Financial wellness is a crucial aspect of overall wellbeing, yet it often remains a neglected topic in our daily conversations. In this Wellness Wisdom podcast, Dr. Marie Holowaychuk sits down with Jillian Carr, a seasoned Financial Education Specialist dedicated to serving the veterinary community. Together, they delve into the latest research on how debt and financial advice impact veterinary wellbeing, offering practical tips on finding the right financial advisor, building savings,...

In the high-pressure world of veterinary medicine, the benefits of yoga extend far beyond physical fitness. As caregivers veterinary professionals often neglect their own well-being. Yoga offers a sanctuary for self-care, providing resources to manage stress, cultivate resilience, and foster inner peace. Through mindful breathing and movement, yoga cultivates self-awareness and stress management skills crucial for navigating the complexities of every day life. The integration of a bedtime...

Despite the busyness of veterinary practice, much of our days can be spent sedentary, sitting in front of a computer returning client calls or completing medical records. Long periods spent at our desk can lead to muscle soreness or tightness and the accumulation of stress in our body. Ensuring that you move your body by standing up, changing positions, or stretching every 20-30 minutes is key to preventing stress buildup or tension in the body. During this 15-minute video, Dr. Marie...

Yoga nidra, also known as "yogic sleep," is a powerful technique from the ancient yogic tradition that induces a state of deep relaxation while maintaining awareness. Research demonstrates that those who practise yoga nidra have enhanced activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, as well as reduced symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Yoga nidra offers numerous benefits for veterinary care providers, including stress reduction, improved sleep, and mind-body integration. This...

Feeling stressed about a conversation with a difficult client? Or anxious before going into a challenging surgery? Or stuck ruminating on a tense moment with a coworker that occurred the day before? Breathing exercises are a simple and easy way for you to calm your central nervous system and deactivate the fight or flight response. Watch this video and listen as veterinary wellness advocate and Thrive! collaborator, Dr. Marie Holowaychuk guides you through FIVE quick breathing exercises that...

The practice of mindfulness meditation has been shown to reduce burnout, enhance self-care, decrease mistakes, and improve focus among healthcare providers. When practiced routinely, mindfulness also has mental and physical health benefits including reduced depression and anxiety, enhanced energy, and improved cardiovascular health. This 20-minute mindfulness meditation session is brought to you by Thrive! and guided by Marie Holowaychuk, DVM, Dipl. ACVECC, CYT. Listen to Dr. Marie’s voice as...

The holiday season is a stressful time of year for many of us due to family obligations, financial concerns, and other commitments. More than one third of individuals surveyed report an increase in stress levels this time of year, which makes taking steps to preserve our mental and physical health that much more important.

Approximately 1 in 3 Canadians will experience insomnia as an adult with difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep to feel sufficiently rested. While there are many medical reasons for insomnia that would benefit from a physician’s advice (e.g., sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux), most individuals who experience insomnia do so because of stress or worry.

World Mental Health Day is on October 10th and is a reminder of the importance of preventing mental health stigma. Individuals with mental health stigma are less likely to seek support and more likely to resist treatment for mental illness. Some steps can be taken to mitigate mental health stigma among individuals and veterinary teams.