While being a veterinary professional is a highly rewarding and mentally stimulating career choice, it does, unfortunately, come hand-in-hand with psychological stress, high workloads and emotional burnout if your work-life balance is, well…unbalanced. In this blog, the Choice Vets team shares three secrets to longevity and leading a happy life.
-
Do things that boost your serotonin!
We know it’s cliche, but do things that make you happy! Not only will this improve your mental wellbeing, but research on optimism has suggested that it could be the key to a longer life.
Dedicate at least an hour of your day to an activity that boosts your mood. This could be something small like having a bath or cooking a comforting meal, or something bigger like booking a holiday to look forward to with friends.
The NHS recommends avoiding short-term thrills such as alcohol and junk food as they usually make you feel worse in the long run.
However, we think the odd glass of wine or cheeky takeaway now and again is perfectly reasonable! It’s all about balance and moderation.
-
Exercise
Before you roll your eyes, we promise exercise can be made enjoyable – it’s just a case of finding something you can come back to again and again without getting bored! This is usually a process of trial and error but it’s worth putting in the time to discover an activity that keeps you happy and healthy.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
-
Join a gym – this is the most obvious choice we know, but it’s a great way to start your fitness journey. From basic cardio to HIIT classes, there’s something for everyone regardless of ability. Plus, most gyms now offer zero contract memberships, so you can cancel at any time if it’s not the right choice for you.
-
Download Couch to 5K – if you’ve always wanted to try running but don’t know where to start this podcast series is a fantastic (and free!) choice.
-
Do a virtual workout – the NHS offers a variety of fitness videos that are easy to follow along with, including pilates, full body workouts and even belly dancing!
-
Go for a walk – did you know that just thirty minutes of walking a day can do wonders for your physical and mental health? This is a fantastic option for the busy veterinary professional as it’s suprt easy to fit into your day. Whether you walk to work, get off the bus a few stops early or go to the park with a feel-good playlist to start your morning – there’s a wealth of opportunities to fit in your thirty minutes.
-
Talk it out
No one ever benefitted from keeping all their emotions bottled up, did they? If you don’t talk to someone when you’re feeling overwhelmed then you’re only going to end up feeling increasingly tense until it fizzes over at the wrong person, at the wrong time. Why not avoid this situation altogether, and try talking to a trusted friend, family member or professional about how you’re feeling. We recommend making this a regular thing (e.g. coffee with X person every Wednesday) so you can build rapport with important people in your life, as well as let go of anything that has been troubling you. Often, sharing the things that have been worrying us feel a lot less burdensome after talking the situation through with another person and getting a second opinion/reassurance/having a good old vent!
For more help, advice and resources on improving your mental wellbeing and leading a happier life, visit the NHS website.
Here at Choice Vets, we are dedicated to supporting all our candidates throughout the recruitment journey and beyond. Give us a call on 0203 9784 104 today to learn more about our current roles.
Alternatively, you can register as a candidate and a member of our team will be in touch ASAP.
While being a veterinary professional is a highly rewarding and mentally stimulating career choice, it does, unfortunately, come hand-in-hand with psychological stress, high workloads and emotional burnout if your work-life balance is, well…unbalanced. In this blog, the Choice Vets team shares three secrets to longevity and leading a happy life.
-
Do things that boost your serotonin!
We know it’s cliche, but do things that make you happy! Not only will this improve your mental wellbeing, but research on optimism has suggested that it could be the key to a longer life.
Dedicate at least an hour of your day to an activity that boosts your mood. This could be something small like having a bath or cooking a comforting meal, or something bigger like booking a holiday to look forward to with friends.
The NHS recommends avoiding short-term thrills such as alcohol and junk food as they usually make you feel worse in the long run.
However, we think the odd glass of wine or cheeky takeaway now and again is perfectly reasonable! It’s all about balance and moderation.
-
Exercise
Before you roll your eyes, we promise exercise can be made enjoyable – it’s just a case of finding something you can come back to again and again without getting bored! This is usually a process of trial and error but it’s worth putting in the time to discover an activity that keeps you happy and healthy.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
-
Join a gym – this is the most obvious choice we know, but it’s a great way to start your fitness journey. From basic cardio to HIIT classes, there’s something for everyone regardless of ability. Plus, most gyms now offer zero contract memberships, so you can cancel at any time if it’s not the right choice for you.
-
Download Couch to 5K – if you’ve always wanted to try running but don’t know where to start this podcast series is a fantastic (and free!) choice.
-
Do a virtual workout – the NHS offers a variety of fitness videos that are easy to follow along with, including pilates, full body workouts and even belly dancing!
-
Go for a walk – did you know that just thirty minutes of walking a day can do wonders for your physical and mental health? This is a fantastic option for the busy veterinary professional as it’s suprt easy to fit into your day. Whether you walk to work, get off the bus a few stops early or go to the park with a feel-good playlist to start your morning – there’s a wealth of opportunities to fit in your thirty minutes.
-
Talk it out
No one ever benefitted from keeping all their emotions bottled up, did they? If you don’t talk to someone when you’re feeling overwhelmed then you’re only going to end up feeling increasingly tense until it fizzes over at the wrong person, at the wrong time. Why not avoid this situation altogether, and try talking to a trusted friend, family member or professional about how you’re feeling. We recommend making this a regular thing (e.g. coffee with X person every Wednesday) so you can build rapport with important people in your life, as well as let go of anything that has been troubling you. Often, sharing the things that have been worrying us feel a lot less burdensome after talking the situation through with another person and getting a second opinion/reassurance/having a good old vent!
For more help, advice and resources on improving your mental wellbeing and leading a happier life, visit the NHS website.
Here at Choice Vets, we are dedicated to supporting all our candidates throughout the recruitment journey and beyond. Give us a call on 0203 9784 104 today to learn more about our current roles.
Alternatively, you can register as a candidate and a member of our team will be in touch ASAP.