Mental Health Awareness Week: How can vets achieve a good work-life balance?

‘We’ve got to look after ourselves to look after our patients properly,’ says Laura Kidd, Clinical Development Adviser at Vets Now. ‘I’ve definitely come around to that way of thinking much more over the years. In the past, I was perhaps more of the school of thought of “well, you’re busy – just keep going”. But that approach can be counter-productive.’ 

With 25 years’ part-time work in a busy Edinburgh practice behind her, and current commitments including two teaching roles, Laura knows what it’s like to have a packed schedule that can encroach on your personal time. 

‘It is difficult to get that balance right between being at work and your life outside of the profession. I don’t always get it right myself,’ she admits. ‘But I do try to keep in mind my priorities and spend time in a way that fulfils me. That includes being around my family and friends, walking our dogs, and going out for dinner or to the theatre. Like most people, I often find there are things I would like to do that I just can’t fit in right now. I used to ride a lot, for example, and would like to do more of that again one day when my schedule is less busy.’

Laura thinks there is increasing awareness of the importance of work-life balance in the profession – flexible working can be an option for some. She also believes there are lots of reasons to feel positively about the being a vet, despite its challenges. ‘This is a hard profession, but it’s also important to keep in mind that it’s also a really great profession too. I’m very passionate about being a vet and really believe there are so many upsides to having this career.’

Creating a good fit between work and life outside it

Only around half of vets agree that they have a good work-life balance, according to November 2018 research by BVA and the University of Exeter. The research indicated that vets are more likely to feel they have a good work-life balance when they have a stronger sense of fitting in at work; when they feel that there is a good harmony between who they are in the workplace and who they are at home. It highlights the importance of having a supportive, open culture at work where people feel valued and able to express their feelings.

The report also recommended that managers can support work-life balance, by challenging vets’ beliefs that working long hours is necessary and exploring practical ways to reduce their working hours.

3 tips for working on your work-life balance

It can be easy not to realise that the scale of your work-life balance is tipping slightly in the wrong direction. Potential signs include finding it difficult to switch off outside work and thinking about work a lot even when you’re away from it. You may sense that you are neglecting other areas of your life, like spending time with your family or friends.

Here are some examples of steps that might help to redress the balance:

Develop a routine for switching off after work 

For example, some people like to spend ten minutes writing about their day in a notebook – both the good and bad parts – then closing the notebook and accepting that this is the time to let work go for the day. Allow yourself to feel good about turning on your favourite programme, sitting down with a good meal or getting stuck in to that new book. Accept that you’ve done your bit for the day.

Start a new project or hobby outside of work

It could be a sport, learning a musical instrument or arts and crafts, for example. Having exciting events happening outside of work, or things that we look forward to on our days off, can bolster our resilience during working hours.

Spend some time reflecting on what’s most important to you

You might find mindfulness exercises helpful for becoming aware of yourself in this way. Despite having a somewhat trendy reputation, mindfulness – the practice of being present and acknowledging your thoughts – has gained credentials as an effective way to look after your mental health. For example, doctors following NICE guidelines for depression may suggest mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for certain people with recurrent depression. There are lots of apps and books out there that you can try.

You can find more tips about mindfulness, switching off and looking after your physical health in the Bupa health and wellbeing guide for vets.

You may also be interested in finding out more about BupaCare health insurance for BVA members.

This is a sponsored editorial article from Bupa.