Vetlife was selected as BVNA’s Charity of the Year for 2022-2023 by our current President, Charlotte Pace. We recognise the invaluable work that Vetlife do to ensure there is support in place for anyone in the veterinary community in difficulty. Knowing that there is someone available to talk to, at whatever time of day, is a lifeline for veterinary professionals.

We are inviting all BVNA members and the wider veterinary nursing community to raise funds to support Vetlife’s important work. Between Monday 13th and Friday 17th February 2023, we are celebrating the BVNA ‘Have a Heart Week’ – and we’d love for you to join us by donating or creating a fundraising event of your own!

We have a fantastic schedule of events taking place, plus we’ll be releasing blogs and resources throughout the week too. These are all free to access; we just ask that you consider making a small contribution to Vetlife via BVNA’s JustGiving page.

Today, Bronwyn Bailey, SVN and BVNA Student Council Member, shares her experiences of what wellbeing means to her, and strategies for looking after her mental health. We hope this resource helps others, who may be in a similar situation, to recognise they are not alone.

Bronwyn says:

“What helps me look after myself is being aware of the first signs that I am nearing burnout. Just as I do for my behaviour cases, looking for their first signs that they are struggling with an emotion (showing displacement behaviours) enables early intervention and prevents escalation. For me, these are reluctance for self-care such as doing my skin care, brushing my teeth, and showering. When I’m faced with these difficulties, I reflect on why I might not be feeling up to it and do one of two things: I either try and do it, and show up for myself, or I don’t do it, and forgive myself. Remembering I’m human and having needs and things I’m reluctant to do, is normal and valid, and realising that rest comes before recharging, so sometimes just getting into bed and knowing I get the opportunity to try again tomorrow is freeing.

“Another thing is, I continuously trying new hobbies. I’ve tried paint-by-numbers to see if that’s my thing (to the koi pond painting I started a few months ago, I’m coming back for you!), I’ve started reading this year and I’m loving it. This spices up my routine as when I feel my life is getting monotonous, I go into a bit of a panic, as I bet many veterinary nurses can relate to. It’s also another opportunity to explore my interests and get to know myself better.

“Talking of getting to know myself better, I like to take myself out on little self-dates. Going to the cinema alone, going to a green area and reading, or walking, or going to a café is satisfying. A new learnt independence means I do not rely on others for happiness as I found my old self doing, and now if I want to do something I can get up and do it without waiting for a friend to be free. Last summer I pushed myself and went to a festival on my own, and it’s the best thing I’ve done for myself. I made friends in the crowd through our similar music tastes and made some great memories. I know this does not come easy to everyone, and it certainly didn’t come easy to me to begin with, but it’s a positive feedback loop; the more I took myself out, the more confidence I grew, so I was more daring to take myself out more.

“Another vital part of a good mental wellbeing is having boundaries. I take time for myself every day, know how to say no to potential plans if I know I want me-time, and I can tell people that I can show up for them later if I need to show up for myself first (such as if I’m having a rough day, asking if I can help them later when I’m in a better state).

“Perhaps the biggest attribute for a good mental wellbeing is my efforts for a good physical wellbeing. It’s a tale everyone has heard before, exercise, endorphins, etc. But I can truly say that after I got over the grovel of fitness, taking myself to the gym for mental health reasons has seen my mental health sky-rocket. I notice how my mindset has changed, and how it declines if I miss a gym session. I promise fitness isn’t as scary as it looks from the outside!

“By all means, I have a good overall mental wellbeing, but I do have days where it’s gloomy and things seem, abysmal. On these days, as mentioned earlier, I either show up for myself by doing self-care, or forgive myself for my ‘lack of productiveness’, and allow myself to rest so I can recharge, and come back fighting stronger. Forgiveness is the most powerful thing you can do for yourself when feeling low, as it releases the guilt many high-achieving veterinary professionals have when they are not doing something 24/7, and tells yourself that it is ok not to be ok all the time, you are human.”

For more information and to register for the webinars/events taking place during BVNA Have a Heart Week, visit www.bvna.org.uk or look out for more information on our social media.

If you are a member of the veterinary profession in need of support, Vetlife are available 24/7, 365 days a year. Visit https://www.vetlife.org.uk/ or call 0303 040 2551.