#131: Resilience Redefined, The Opposite Of Stuck, and Taking Control Of Your Own Wellbeing. With Dr Jess Moore-Jones

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If you scroll through any veterinary chat group you won’t have to scroll for long before you see a conversation along the lines of:  “My career as it is now isn’t really working for me, but I don’t know what my other options are.  I feel… stuck.”

So how do you become unstuck?

Dr Jess Moore Jones is a bit obsessed with what keeps vets engaged and fulfilled, and she helps individuals and teams figure out how to create resilient and thriving cultures and careers through  her business, ⁠Unleashed Coaching and Consulting⁠, and in this episode we unpack a few of the talks she presented at WVAC 2024: 

• The choices we make: taking back the power as veterinary professionals to be in control of our own resilience and our own wellbeing.
• YOU ARE NOT STUCK: helping veterinarians discover that a meaningful, fulfilling career (and life) is possible.

Jess shares her thoughts on where the line is between being a good team member and having healthy boundaries, why being selfish in the short term can be generous in the long run, and we talk about the ‘four doors’ available to you with every challenging situation. We discuss Jess' first steps to becoming ‘unstuck’ from your career rut, and we ask the big question: are the new generations of vets ‘soft’, or just wise?!

Join Dr Jess on 28 November 2024 for her online ⁠Women in Veterinary Leadership Summit. ⁠

Topics and Time Stamps

02:21 The Generational Debate: Are Younger Vets Soft?

03:43 Resilience in Veterinary Medicine: Good vs. Toxic

10:30 Balancing Boundaries: Soft vs. Hard

15:15 Long-term Resilience vs Short-Term People-Pleasing

20:02 Career Coaching: Moving from Stuck to Fulfilled

22:55 Challenging Traditional Work Structures

23:34 Discovering Your True Self

25:06 Overcoming Fear and Taking Action

26:22 Exploring New Opportunities

29:05 The Power of Choice in Your Career

34:27 Mindfulness and Self-Awareness

36:01 Choosing Your Perspective

40:31 Embracing Negative Emotions

We love to hear from you. If you have a question for us or you’d like to give us some feedback please get in touch via our contact form at ⁠⁠thevetvault.com⁠⁠, or catch up with us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

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"How to Establish and Maintain Flexible Boundaries in a Veterinary Practice"

Maintaining boundaries in a veterinary practice is essential for avoiding burnout, fostering a collaborative work environment, and achieving a sustainable work-life balance. Flexible boundaries, as opposed to rigid ones, can help veterinarians and their teams navigate unexpected challenges without sacrificing personal well-being. Here’s how to establish and maintain them:

1. Understand the Difference Between Hard and Soft Boundaries

• Hard Boundaries: These are non-negotiable limits, such as a commitment to family time during specific hours or refusing to work on scheduled days off. For example, "I will not answer work calls between 6:30 and 7:00 PM because that’s my time to put my child to bed."
• Soft Boundaries: These are adaptable limits that allow for flexibility under certain circumstances. For instance, "I don’t normally work overtime, but I’ll stay late today because a critical case came in. In exchange, I’ll take a longer break tomorrow."

2. Communicate Your Boundaries Clearly

• Have open conversations with your team and supervisors about your limits and the reasons behind them.
• Use "we" language to foster collaboration, e.g., "Let’s decide as a team when it’s acceptable to interrupt lunch breaks or call someone in after hours."
• Be honest and assertive without being confrontational to avoid misunderstandings.

3. Create Teamwide Agreements

• Work with your colleagues to set shared expectations around common scenarios:
• When is it acceptable to skip a lunch break?
• What circumstances justify a late-night phone call?
• How do we handle last-minute emergencies?
• Team agreements reduce individual burden and ensure consistent policies that everyone understands and supports.

4. Balance Flexibility with Self-Care

• Be willing to adapt when necessary, but recognize your limits.
• Avoid resentment by negotiating for compensatory adjustments. For example:
• If you stay late to handle an emergency, request an early finish the next day.
• After missing a lunch break, ask for a lighter caseload to recoup.

5. Watch for Signs of Overcommitment

• Be aware of the warning signs that your boundaries are too soft:
• Feeling consistently overwhelmed or resentful.
• Chronic fatigue from always "saying yes."
• Decreased productivity or engagement.
• These are indicators that it’s time to re-evaluate and reinforce your boundaries.

6. Use Empathy to Bridge Generational Perspectives

• Recognize the impact of your boundaries on others, especially colleagues from different generations or with differing expectations.
• Encourage older colleagues to appreciate the importance of work-life balance for younger vets.
• Help younger team members understand the occasional need for professional flexibility in emergencies.

7. Lead by Example

• Practice what you preach by setting and maintaining your boundaries while showing flexibility when appropriate.
• Encourage open discussions about boundaries during team meetings to normalize the conversation and support others in following suit.

By establishing clear, flexible boundaries and fostering a culture of mutual understanding, veterinary professionals can create a workplace that is both productive and respectful of individual needs. This balance helps improve team cohesion, reduce stress, and sustain long-term career satisfaction.

"Recognizing and Managing Burnout in Veterinary Professionals"

Burnout is a pervasive issue in veterinary medicine, stemming from the demands of the profession, long hours, and emotional strain. Recognizing its early signs and implementing strategies to manage it is critical for maintaining mental health, career longevity, and overall well-being.

1. Understand the Signs of Burnout

Burnout manifests in various ways, including emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms. Common signs include:

• Emotional Symptoms: Chronic fatigue, lack of enthusiasm for work, feelings of helplessness, or resentment toward colleagues or clients.
• Physical Symptoms: Insomnia, frequent illness, headaches, or muscle tension.
• Behavioral Symptoms: Withdrawal from social interactions, decreased productivity, or frequent errors at work.

2. Recognize Resentment as a Key Indicator

• Resentment often signals a boundary issue. When professionals consistently sacrifice personal needs for work, it leads to frustration and feelings of being undervalued.
• Ask yourself: "Am I feeling resentful about staying late, taking on extra work, or missing personal time?" If the answer is yes, it’s time to reassess your boundaries.

3. Balance Short-Term Sacrifices with Long-Term Goals

• Veterinary professionals often face situations where staying late or handling emergencies is unavoidable. However, chronic overextension without recovery leads to burnout.
• Consider the "save today vs. save the future" mindset: While helping an extra patient today may feel rewarding, preserving your mental and physical health allows you to provide care over the long term.

4. Build a Supportive Workplace Culture

• Promote team discussions about workload distribution and shared responsibilities to prevent individuals from feeling overburdened.
• Advocate for systemic changes, such as better staffing levels, clear boundaries on overtime, and wellness programs.
• Encourage open communication about mental health and stress to reduce stigma and foster empathy.

5. Implement Practical Stress Management Strategies

• Take Regular Breaks: Even short pauses during a shift can help reset your focus and reduce stress.
• Establish Work-Life Balance: Set boundaries to protect personal time and prioritize activities that bring joy and relaxation.
• Practice Mindfulness: Techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or journaling can help you process stress and maintain perspective.

6. Know When to Seek Help

• Recognize when burnout requires professional support. Speaking with a coach, counselor, or therapist can provide tools to address stress and develop coping strategies.
• Many organizations offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) with resources for mental health support.

7. Plan for Career Longevity

• Burnout often stems from a mismatch between expectations and reality. Reflect on your long-term career goals and consider:
• Adjusting your workload or schedule.
• Exploring alternative career paths within the veterinary profession (e.g., consulting, education, research).
• Pursuing part-time or locum roles to reduce stress while staying engaged in the field.

8. Recognize the Role of Structural Change

• While individual resilience is important, systemic issues such as understaffing and unrealistic expectations contribute significantly to burnout. Advocate for organizational change to create a healthier work environment.

By identifying burnout early, veterinary professionals can take proactive steps to regain control of their well-being, build resilience, and maintain a fulfilling and sustainable career. Collaboration among team members and leaders to address systemic challenges is equally crucial in tackling this widespread issue.