Around this time, a lot of us like to make lists of our New Year’s resolutions – but by the end of month one, we’re already struggling to meet those goals. This could either be because we ask too much of ourselves all at once, we aim for sweeping changes that are ultimately out of our control, or we’re just not specific enough.

With 2023 now here, it’s time to set some inspiring yet realistic resolutions. These could be for your personal life, relationships or even your workplace (the focus of this article). Because the truth is, actively planning what you want out of work will make it easier to find what you need. 

To get you started, here are some fun and achievable New Year’s resolutions for vet workers.

 

Declutter and organise your space 

An organised physical and digital space is always a great resolution to start with, as a tidy space can equal a tidy mind and more room to focus on important tasks. This one is especially relevant to veterinary admins, but we think that it can apply to anyone from vets themselves to nurses, managers and beyond. 

On the digital side: 

• Clean out junk emails from your inbox and label important records so they’re easier to find.
• Back up documents to the cloud and delete anything that doesn’t need to be kept on your desktop. 
• Uninstall unneeded software. 
• Improve your Wi-Fi setup to save yourself time on slow downloads and webpages (we have a blog about that)!

In your physical workspace:

• Move excessive stationery or devices away from surfaces and into drawers where they won’t always be on display.
• Set up automated reminders for yourself via tools like Google Calendar, or for clients via systems like Panacea, and say goodbye to sticky notes around the desk.
• Scan as many paper documents as you can and store them on the cloud, then shred the physical copies. 
• Make sure medications are clearly labelled and stored in a way that makes things quick and easy to find.
• The same goes for pet products; and since these may be client-facing, consider more aesthetically-pleasing organisation. For example, open shelves, large and bright labels, etc. If products are more appealing on the shelf, you may find your sales rising in turn. 
• If you have multiple consultation rooms, set up your storage the same way in each one. This will help stressed vets and nurses remember where things are and save wasted time searching. 

If the clinic owner agrees, it may even be time for a fresh coat of paint or an overhaul of faded furnishings to create a more welcoming and comfortable space. 

 

Learn something new

Learning new skills in our personal lives is a common resolution for most of us, so why not do same at work? 

Take time to identify where you would like to advance at your clinic or beyond, and what specific skill or qualification could help you get there. Once you’ve got the ‘what’, don’t stop! Go ahead and ask yourself these questions next:

• Why do I want to learn this skill? Pin this somewhere to keep you motivated.
• Who can help me learn this skill? And/or – what resources do I have access to?
• When can I realistically work on this skill each day? Each week?  
• What accountability can I put in place to keep me focussed?

They say that it takes 10,000 hours (or about 416 days) to truly master a skill, so it stands to reason that picking up a new skill with even a moderate level of comfort should be achievable within a year. This may be especially true when you learn through any of the following:

• Classes (online or in person).
• Internships.
• Freelance or side hustles.

Even better, some clinics may be willing to invest in you and subsidise further education or arrange time off as needed, provided this is a skill that adds value to your position.

 

Amp up your networking

This is something that can benefit anyone no matter what your current title or career goals. Meeting other vets or professionals can be a great way to learn new skills from peers, build a bubble of support and keep an ear on the latest news for the industry.

This could look like:

• Attending networking events – search these up ahead of time and mark them on your calendar. While big gatherings are certainly not for everyone, you can at least make a goal to attend at least a certain number of these for the year and/or focus on just the smaller ones. Even just once a year can be a great way to catch up with connections.
• Updating your online presence to reflect where you are professionally and the image you want to present to the world.
• Reaching out to professionals and organising a one-on-one. 
• Joining or creating local groups for online support and discussion.

There are countless ways to network, so try choosing one method that works best for you and starting there. If you find this goal is easily achievable, and it’s something you can keep on top of, then consider expanding after that. 

 

Change your mind about something

When we really stop and think about it, a lot of us get caught up in preconceived biases and often aren’t prepared to reflect on our outlook. Being able to change your mind can lead to a more positive approach to work and ultimately life in general. 

Aim to reflect on at least one major event of your week each week at a certain time (every Friday afternoon, for example) and reflect on whether your approach could have been different, what you may have learned from the experience and how you could change things going forward. 

Here are some ideas for changing your thinking:

• Could you give yourself more credit for achievements, instead of beating yourself up for failures?
• Have you made a judgement about one of your colleagues that would be worth revisiting?
• Have you dismissed an opportunity that could benefit you?
• Could your standard procedures be reinvented and streamlined? Keep an eye on this space, as we publish regular articles on how Panacea can help you do just that!

A regular ‘touch base’ with yourself is invaluable, so try committing to this regularly. 

 

Do something nice for yourself each day

Even though you may be at the clinic for long hours, it’s important to take time out of each day to take care of yourself and set up little moments that you can look forward to on stressful days.

For example:

• Make sure that you take your breaks whenever possible. 
• Drink plenty of water. 
• Get up and stretch your legs if you’re typically behind a desk. 
• Have coffee with your favourite co-workers.
• Personalise your workspace.

Being kind to yourself is often easier said than done, so commit to the little things first and don’t let this stop when the stress piles up; that’s when it may be needed most of all.

 

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What resolutions are you planning on this year? What do you think of our suggestions? Let us know!

They say that employees who feel truly valued by their work are more productive, loyal and happy. This may be especially true for veterinary clinics, where workplace stress can be a significant issue. 

Being the kind of leader who shows appreciation to their team can make a big difference to the wellbeing and retention of your staff – but when you’re already running a clinic, how do you find the space to show that you care? You keep it simple, of course! And oftentimes, that’s all you really need. 

Whether your vet clinic is big or small, we’ve put together some ideas for simple ways to appreciate your team members, so you can start reaping the benefits and seeing the difference in your team. 

 

Say it

Don’t keep it to yourself when your team members do a good job – tell them!

It can’t really be that simple, can it? Of course, this isn’t the ‘be-all and end-all’ of showing appreciation, but the truth is that telling someone in plain terms that you appreciate their hard work can be extremely meaningful, especially during stressful times.

Now, a lot of us tend to brush off empty compliments, so be specific about exactly what they’ve been doing well and show that you’ve noticed their achievements. If you can’t say it in person, even a thoughtful email or WhatsApp message can reassure someone that their work is being recognised. 

 

Offer benefits

The most obvious suggestion here is to ensure that your vets, nurses and other team members are being compensated fairly, but there are other easy ways to boost morale that don’t require paying out. 

Take a look at your current schedule and perhaps consider if a slight rearrangement may benefit workers. Are there some who wish they could swap shifts with their colleagues? Are there opportunities to work from home or go on the road? Could you have longer days but shorter weeks, or vice-versa? Assessing where you can be flexible and asking your team for their input could go a long way. 

Remember to tell them that you’re trying to be flexible in recognition of their great work.

 

Mobility and upskilling

Even if it’s our dream job, no one wants to feel like they’re stuck in one spot forever. Consider providing opportunities for advancement or giving time off for additional learning wherever possible. For example, do you have a vet assistant who wants to develop their role into something bigger, an admin looking to grow, or a technician who’s ready to specialise in one particular field? 

By providing a clear path forward for your staff, you can not only increase your number of internal hires (which is likely to boost clinic loyalty), but you’ll also have highly-qualified people who can then train up your new hires. Better yet, helping your team ‘level up’ could open new avenues of business – especially when it comes to specialty care. 

The flip side to this is managing poor performance effectively. The poor performance of an individual can negatively impact upon the performance and motivation of the entire team. It can be tricky to manage poor performance, but it’s important to do so for their sake and for the rest of your team.

 

Celebrate achievements and anniversaries

This can be as simple as wishing your team members a happy birthday and buying a cake to share, or going out for a team lunch when someone reaches a milestone. 

Of course, when your clinic is extremely busy then just taking a few minutes to say something nice or giving a gift card can still mean a lot, and it shows that you haven’t forgotten the little things.

Whatever you do, the celebration doesn’t have to be big; it just needs to show that there’s thought and heart behind it. 

 

Splash out a little

Then again, if you want to do something big, you absolutely can. Organising the odd team event can not only be incredibly therapeutic after an intense period, but it also allows for team bonding outside of the work environment. 

Furthermore, there are often free or low-cost events available in many areas, such as open mic nights at local bars, theatre shows or even escape rooms!

If you can’t make it out of the clinic, try something simple like coffee or sweets after a particularly grueling day; even if it’s not a special occasion. This shows that you’re aware of how hard everyone is working. 

 

What are some of your best tips for showing appreciation to the team? We’d love to hear them.

The vet industry can be tough and protecting the mental health of you and your team can be a constant challenge. Here are 10 of our favourite tips for supporting the mental wellbeing of your veterinary practice. 

 

Use that inner voice to your advantage

Vets and nurses are highly intelligent, highly motivated people. Unfortunately, that can also mean that they’re highly self-critical and can struggle to give themselves credit when credit is due.

Resist the urge to tell yourself to ‘harden up’ or that ‘there are plenty of people out there doing it tougher than you’ – all of us struggle from time to time and our struggles are real.

Tame that inner voice and use it to your advantage. It may seem corny, but take time every day to congratulate yourself for your achievements, no matter how small, and to remind yourself of the things you’re thankful for.

Instead of chastising yourself when things go wrong, treat everything as a learning opportunity. Instead of beating yourself up, accept that everyone makes mistakes and that every mistake gives us an opportunity to learn and improve.

 

Practice gratitude and forgiveness

A stressful working environment is made that much worse when there’s tension between team members. Thanking others for doing a good job and forgiving them when they slip up can make a huge difference to your outlook and theirs.

 

Consider charging more

Many vets are struggling with booming demand and limited resources. It can be a difficult decision to put your prices up, but struggling to keep your head above water is not the answer.

Consider raising your prices, either permanently or until demand subsides. This may or may not tamp down the pressure – but even if you’re still flat out, the improved profitability will help in other areas, such as staff recruitment and retention.

 

Try not to overextend your practice

Yes, it can be difficult to say no to new clients (or, more specifically, new furry friends), but if your practice is at capacity, this can be necessary. There simply aren’t enough vets in the world right now – you burning yourself out is not going to fix that.

Recruiting good vets and nurses is really difficult, so focus on retaining (and not burning out) the team that you have.

First, make sure you’re profitable (see above) then implement strict rules about how many clients and patients you and your team can reasonably see each day.

 

Choose when and how you’ll donate

Most practices will donate products and services to a good cause. That’s the nature of the industry and the people within it. Many vets give too much, however, and this can result in increased stress and lower profitability.

Choose when and how you’re going to donate. Decide in advance when and how much you can afford and allow for unexpected circumstances (acute patients arriving at short notice, etc.). 

It’s difficult to say no, but you are doing your clients, patients and the community a favour by remaining viable.

 

Automate your practice

Automate as many repetitive and mundane tasks as possible to make you and your team more efficient. Accept bookings online (consider only accepting bookings online if it would free people up from the phones), automate reminders and use consult and sales templates to minimise the amount of data entry you need to do each day. 

This will help to reduce stress levels and, as you’ll be doing less mundane stuff, it will make work more fun. As an added benefit, you’ll reduce missed appointments, missed charges, etc.

Systems like Panacea, our cloud-based veterinary practice software, allow you to automate the mundane daily tasks and simplify your workload. Click here to sign up for your complimentary demo and 30-day free trial.

 

Move difficult customers on

We all know how difficult it is to deal with customers who are rude, threatening or bullying. These customers are not only bad for your mental health but, because they’re often the first to dispute a bill and to badmouth you to others, they’re typically bad for business also.

Move them on.

There’s no shortage of clients and patients who need your services and who you can build positive relationships with.

Don’t put up with bad behaviour and never let a client blackmail you into treating their animal – this only encourages the bad behaviour.

While you’re at it, ask yourself if there’s anyone on your team who’s a negative influence. It’s hard enough to deal with difficult customers – it’s that much harder if you have a bully on your own team.

 

Find time out of the clinic

Yes, this does apply to you, as well as the rest of your team. Schedule time when you’re out of the clinic and your phone is turned off. Do something non-work-related, even if it means doing nothing at all.

 

Check in with others

Checking in on your team, and others within the industry, is not only likely to be beneficial for them, but it can also help improve your own mental health along the way.

Go deeper than simply asking ‘how are you?’. Put time aside to have meaningful conversations and to share your own experiences. 

If you think someone is struggling, then be prepared to ask direct questions about their state of mind.  Don’t be afraid to ask about their stress levels, whether they’ve been having dark or troubling thoughts or even if they’ve been considering self-harm. If you suspect that someone is struggling then don’t be afraid to encourage them to seek help – often our fear of awkwardness or embarrassment prevents us from offering help when it’s needed most.

 

Above all, reach out for help

Veterinary professionals, who can be better at providing help than at seeking it for themselves, are often reluctant to reach out for help. The reasons for this can be complex and many, but it’s important to remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Approximately 20% of women and 15% of men will experience depression and a quarter of us will experience anxiety in our lifetimes. Evidence suggests that depression and anxiety rates are higher within the vet profession than within the general population.

Even as a trained medical professional it can be difficult to recognise the signs of depression and anxiety within yourself, particularly if you’re constantly on the run.

Check in with yourself regularly to assess how well you’re coping and whether you’re displaying symptoms of anxiety or depression. Use reputable online tools to assess yourself regularly. People are often surprised at their own results.

Most important, if you need help then don’t hesitate to reach out for it. 

Both the New Zealand Vet Council and the Australian Veterinary Association provide excellent support and resources and your local vet industry body is likely to do the same if you live elsewhere.

If you’re experiencing anxiety or depression then seek medical help. All vet professionals know how important it is for animal owners to seek veterinary advice early and often. The same goes for you – don’t ‘battle on’ see your GP and get help when you need it.