Let’s face it. Self-care is IN, and self-neglect is OUT!

This is especially true for veterinary professionals.

For me, self-care is on my to-do list, and ‘being burnt out’ is not on the list. Which do you prefer: burnout or self-care?

Before we get into the 3-step process/plan for cultivating radical self-care, let’s do a quick and kinda fun illustration of the importance of self-care.

To do this, you first need to think of your dream mode of transportation. 

Is it a luxury car? A sports car? A private jet?

Or maybe you’re a parent, and a spacious mini-van with all of the bells and whistles would be your preferred choice. 

Now, I want you to close your eyes and actually see yourself sitting in your private jet or mini-van. 

Got it? Great! 

Now imagine that you are in your vehicle and ready to go to your destination.

If you’re in your private jet, maybe you want to go to Bora Bora (that’s where I’d want to go!). 

If you’re in your mini-van, maybe you’re wanting to take the family on a trip to the beach.

However, as you turn the key to cut the car on, nothing happens. You can’t get the car to start. 

Upon further inspection, you realize that the car has NO GAS! 

In essence, your vehicle is pretty much worthless because it can’t do its job - transport you to where you want to go! 

Wouldn’t you agree that being stuck on the runway, or stuck in your driveway would suck majorly?

Your performance and productivity as a human and veterinary professional are very similar to this! If you aren’t practicing self-care and if you concurrently are enduring vet med instead of thoroughly enjoying it, then it could be because you are ‘out of self-care gas’.

You can’t give what you don’t have

All of the talk we are hearing these days about self-care is almost exhausting. It’s becoming a cliche thing to say or suggest. 

However, it’s a damn good cliche, and I firmly stand by it! 

As veterinary professionals and care-givers, we are notorious for putting the wellbeing of others ahead of our own wellbeing, which is the very opposite of what we should be doing!

Remember, your private jet or luxury vehicle is useless without a source of fuel, and believe it or not, you and everyone else on this planet are - I’m not going to say useless - but you are under performing and under-living if you aren’t practicing RADICAL self-care. 

"You can't pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first."

- Unknown

Now that we know why it’s important, the next hurdle is actually doing it! Many people talk about how important it is, but then they don’t give you clear cut directions on how to do it. Or even worse, they tell you to go to a spa or on vacation or to the gym or to take a bath… wtf? 

Here’s a 3-step process on how to cultivate radical self-care.

3 SIMPLE steps to cultivate radical self-care

Step 1 - Think

Ask yourself these deep, introspective questions:

1. What do I think I need to take care of myself appropriately?

2. What things do I want in my self-care picture?

3. What do other people and sources of information say that all people need to take care of themselves appropriately? In other words, what are the common denominators of self-care? 

These are questions that we suggest you answer for yourself! I can’t tell you to go get your nails done. You may hate getting your nails done. I can’t give you specifics. While certain things are universally ‘good for you’ it is up to you to think about this and come up with things you truly want for your self-care!

As a guide, there are many resources on the internet that will help you with this process. I do recommend taking a look at the wheel of wellbeing or the wellness wheel. It can serve as a general guideline for what areas you may need to focus on to ensure your self-care!

Step 2 - Plan

Spend some time planning how you’re going to achieve this radical self-care so that you can live, perform, and produce better!

Begin your planning by asking yourself these questions: 

1. How will I carry out the above?

2. Will I need additional funds to carry out my self-care? 

3. What is the frequency by which I will do my self-care?

4. How much time do I need and where will I find the time?

5. How will I make sure that I maintain my responsibilities while I’m taking more time for myself?

6. How will I know if I’m failing or succeeding in my self-care?

In the planning phase of your radical self-care, the goal is to map out what you need for yourself and how you are to acquire these things and implement them into your life.

This part is extremely fun because you don’t necessarily need to know the ‘how’ for accomplishing the things you need for your self-care. You simply need to know that you need something – the rest kind of takes care of itself! 

Step 3 - Act

Now it’s time to get to work!

Things tend to not manifest until we start taking action towards them. The first action you need to take is that you must go over your self-care plan with daily (weekly at a minimum) frequency. 

The more frequently we look at our self-care plan, the more involved the subconscious (unconscious) mind becomes at making sure we get what we need! 

Ultimately, we want your self-care to be controlled both consciously (by you) and subconsciously by your reticular activating system! 

The more frequent you think about your self-care items, the more you will discover awesome solutions to your self-care riddles will appear. 

Your goal is to hold the thought of your self-care in your mind, continuously! This ensures that you will always have your self-care in mind (either consciously or subconsciously). It works like magic!  

Just get started! Pick out the things on your list from your thinking stage; develop your plan as best as you can; HAVE FAITH that the answers are coming and that you’ll get what you need! 

Just do it!

For the items on your self-care list that you aren’t sure how you are going to fit them in or do them, worry not! The ‘hows’ you can’t figure out on your own are none of your business!

Just keep looking at them and saying them out loud as frequently as you can in the manner described, and you can certainly thank me later – a simple thank you email will do! 

The fact that you are reading these words is positive proof that if you follow the instructions that you will eventually manifest your self-care list! This of course assumes that you really have a strong desire to have the things listed! No matter how ridiculous they may seem, everything you put there can certainly be yours!

Remember, if you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t possibly be doing the best you can for the patients and clients you serve as a veterinary professional.

Therefore, take your self-care seriously!

If you are bringing the self-care version of yourself to work each day, you will notice the following: 

• You will be in better spirits because you will be taken care of - This will lead to improved client experience because you will be a delight to be around, and it will lead to improved co-worker/employee interactions because you will be in better spirits. 

• Less client/co-worker confrontations - Your fuse will be longer if you are taken care of. 

• The well-rested and well-nourished nature of self-care will lead to more energy to perform physical and mental tasks - This will lead to increased performance and productivity. This will likely manifest in making less errors and being more focused on tasks at hand. 

• You will be less likely to burnout - A part of self-care is having boundaries. Boundaries can help you leave work on time, not take work home with you, and prevent you from being overworked by clients and the day-to-day of the hospital.

There you have it! The results that you achieve will be in direct proportion to the tenacity at which you go after your radical self-care!

For more information on how to begin your wellbeing, personal development, and self-care journey, check out this RACE-approved course at the Get MotiVETed University School of Wellbeing for Veterinary Professionals!