress cycle in many cases. This chronic unresolved stress can result to burnout among veterinary team members, characterized by emotional exhaustion, a decreased sense of accomplishment, and depersonalization.

These challenges are significant and require more than a yoga class or bubble bath to overcome. We will discuss what self care is and what it isn’t and provide examples for how to achieve realistic self care even in the midst of daily demands. Time is our most precious commodity but we know that veterinary team members can learn to care for themselves the way they have always cared for their patients.