Despite the busyness of veterinary practice, much of our days can be spent sedentary, sitting in front of a computer returning client calls or completing medical records. Long periods spent at our desk can lead to muscle soreness or tightness and the accumulation of stress in our body. Ensuring that you move your body by standing up, changing positions, or stretching every 20-30 minutes is key to preventing stress buildup or tension in the body. During this 15-minute video, Dr. Marie...

Yoga nidra, also known as "yogic sleep," is a powerful technique from the ancient yogic tradition that induces a state of deep relaxation while maintaining awareness. Research demonstrates that those who practise yoga nidra have enhanced activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, as well as reduced symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Yoga nidra offers numerous benefits for veterinary care providers, including stress reduction, improved sleep, and mind-body integration. This...

Feeling stressed about a conversation with a difficult client? Or anxious before going into a challenging surgery? Or stuck ruminating on a tense moment with a coworker that occurred the day before? Breathing exercises are a simple and easy way for you to calm your central nervous system and deactivate the fight or flight response. Watch this video and listen as veterinary wellness advocate and Thrive! collaborator, Dr. Marie Holowaychuk guides you through FIVE quick breathing exercises that...

The practice of mindfulness meditation has been shown to reduce burnout, enhance self-care, decrease mistakes, and improve focus among healthcare providers. When practiced routinely, mindfulness also has mental and physical health benefits including reduced depression and anxiety, enhanced energy, and improved cardiovascular health. This 20-minute mindfulness meditation session is brought to you by Thrive! and guided by Marie Holowaychuk, DVM, Dipl. ACVECC, CYT. Listen to Dr. Marie’s voice as...

The holiday season is a stressful time of year for many of us due to family obligations, financial concerns, and other commitments. More than one third of individuals surveyed report an increase in stress levels this time of year, which makes taking steps to preserve our mental and physical health that much more important.

Approximately 1 in 3 Canadians will experience insomnia as an adult with difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep to feel sufficiently rested. While there are many medical reasons for insomnia that would benefit from a physician’s advice (e.g., sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux), most individuals who experience insomnia do so because of stress or worry.

World Mental Health Day is on October 10th and is a reminder of the importance of preventing mental health stigma. Individuals with mental health stigma are less likely to seek support and more likely to resist treatment for mental illness. Some steps can be taken to mitigate mental health stigma among individuals and veterinary teams.

Healthy boundaries are prudent to preserving relationships, coping with stress, and preventing burnout. Setting boundaries can feel uncomfortable and intimidating for veterinary professionals who are often people pleasers used to prioritizing others’ needs before their own.

Veterinary professionals often take work home by completing medical records on the couch, talking about the day’s events with a partner, or ruminating on a case while lying in bed. These activities can impede a sense of work-life separation, resulting in compassion fatigue or burnout.