> Articles by: ChristpinaAs veterinarians, we’re already high achievers. We checked all the boxes to get through school. We don’t like to give less than our best. We’re problem solvers. We help animals feel better, and if we can’t, there better be a dang good reason. It’s no wonder we punish the heck out of ourselves when we can’t seem to fix our own behavior. I’ve said things like these, and I’m betting I’m not alone.
Have you ever marveled at how naturally athletic dogs are? They seem built for speed and agility, darting and dodging with aplomb. Whether it’s a Border Collie wrangling livestock or a Yorkie stalking a mouse, it’s plain to see that different breeds are suited to different tasks. Some researchers suggest that human personality traits serve similar roles. Like physical traits, there are no inherently good or bad personalities, just those optimized for certain conditions and situations. The key lies in understanding our individual personalities and recognizing when they’re serving us well and when they may be leading us astray.
I’m a big fan of the Marvel movies. Not like, going-to-Comic-Cons-dressed-like-Thor kind of fan. But I’ve definitely watched every single Marvel Universe movie at least a dozen times. There’s something about these superheroes that pulls me in. Just the other day, my wife and I were watching an episode of WandaVision and I found myself wondering, “Could Wanda beat Thanos in a fight?” So, I turned to Google, typing into my search query, “Who is stronger, Wanda or Thanos?”
There’s no denying that the threat of negative reviews, comments, and cyberbullying looms in the minds of many veterinary professionals. But we also know that our online reputation and social media presence can be a positive driver for our practices, facilitating connection, education, and service utilization that we may not have had otherwise, especially over the last year.
This past year has been one of the most difficult many of us have had to face. On top of an ongoing pandemic, which in itself is enough, we have had to face natural disasters such as record-breaking wildfires and hurricanes as well as a continuing political crisis that has caused immeasurable division. Many of us have experienced the death of a loved one or beloved pet, extended separation from loved ones and friends, and an abundance of endless change that has kept us from feeling the slightest hint of normalcy again.
Most of us in veterinary medicine are pretty good at rolling with the punches. I have worked in this field for 20 years, and I struggle to think of a day where everything was “ideal.” There is always a piece of equipment broken, a staff member absent, a computer system that was down. Truth be told, I love problem solving and the “get it done” attitude in veterinary medicine. It has always provided me with ample opportunity to flex my adaptability and that skill has served me well.
If your practice is anything like mine, things are busier, clients are more stressed, and staffing is lower than usual. Veterinary medicine was already a tough job, and the pandemic, fires, and social unrest have made things harder for everyone. Recent polls in the Not One More Vet support groups found that 67 percent of veterinarians and 49 percent of our support staff members reported worse mental health and wellness than at the same time last year. We have been living in a state of emergency since March and it’s exhausting.
