January 2025
In this VETgirl online veterinary continuing education blog, Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT reviews what we can do to improve our work-life balance in veterinary medicine. It’s no secret that our veterinary profession started as a boundless love for animals. As a veterinarian or veterinary technician, our job comes long hours, tireless effort, demanding clients/pet owners, and high stress.

Balance Matters: How to Improve Work-Life Balance in Veterinary Medicine

By Dr. Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT, Director of Medicine/Co-founder, VETgirl


It’s no secret that our veterinary profession started as a boundless love for animals. As a veterinarian or veterinary technician, our job comes long hours, tireless effort, demanding clients/pet owners, and high stress. When it comes to our amazing veterinary technicians, tech assistants (TA) and CSR/CSC, it also comes with way too low of a salary. It’s a profession full of joy and stress, passion and burnout. But finding balance between your personal life and career is essential to maintain happiness, promotion, and health. We all know that the veterinary profession ranks high when it comes to dramatic rates of burnout and suicide ideation. It’s imperative that we find ways to keep ourselves happy and healthy. In this VETgirl blog, we share some tips on how to improve your work-life balance in veterinary medicine. (BTW, if you haven’t downloaded our free “Put Your Mental Health First” e-book, make sure to get it HERE).

1. Focus on Time Management
Time is the most precious resource, especially in veterinary medicine where emergencies may cause you to work beyond the scheduled hours. But time management is crucial for achieving the coveted work-life balance. You need to plan out your activities, prioritize them and manage your time appropriately. For example, setting boundaries with clients and colleagues, such as being firm with your lunch breaks or leaving work on time and delegating as much as possible, are essential. It may take some time, but with practice and habit, you can become more efficient with your time. You can read all about how to be more efficient as a veterinarian HERE in our blog from 2015. (And that’s before COVID, when our profession got even less efficient due to curbside, higher pet populations, quarantine requirements, and home schooling!). Allocate the right number of “minutes” to the task too. If you think it’s going to take 2 hours for inventory, actually set a timer and calculate it, so you know that the next time you do inventory, it actually takes 14 hours. Then schedule and block that time off for you appropriately!

2. Embrace Healthy Habits
Physical exercise, a healthy diet, and emotional wellness are vital. Nurturing your physical, mental, and emotional health helps increase productivity and your ability to handle stress. Make time for exercise, prioritize a balanced diet plan (See. Dr. Mike Tokiwa’s healthy food tips here), manage your emotions, live in the present, try to cultivate gratitude in your life, engage with your hobbies, and spend time with your family and friends. You can even pick up some tips on happiness here with Dr. Mike Tokiwa.

food on a cutting board image from canva

3. Pursue Continuing Education (CE)
OK, shameless little plug for VETgirl here, the #1 online veterinary CE platform out there! One significant way to balance work and life is to pursue continuing education. Staying up to date with the latest advancements in veterinary medicine can lead to career advancement and satisfaction. It can also help sharpen your skills and make you feel better equipped to handle difficult cases. Taking continuing education courses can help you stay updated on the cutting edge in your field, and feed your professional interests, which eventually results in happiness and balance. Plus, you can get a free 14-day VETgirl TRIAL HERE.

4. Set Boundaries
Clients and colleagues, especially pet owners, can make it difficult to maintain work-life balance. You can set boundaries on your availability by limiting your work hours, making it clear to clients when you are available to take their calls, and delegating tasks to other team members. Making things clear and actively communicating your boundaries is essential. For me, learning to say no was the best way that I learned how to establish work boundaries. I need to do this so I can help take care of my family, which to me, is my #1 priority. I mean, you can see why, right?

5. Find a Support System
Support is essential in achieving work-life balance. Find a support system that can help you manage stress and responsibilities. You can look for mentorship, engage with peers who have similar work experiences, or connect with your friends and family. Having someone to share your experiences, listen to your doubts and concerns, and provide you with valuable advice, can offer emotional support, minimize burnout, and increase overall happiness.

When in doubt, know that achieving work-life balance in veterinary medicine requires a concerted effort. Time management, healthy habits, continuing education, setting boundaries, and finding a support system are essential practices that can help you create a better balance between work and life. By adopting these helpful tips, you take important steps to achieve a happy, healthy career as a veterinary professional.


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