Everyone wears multiple hats every single day, whether we realize it or not. Business owner, daughter, friend, sister, mother, and most recently wife are just some of the hats I wear. And honestly, it’s hard to keep them all in church-ready condition.
Every day, I attempt to do it all despite knowing it’s physically impossible to do so. While I have gotten better at creating tools and routines that help me manage work-life balance, it comes with consistently making adjustments to respond to the changes that life brings.
Life As A Veterinarian
Although being a veterinarian is very rewarding, it is also a tough career, and the mental toll can be overwhelming.
People may assume that our days are filled with kittens and puppies, however, in reality, they consist of pets that can be aggressive, counseling families during times of euthanasia or unexpected loss, and developing the best treatment plans for our patients, sometimes with limited resources.
Most importantly, we care deeply about our patients, sometimes to a fault.
Finding Self-Care And Wellness In A High-Stress Industry
Mental health and wellness are a high priority in veterinary medicine due to the high suicide rate amongst our colleagues. In a way, I’ve been forced to figure out what self-care and wellness looks like for me because I can’t afford not to.
One way I find joy is public speaking and educating the public on pet health and all things science.
When I began my collaboration with Freshpet, it didn’t feel like work. It was a great outlet for me to talk about subjects I’m passionate about— whether it’s the benefits of good nutrition, debunking food allergy myths, how to plan for the unexpected, or how to safely enjoy the holidays with your pets. I love that the collaboration provides a platform to reach people who may never step through the doors of my practice: CAWLM Veterinary Hospital in Houston, Texas. (It’s an added benefit that my puppy loves their food too.)
Work-Life Balance Takes Intention
To maintain work-life balance, I like to focus on the little things that bring me comfort like praying with my husband before we officially begin our day, helping my son test out his latest race car/roller coaster designs, cooking a fun recipe for the family while listening to my favorite tunes, reading an Afrofuturism book by one of my favorite authors, catching up with my sisters and their families on the West Coast, and having ladies night out with women I admire, trust, and love. These moments keep me grounded and bring me back to my center when I start to feel overwhelmed with the “failure” of not being able to do it all.
Hair appointments, nails, massages, and therapy sessions are also acts of self-care that are completely for me. To make sure I prioritize my self-care routine, I schedule my appointments like a business meeting. This allows me to quickly check if I took adequate time out for myself that month.
Usually, I don’t get to do all that I would like since running your own business means sometimes you have to put out unexpected fires, even after business hours. But the point is that I try and that I give myself grace to try again the next go around.
Just like my work-life balance is constantly evolving, who I am as a woman continues to change as well. Some of my hats may gather dust while I attend to the others, but they will all be loved, cared for, and at some point, be seen with my Sunday Best.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, please reach out for help. You are not alone. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
