The 30-day summer veterinary culture reset

Summer in veterinary medicine isn’t a season—it’s a pressure cooker. Appointments double, emergencies happen, clients get crankier, the team’s shortstaffed, and the air conditioning is barely hanging on. People are melting. Morale is slipping. And stress isn’t creeping in—it’s kicking down the door.

So here’s the question: What if instead of letting the summer grind break your team down, you used it to build your team up?

This isn’t another Kumbaya moment. It’s a tactical move. One small, deliberate action a day—over 30 days—to reconnect, reset, and recalibrate your clinic’s culture. Not with fancy consultants or culture committees. With your actual people, in your actual hospital, during actual chaos.

Why this challenge works

Photo: zorandim75/Adobe Stock

Burnout thrives in isolation. And summer, with its heat and high caseloads, everyone’s in survival mode. What this challenge does is interrupt that pattern. It builds micromoments of intention, reflection, and collaboration. It pulls teams out of the grind—just long enough to remember they’re not alone in it. And while you may have your ups and downs throughout the workweek, through it all you are a team that does what’s right for your clients and their pets.

We’re not fixing culture in 30 days. We’re rewiring how we show up for each other while keeping it real.

The rules are simple

• One challenge per day. Each takes 2 to 20 minutes, tops.
• Complete it as a team. Even if it’s just whoever’s on that day.
• Miss a day? No guilt. Just pick up where you left off.
• Post your progress (if you want). Use #Vet30Reset to let the world know your team is in it, and tag @dvm360 on Instagram or Facebook.

You can customize it, print it, even write it on a whiteboard. These are just some ideas for you to react to and see how this can be implemented into your practice. But once you commit, lean in and go for it!

The 30-day veterinary culture reset challenge

(You can mix up the order, repeat favorites, or assign a team member each day to pick.)

Day 1: Shout out someone’s invisible win from yesterday. Do it with a dance break.

Day 2: Clean 1 zone together for 10 minutes—with music blasting.

Day 3: Each person teaches a weird clinical tip/hack they swear by. No gatekeeping.

Day 4: Handwrite a thank-you card to at least 1 team member and mail it to their home.

Day 5: Share a photo of your pet and one sentence on why they keep you going.

Day 6: Watch a dvm360 webinar together online at dvm360.com/flex.

Day 7: Put a quote or words of wisdom in a team member’s locker. Do it for multiple ones.

Day 8: “Two-minute grounding.” Everyone stops and breathes/meditates together.

Day 9: Try a different phrase for a difficult client conversation. Rework your reframing.

Day 10: Write down 1 thing you want to get better at. Post it up.

Day 11: Bring a favorite snack. Everyone creates a snack attack bag.

Day 12: Choose 1 technology tool or software feature no one’s using—and test it.

Day 13: Hydration station. Encourage each team member to finish their water intake.

Day 14: What’s 1 way someone helped you this week? Tell them.

Day 15: Team stretch break. Two minutes. Make it count.

Day 16: Post-it gratitude wall. Fill it. Show your attitude of gratitude.

Day 17: What’s 1 step in your day that feels pointless? Talk about it. How can it improve?

Day 18: Choose a code word to use when you need a reset or backup or a bad day from home.

Day 19: Take a team selfie. Caption it honestly and post it.

Day 20: Pick 1 patient who made your day this week. Share the story and why.

Day 21: “Before I go home today, I will…”—each person sets a microgoal.

Day 22: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen in veterinary medicine? Laugh it out.

Day 23: Choose 1 way to surprise a client with kindness today.

Day 24: Ten-minute lunch table topic: What would make this job 10% easier?

Day 25: Ask each team member to write down everyone’s birthday. The one who knows the most wins a gift card.

Day 26: Water balloon toss/run for your life in the backyard. You’re welcome.

Day 27: What’s 1 boundary you’re working on setting? Support each other.

Day 28: Handwrite thank-you notes to your top 2 or 3 clients and mail them out.

Day 29: Bring in a joke or meme and post it at the front desk.

Day 30: Celebrate! Ice cream social! Goat yoga! All of it. You made it!