Combating Veterinary Burn-Out Through Pausing, Giving Back, and Being Grateful.

A kid throws an ice-cold pitcher of water in my face. Thankfully, this washes off some paint, but I still look like a a clown GI Joe. I catch my breath for a moment.

Then another barrage of icy water appears out of nowhere. I’ve been blindsided.

I’m in the middle of a one-sided water fight. We adults are getting attacked with water (and occasionally ice). Amidst the war-cries and chaos I smile.

There is no place like summer camp.

It’s hard to believe just a few months earlier I was in the hardest program of my life.

I forgot how burnt out I was at the end of vet school.

Veterinary medicine seemed a million miles away at this moment.

The Importance of Diastole

After graduating vet school, I took a vacation.

That is the short story, devoid of details, but roughly accurate.

The more detailed story?

After studying like crazy, taking the NAVLE, going through a crazy on-call and clinical schedule, and working extremely hard, I graduated. Then I took extended time off to visit family, volunteer, and recuperate.

My clinical year was intense. I’m glad I did it, but vet school was incredibly stressful.

I was so stressed I had to wear a mouth guard from grinding my teeth at night (a sign of stress).

I had to put aspects of my life on pause. But now, I had graduated. I had free time!

So, I took a vacation.

I needed time to be human again.

I needed to rest.

While some of my classmates were unable to take a vacation due to starting an internship or residency, it was an absolute must for me.

At this time, I was reminded of my graduation commencement address at the University of Hawaii at Manoa . The speaker, current USA surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy, spoke from his heart.

He also spoke about the heart.

He explained that the heart has two phases. In systole, the heart muscle pumps blood to the body. In diastole, the heart muscle relaxes to allow the heart to fill with blood.

The heart is only able to pump blood to the body after first relaxing.

Dr. Murthy called attention to the fact that these two phases rely on each other. The heart must have systole and diastole. The heart needs moments of rest.

Likewise, in our own lives, we need moments of work and rest. We can only serve others effectively if we have first “filled ourselves up.”

To work well, we must rest well.

That is why a vacation was an absolute must for me, and I needed to choose a clinic that would allow me an appropriate rest. I needed diastole.

It’s terribly easy to forget to take breaks. To this day, Dr. Murthy’s closing line, “I wish you moments of diastole,” helps me remember to relax every so often.

Moving Forward by Giving Back

Part of my vacation was spent volunteering at the Muscle Dystrophy Association Summer Camp for children. The photo above (with signed release consent) shows happy (and tired) campers and camp counselors at the end of the week-long camp.

It’s a camp that brings together children with various muscular diseases to have a great time. From archery, rock-climbing, canoeing, board games, arts and crafts, to swimming, there is something for everyone.

For many campers, they say this is the best year of their life.

It allows children to socialize and befriend other children with similar conditions. They can do things they can’t normally do such as throw shaving cream pies at, and painting the faces of adults.

Doesn’t that sound like an awesome time?

Also, it provides an exciting break from their normal routines.

That’s exactly what I needed.

After spending roughly the past 10 years intensely focused on becoming a veterinarian, I needed to shift my focus off myself for a bit. I needed to change things up.

Now I had time to volunteer.

I am very glad I did.

Although I didn’t realize it at the time, volunteering helped to mark a transition in my life.

I transformed from a student to a doctor. I am no longer just a consumer and learner of information. Now, I have a responsibility to serve those that need my help.

Good leaders give of themselves generously, and sometimes in a self-sacrificing way.

Giving back through volunteering helped me to focus on striving to be a servant-leader in my new role as veterinarian.

It also helped me adjust to my new life after graduating vet school.

I also got a great tan. It's hard to get a tan in vet school.

Most importantly, it reinvigorated my perspective. I was now excited to get to work.

Gratitude Maximizes Happiness and Purpose

I’ve helped at similar camps a few times before, and every time, I am a changed man when camp ends.

Sure, I am much more tired and sore from camp, but it’s more than that.

I am tremendously more grateful. Assisting kids with muscular dystrophy helps me realize many things I can do that I often neglect to appreciate.

I can walk.

I can eat by myself.

I can use the bathroom by myself.

I can hold my head up by myself.

These things may seem little. But when I focus on all the things I can do, I forget to worry about the things I can’t do, and I can do a lot!

When I am thankful, things change.

I feel joy for all the things I am grateful for. It is uplifting and rejuvenating. Perhaps most of all, gratitude gives me power.

Gratitude gives me a greater sense of purpose. It motivates me to pursue excellence. I forget about myself for a bit and focus on how I can serve others.

Volunteering never fails to improve my perspective, and ultimately, my life.

It’s crazy, but through volunteering I oftentimes get back more than what I give. It helped me regain my passion and energy after four grueling years of vet school. Taking care of others helped me to take care of myself.

How do you take care of yourself? Feel free to comment below!