The Vet Booster

08/09/2022

Beetje last minute hier geplaatst 🙈:

Maar vanavond organiseer ik een webinar!

Hierbij ga ik het hebben over mijn reis naar een gezond mentaal welzijn als dierenarts. En ook ga ik de 4 belangrijkste inzichten/tools delen die mij hebben geholpen om meer rust en een betere work-life balance te krijgen.

Wanneer: donderdag 8 september om 20.00 via Zoom (het zal een klein uurtje duren en is ook gratis)

Wil je erbij zijn? Stuur dan even een DM

21/08/2022

Super excited to share the new event of The Vet Booster starting in October.

Check the website for all the information:
www.thevetbooster.com

27/06/2022

Happy monday everyone!

just a reminder that you're a awesome 🔥

Do you use affmirations? Let me know your favorite in the comments ⬇️

09/06/2022

Are you afraid to make a mistake? Or maybe you prefer to call it perfectionism😉

First: that is totally okay.
I believe that the school system raises us this way.

Having this can be quite frustrating, especially as a vet.

If we mess up a diagnosis, a treatment, a surgery… our patient can die. A life that most of the time is very precious and part of a family can end.

Second: WE ARE HUMANS. Failure is part of life. Maybe in the future there will be vet robots, but until now we are still human.

Third: I have a tool that can help you: the self coach model

It goes like this:

It is said that everything that happens is NEUTRAL.

For example:
- I 'failed' my exam → neutral
- My patient died → neutral

The moment you start THINKING, that is when the neutral circumstance gets MEANING

- I failed my exam → I don't know anything → it will take forever to become a vet

- My patient died → I did something wrong during surgery → it is my fault that it died

What are the feelings resulting from these thoughts?
- doubt
- frustration
- anxiety
- insecurity
etc...

What could actions be because of these thoughts and feelings?

- No motivation to study → failing the next exam(s) → it WILL take longer to become a vet

- Scared to do surgeries → not doing a lot of surgeries → less experience → what if you have an emergency? with less experience and confidence it CAN happen that you make a mistake

What happens: a vicious circle

But, what if you change those initial thoughts? (and trust me, you can)

What would that look like:

- I failed my exam → I prepared myself in the best way I could at this moment → nothing actual bad is happening, I can do the exam again

- My patient died → I know I did my surgery well, but just in case I will double check my technique for this surgery next time → I will support the owner the best I can

Eventho it still sucks big time! Just look at the overall feelings here?
- hope
- confidence
- peace
- self-compassion

What do you like better?

You can use this model basically for every situation.
You can find it on: https://thelifecoachschool.com/self-coaching-model-guide/

07/06/2022

One of my limiting beliefs as a vet was 'I have to know everything'.

A way this manifests itself is that I didn't like to ask for help, because I would feel burdened and sometimes a bit ashamed.

To give you an example: in my first weeks working on Aruba I saw a lot of new diseases that are not common in The Netherlands.

I had this puppy with bilateral cornea oedema, who was very sick. And with the symptoms I couldn't think of a disease immediately.

So I was stressed and looking through books and got even more stressed because I couldn’t find something really fast and the owner was waiting.

So I decided to do a CBC and this was quite normal.

Finally I took a picture of the eyes and showed it to my colleague and within a second he said it’s ehrlichia. And of course he was right. I did a snap test and BOOM: positive.

I did see some cases of tick borne disease those first weeks and knew what to look out for, but the cornea oedema together with no abnormalities in the CBC confused me.

Before, I could feel very frustrated about this. I would say horrible stuff to myself, think of:
- why don’t you know this?
- how is it not possible that you didn’t think of this disease that is so common here?
- I should have read more about tropical diseases last weekend to prepare myself

Now that I know this is a limiting belief for me and where it comes from I can prevent myself from wasting time and feeling stressed.

Because I realized that it is IMPOSSIBLE to know everything.

If I ask my colleague something, it doesn’t mean I don’t know anything or I don’t know enough.
It can even be the other way around that a colleague asks me something. Do I think that he doesn’t know anything? No.

Being aware of my limiting beliefs means I don’t give up my precious free time and I don’t waste time looking things up. I can be more relaxed at work and outisde of work.

Are you aware of your limiting beliefs? Let me know in the comments if you want to😊

03/06/2022

Super excited to announce the final program of the first Vet Booster ! 😁

If you want to join you can sent me a message or sign up via the website:

✨ www.thevetbooster.com ✨

31/05/2022

30/05/2022

!!𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁!!

If you want to join the online masterclasses this June (every tuesday evening 19.30pm) don't forget to sign up.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝟯𝟭 𝗠𝗔𝗬.

If you have any questions/doubts feel free ro message me 😊

Dont miss out on! (like Lucky in this video🙈)

26/05/2022

What does a vet use to open the vet clinic?

25/05/2022

Do you feel exhausted at the end of a long workday? Do you feel that you don’t have energy to do things such as: cooking, the dishes, laundry? Or do you feel you don’t even have the energy to do something fun?

I get it, but I also have something easy and practical that can help:

Think about it: what is something you LOVE doing? Something that gives you energy?

It could be for example:
🌳 a walk through nature
🧘‍♀️ some yoga (like my friend Carlos in this picture😂)
📖 reading a book
🏋️‍♀️ going to the gym
💬 talking to a friend
🙇‍♀️ go for a spa
💃 dancing!

Ofcourse this is different for everyone.

However, the conclusion remains the same: When you feel that you are low on energy or when you feel exhausted at the end of day. Do something that you LOVE and GIVES you energy.

It doesn't have to take a lot of time, it could only be 15-30 minutes. You can do it in the morning before you start your workday. You can do it during your break and you can do it when you come home.
You can do it when it's needed to balance your energy throughout that day.

Instead of sitting on the couch and watch netflix (that will numb your thoughts, but let's be honest it doesn’t give you energy) or give in to the feeling and thoughts of exhaustion: make a list of 5 things that you love doing and every time you feel low on energy you pick something from that list

Curious to hear what's one thing that you LOVE doing and you know it gives you energy. Let me know in the comments⬇️

24/05/2022

Something I really had to learn as a vet: you can't help every animal.

When you travel to places where animals don't have the basics such as water and food or aren’t treated as part of the family, you learn this lesson so fast.

You can only do what you can only do at that moment. For example give a cookie or some water, and ofcourse a little bit of love. And then you have to let it go…

It is unfair and sad and horrible, but you can’t be responsible for every animal's life.

Same goes for that cancer patient whose loving family would do anything to save their dog's life. Or for the puppy with parvo whose owner waited too long to bring it in. Or for that cute bunny that always got the wrong food and now has chronic teeth problems.

It is so sad, frustrating and unfair sometimes. But the only thing you can do is explain as best you can, so that it won’t happen again and then you have to let it go

Don’t let the frustration get the best of you ❤

20/05/2022

We are people before we are veterinarians❤

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4NnPkECg3oE

A short documentary exploring mental health and su***de within the field of veterinary medicine.**Link to a version of the film with Described Video: https:/...

19/05/2022

Why did you become a veterinarian?

A question people ask a lot when you tell them you are one.
I became a vet because I love animals and wanted to be able to help them when they are sick or in pain.

A wonderful mission, right?
There was a time though that I heard myself answer this question and I didn’t feel aligned with it. I realized that I was not focusing on my mission at all, but on other aspects of the job. Think of:

✨ the overflowing schedule
✨ challenging clients
✨ ethical questions
✨ relationships with colleagues

Things that when I looked at them closely, weren’t worth all my energy and time.

Soon as I recognized this and re-connected to my mission again everything started to shift. The things that took my energy and focus away start to feel lighter and more positive. I could focus again on what I love doing, working with animals

So I’m curious, why did you become a veterinarian?

18/05/2022

❤

17/05/2022

POV (point of view) from a dog: sometimes hard things can be useful or even enjoyable 🤣

Anyone elses dog uses a stone as a pillow?

16/05/2022

When I began implementing these 3 easy steps into my day, I immediately had more energy at the end of the day for fun things

1. Morning routine: start the day with ease and positive energy

2. Taking a real break: even if you are a real people person. Just step a minimum of 15 minutes away from the telephone ringing and your colleagues. Best would be to go outside☀️

3. Journaling: A brain dump after you get home. After you've written it down you don't have to worry about it anymore and you can start enjoying your time off

Which one would you like to start implementing? Let me know in the comments

14/05/2022

Critism, how do you handle it ?

Sometimes it can really hurt when people have criticism. You keep thinking of what that client or that colleague said to you or keep seeing that negative comment they wrote on the internet.

You know you did your best. You know you are right. You tried to explain everything to the owner, but they don't see it that way.

Instead of overthinking, what really helps me in these moments is this beautiful quote from Jim Kwik. And he is right, you know.

It doesn’t matter what they say or think. Maybe it matters what your closest friends, your family or your partner thinks of you.

In the end the only thing that really matters is what you think of you🌟

Have a great weekend!

13/05/2022

if you are a veterinarian, imagine this:

🌟 after a busy and long day of work you still have energy for the important and fun things in life, because throughout the day you know what you can do to preserve and lift up your energy

🌟 you are super confident and not afraid to make a mistake because you value yourself above any other person or their opinion

🌟challenging clients are no longer a problem because you actually know how to turn them into dream clients

🌟 challenges that will always be a part of our job (for example ethical questions or having to deal with death) won't wander through your thoughts at night, because you have a strong and positive mindset and you are connected to healthy veterinary beliefs

To be honest this is exactly what I have missed in my training of becoming a vet. I wish I would have learned this in university or right after graduation. Because being a vet can be emotionally very tough.

I found a way to learn it myself but it cost me a lot of money and time. I dont worry about the money because money you can get back.

Time, up until now (you never know about the future🤪) you can't get back. I spent a lot of time doing research and figuring things out by myself. Besides being paralyzed and stuck in that eat-work-sleep-repeat, because I felt overwhelmed, lost and alone in this journey.

Just know that you are not alone. There are many vets that feel the same way. Sometimes it takes a while to realise that they can't keep working like that. Meanwhile precious time passes....

Luckily some of the vets are aware of being stuck in a viscious cycle. They want it different, but simply dont know where to start.

Do you recognize yourself in my story and are you ready to make a change?

Sent me a message so I can tell you where to start🌸

Online event for veterinarians