Mental health has become a relevant and common topic of discussion with Mental Health Awareness Month, Bell Let’s Talk, and other initiatives aiming to educate, raise awareness, break the silence and end the stigma. More than simply ‘hanging in there’ or ‘thinking positively’, it’s about changing the way people see and talk about mental health to strip away the shame and acknowledge how difficult it is to overcome the disease. It is also about encouraging people to seek help and support if and...

Research shows that adults should get a recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. It is also a well-known fact that over time sleep deprivation can lead to health problems, and that underlying issues, such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, or metabolic or hormone disorders, can cause insomnia. Not to mention that getting a restful night's sleep is essential to our physical and mental health. Happily, sleep habits are easy to change, so by choosing one thing to do differently today...

Life would be pretty dull if we all agreed on everything, all the time. Plus, we would never learn anything new. Although conflict can make us feel defensive or push us to run in the opposite direction, what if we simply looked at conflict as a difference of opinion or perspective? What if we saw these situations as opportunities to learn and grow? As hard as it might seem at first, once you try to focus on the benefits of addressing and resolving conflict rather than leaving issues...

Often, we don’t set healthy limits because we are afraid of inconveniencing or disappointing our clients, colleagues or boss, and we end up doing everything to please them, sometimes to our own detriment. Luckily, it’s never too late to create better habits and set healthy boundaries for ourselves and others to adhere to. Once we have identified our needs and recognized our limits, it is important not only to communicate them to others, but to follow through with our own actions to make sure...

Sometimes, despite our best intentions, things don’t quite go as planned. Mistakes are made. Outcomes don’t meet expectations. And when these situations occur, team members often experience distress, self-doubt and shame. It’s important to remember that the very nature of the work we do as veterinary care providers makes mistakes and unanticipated outcomes inevitable. That some situations are beyond our control. And that mistakes that do occur often cause no significant harm to patients....

Do paper piles seem to be growing and multiplying? Are there boxes of stuff pilling up in your basement? Are there textbooks that no one has consulted in over 20 years and “orphaned” coffee mugs gathering dust on clinic shelves? More importantly, did you know that untidy, cluttered and disorganized environments can result in feelings of anxiety and overwhelm? The good news is that breaking free from clutter can help you feel calmer and more in control of your space… and your life – which...

In this time of chaos and uncertainty, do you find yourself longing for things to be back to the way they were before the coronavirus pandemic? Does your mind get stuck spiraling into the "what-ifs" and worries brought on by stressful situations? Staying calm and centered in times of stress can be a challenge, but it is more important now than ever. Practicing mindfulness can help create a buffer allowing you to tone down conditioned reactions and make room for conscious decisions. What is...

Compassion fatigue and burnout describe severe consequences of working in the veterinary profession. Given their common occurrence among veterinary team members, it’s important that the signs be recognized so that appropriate interventions can occur. Learn how thanks to veterinary wellness advocate Dr. Marie Holowaychuk in this month’s edition of Thrive!. Check out this helpful tool on identifying burnout and compassion fatigue - and learn the key steps for managing both. The prevalence of...

Have you ever wondered if you’re a perfectionist? It may sound like a great trait to have, but perfectionism can sometimes negatively impact psychological wellbeing. One of the key methods you can turn to for combating the detrimental effects of perfectionism is learning to practice self-compassion – the latest topic presented by veterinary wellness advocate Dr. Marie Holowaychuk in this month’s edition of Thrive!. How to practice self-compassion Watch this helpful video for tips on how to...