Biz Essentials: Stress, burnout and time management

You're not alone in veterinary practice if you're struggling a bit (or a lot) with work-life balance, time-management, burnout or other practice-related frustrations? But you've come to the right starting place.

Whether you're a pooped-out practice owner, an anxious associate, a mad manager or a tired technician we've got resources below to get you back on track to a more happy, more calm, more fulfilled career-all courtesy of this Biz Essentials from Veterinary Economics.

Editor's note: If you're beyond burnt out and experiencing feelings of depression or suicidal ideation, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-TALK; 800-273-8255; suicidepreventionlifeline.org). It's 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No matter what problems you're dealing with, people on the other end of the line will help you find a reason to keep living.

Are you struggling with work-life balance? Start here

Life is a marathon-bring along your virtual hydration vest

My path: Accept myself and hone my skills in the areas in which I excel to have the greatest impact, no matter what my role. ...

State of the Profession: What's keeping veterinarians up at night?

An in-depth look at your key concerns from dvm360's triennial survey. ...

A [veterinarian's] life managed with no regrets

Why I don't pine for a lost career as a professional flutist or miss whatever it is ‘everyone's' watching on television. ...

Strive for balance on the high wire

Work-life balance isn't a constant state of being. Rather, it's a the process of making small adjustments all the time. ...

Bringing life into focus

Goals help us determine what is and isn't fulfilling in our lives. ...

Factor yourself into your veterinary work life balance equation

If your work and home life aren't adding up to a happy, healthy you, it's time to subtract the negative elements and calculate functions for a positive life. ...

BizQuiz: Is your life balance out of whack?

Is your life balance out of whack? Use this quiz to find out. ...

Check your balance: Discovering what motivates you as a veterinarian

It's easy to lose sight of why we got into the veterinary profession. But we can get our vision back. ...

But what about burnout and frustrations?

An open letter from veterinary associates to practice owners

Do you have the power to improve your associates' work life? Data from Benchmarks 2015: A Study of Well-Managed Practices (Veterinary Economics and Wutchiett Tumblin and Associates) and associates' feedback to the 2016 Firstline Career Path Study show how associates really feel about you, your practice and their work. ...

The burden of care: A dvm360 Leadership Challenge

Confronting some of the veterinary profession's deepest issues: depression, compassion fatigue, burnout and a high suicide risk. ...

Burnout, compassion fatigue, depression-what's the difference?

Understanding the signs, symptoms and causes of mental health issues may help to identify problems in yourself and your veterinary colleagues. ...

Is your New Year a blue year in veterinary practice?

Use these five tips to overcome compassion fatigue and burnout (and learn to tell the difference). ...

Watch out for emotional danger signals in your veterinary colleagues

Learn the signs of burnout, compassion fatigue and depression-and take care of each other in your clinic. ...

When in doubt, reach out

Post this self-care assessment in your clinic to keep personal well-being front-of-mind for your veterinary team. ...

4 veterinarians reveal how burnout changed their lives

Four veterinarians share their experience with burnout. ...

Try out mindfulness and stress-relieving tactics

Mindfulness in 5 steps

Part five in this series on self-care for veterinarians looks at the benefits of practicing mindfulness in both veterinary practice and in everyday life. ...

Slooow dooown with 5 tips to beat stress

Life in veterinary practice is crazy enough. Why make it harder by always being in a rush? ...

How to take charge of your happiness

You have the power to change your situation-and the veterinary profession. ...

Think now: Practicing mindfulness in the veterinary clinic

Be emotionally present for your clients and your staff ...

Happiness is a well-rested veterinarian: 6 tips for better sleep tonight

Part one in a new series on fighting stress, creating happiness and loving your job looks at sleep habits. ...

8 pick-me-ups when you're feeling low

Try these strategies to beat back burnout and stay jazzed about your work. ...

Understanding your level of engagement: A framework for greater veterinary job satisfaction

Ramp up professional connections and pay attention to personal involvement to get the maximum fulfillment from your veterinary career. ...

You need time off. Here's how to make that happen.

Taking vacation is [im]possible

Actionable steps to make stepping away from your veterinary clinic actually work. ...

4 reasons veterinarians need a vacation

Take a break from work? Absolutely-for the good of you and your veterinary practice. ...

Ignite your passion for practice with a little time off

Rekindle your love for veterinary medicine with time away from the job you love. Here are six steps to fan your flame ...

Be back soon: How to take a sabbatical from your veterinary practice

If a three-day weekend or short vacation isn't easing the stress of practice life, you may need more. Here's how one veterinarian found professional renewal through a two-month sabbatical. ...

Time management strategies to get your day started right

Top 5 ways to know that time is kicking your butt

Watch this video immediately! Or, you know, put it off for a few days. ...

Everyone in veterinary practice should be using this time management tactic

Organize your life with a legal pad, a portfolio and efficient time use. ...

10 veterinary practice time savers

For today's veterinarians and team members, time is limited. Use these efficiency-boosting changes to steal back some of those precious minutes lost and keep your focus on pet care. ...

6 ways to stop wasting your time

Be creative in delegating, rethinking and streamlining veterinary practice tasks that too often bring you to a halt. ...

When your 'emergency' isn't

As veterinarians we're wired for crisis, which can derail our personal goals if we're not careful. ...

15 time-savers for the whole team

Learn how to face your to-do list before it comes back to bite you. ...

Happiness equals productivity at work

Do you feel like you're always falling behind at work? Cheer up. No, really-being happy might help you get back on track. ...