Dear Vet Students and New Grads: You Deserve A Career That Feels Good

Dear veterinary students and new grads,

In light of a recent article directed towards you by a well-respected leader in veterinary medicine that may have felt disheartening or discouraging, this is what I want you to know as a recovered burned out veterinarian. 

The way we're taught to achieve health and success doesn’t work…

IF you want it to be sustainable and to feel good.

That’s why our profession struggles with burnout. 

It’s not because of individual flaws or weaknesses.
It’s because we are a profession of high achievers, determined to succeed and do things "right", while following an approach that is fundamentally flawed. 

Getting into and through vet school requires you to jump through specific hoops, follow the rules, impress “higher ups,” and constantly strive for perfection. You’ve been selected and rewarded for your willingness to self-sacrifice and to quiet your own voice in favor of authority.

Once you’re a veterinarian, you get to take the reins and stop doing that.

This is your career and your life. You no longer need to prove yourself by playing by someone else’s rules. You get to define what success looks like for you, and reconnect with the heart of why you chose this profession in the first place.

There are endless paths and opportunities in vet med.
You get to make it work for you.

It's time we change the narrative and show how to achieve real success by working smarter, not harder. Here are some places to start:

Your Body and Nervous System Are Your Compass, Not A Weakness

In a world that praises hustle, self-sacrifice, numbing stress, and pushing through exhaustion, we’ve been taught to ignore our own bodies.

But your body and nervous system aren’t inconveniences, they’re your internal compass.

In fact, your body is the one thing in this world completely devoted to taking care of you. It has important things to say.

When you listen to it, you gain clarity about what aligns with and supports your energy, values, and goals—and what drains them.

When your body doesn’t feel like it’s cooperating, that’s not a failure. It’s feedback. It means it’s time to make an adjustment: physically, mentally, or emotionally.

That self-awareness will help you to navigate career decisions, relationships, and healthy habits in a way that works with you instead of against you.

If you end the day feeling depleted, irritable, or numb, pause.
Reflect.
What specific things contributed to that feeling?
What needs to change so that doesn't become your norm?

Burnout doesn’t happen overnight.
Your body sends signs. When you learn to listen with compassion and curiosity, you will prevent burnout.

Give Yourself Space To Dream First 

Before diving into logistics, give yourself space to imagine the life you actually want—in and outside of vet med.

If you don’t dream first and allow yourself to be completely honest with yourself, you’ll end up negotiating yourself out of the life you really want. You’ll settle for what seems “reasonable,” instead of what would make you look back one day and think: No regrets.

So start there.

What brings richness, joy, and fulfillment to your life?

Get clear on what matters most, then look for ways to make it possible instead of reasons to believe it isn’t.

When you practice medicine in a way that feels aligned and sustainable, everyone benefits—your patients, clients, team, family, friends, and most importantly: you.

Don’t Let Others Disconnect You From Yourself

Throughout your career, you’ll hear a lot of opinions about what you should do, how you should act, and who you should be from pet owners, friends, family, coworkers, mentors, and strangers.

If you try to please everyone, you’ll lose yourself.

Spend less time worrying about what others think and more time strengthening your relationship with yourself and getting to know who you are when you're not trying to be who you think others expect you to be.

The more grounded and authentic you are, the easier it becomes to attract the people and workplaces who value you and to set boundaries with the ones who don’t.

Surround Yourself with People Who Lift You Up

Just because someone has more experience doesn’t mean they know what’s best for you.

You’ve already proven that you’re smart, driven, and capable. Your voice and perspective matter.

If a mentor or leader tells you that the only way to succeed is by seeing 40 patients a day and that doesn’t sit well with you, trust that. That person probably isn't the right fit for you.

Instead, find people who inspire and make you excited about what's possible. Seek out mentors and colleagues who respect your boundaries, remind you to put your own oxygen mask on first, and support you in chasing after your goals (not theirs). 

Vet med doesn’t need to be done the way it’s always been done. In fact, that’s part of the problem. Don't let other people's limiting beliefs get in your way. Innovate. Create. Collaborate. And start networking now. You never know which conversation will change your life.

Ask yourself:

• Does this feedback or environment help me feel inspired, supported, and safe to make mistakes, be human, and grow?
• Or does it leave me feeling small, stuck, afraid to fail, or like a machine?

You’ve been trained to be analytical, but don’t forget your intuition.
Your gut has wisdom your logical brain might overlook. 

Plan Ahead for the Hard Days

Some days will feel hard. Really hard.
And on those days, the temptation to numb out with something like alcohol so that you don't have to feel that pain will be strong.

Prepare for that now so that instead of resisting those emotions you can move through them.

Start building a toolbox of strategies that help you to process and release emotions.
Find people who understand the unique challenges of vet med who can be there to support you and talk to you on those hard days so you're not alone.

These days should not be your norm, but they will happen. 
Painful emotions are temporary.
Avoiding them is what gives them power and will weigh you down.

A Few More Pearls (From Someone Who's Been There) 

💪🏻 Don’t let anyone else define your worth or workload.
Only you can decide what’s right for your body, your energy, and your life. It doesn’t matter how many patients someone else sees or how many hours they work in a week. You are on your own journey. Listen to what you need in each season of life. It will evolve. That's normal.

💸 Meet with a financial planner.
Be proactive to create a plan that allows you to enjoy your life now while also preparing for the future. Student loans aren’t a reason to put your life on hold. Don't lose sight of what adds richness to your life.

✨ Clients remember how you made them feel.
They’re not here to grade you. They want to feel heard, respected, confident that you care, and to trust you. It doesn't matter how much you know if you can't communicate effectively with the owner. Every conversation is an opportunity to practice. 

🔍 Ditch judgment. Embrace curiosity.
The only reason someone has a different opinion than you is because they have a different perspective and life experiences. Different opinions aren't a threat, they're an opportunity to expand your understanding. One of the easiest hacks to support your energy and growth is to get curious instead of judging any time you feel stuck or frustrated (with yourself or others). 

🌱 Protect time to be a whole human.
You are more than a veterinarian. Prioritize space for joy, connection, hobbies, rest, and the other things in life that matter.

Final Thoughts

You're a veterinary professional, and that is something to be so proud of.

But you are also so much more than that.

You deserve a life and career that energizes you instead of draining you. One where you wake up excited about the work you do and have energy left to enjoy the life you’re creating.

You're not naive or selfish for wanting to feel good.
You are a leader.
And you are the future of this profession.
Break the norm.

💡 Want support navigating vet med and life in a way that lights you up instead of burns you out?

🎓 Learn the concepts we should be learning in vet school for a sustainable, thriving career (including a nervous system based fear free approach for humans):
Beat Burnout: What We Should Have Learned in Vet School
RACE-approved for 4 hours of CE.

🌟 Ready for deeper support every step of the way so that you can feel good inside and out instead of just looking good on paper?
Learn more about my 6 month Life Boost coaching program
It's RACE-approved for 8 CE hours so you can use your CE stipend!