Veterinary students are a certain type of people. According to some research they are supposed to study longer, more intensely and for longer periods of time than any other course currently available at universities. They have bounds of information to condense, process and seemingly regurgitate in a paltry 5/6 years of some of the most grueling years of their lives. 40 hours… 50 hours… 60 hours and sometimes more within a week. Activities such as sitting at a desk, at the library pushing out reams of hand-written, typed up or downloaded notes to then simplify and speak confidently on… as if the past year was a breeze. Vet students do this week in week out, all in hope that an iota of information sticks to a neuron somewhere and remains present… at least until the exam date.
We work hard. Very hard. Stupidly hard even. Often in the aim to just feel like we are keeping up and not drowning in the latest 10 microbes we have to learn or what it means when the adrenal gland is 5x its normal size but the dog has a normal cortisol level.
This is why I have decided to make this, a step by step, dummies guide to staying on top of work, remain clinically sane and with the least amount of stress as (reasonably) possible. Many of these will seem obvious but you would be surprised how people will be willing to allow certain parts of these go unaddressed because they say to themselves ‘it should be ok’. Can I make the point to say this should NOT (notice the emphasis) how we should approach our mental health. I do hope that a consistent effort with all of these tips will render better results for any affected. This is exactly what we should collectively aim to accomplish.
Before I delve into the tips, I want to share a thought from Dave Brailsford (the new General Manager of Tour De France (TDF) team, Team Sky). In 2010, he was awarded the tough job to create a British winner of the Tour. His method for doing this was called the “aggregation of marginal gains”. The principle was simple, by aiming to improve that 1% in as many factors as possible. He believed that it ended up being the difference between success and failure. Since Wiggins won in 2012, 3 of the last 4 TDFs have been won by Team Sky British riders. With so many vet students working around the clock but still encountering so many issues, this thought process has helped me personally to overcome so many usually stressful parts of university life.
Bradley Wiggins winning Tour De France by the support of Team Sky
10 tips for improving your mental health
- Prepare – Prep! What are your long term aims and objectives? We all have to prepare day to day, whether we have shoe covers, lab coat or stethoscope but what do we hope to achieve for the semester? Year? What tools, resources can we source and how we will build on that? Having long term aims help you make sense of the short term noise that can follow you like a bad rash.
- Focus – This is usually subject specific. Identify a subject or couple disciplines that are you “main” priorities. With the amount of subjects that are thrown at the average student on a day to day basis, it is not reasonable to be excellent at everything. Set yourself targets based on interests and long term use within your career path.
- Grades – This is a controversial one. A lot of people find that grades are a great way to motivate themselves. I can see why. However, I personally feel as a vet student, it is important to work hard but it’s not reasonable to expect to always do well grade wise, even if you love the subject. Luck and bias are factors which can account for grades and in reality, being a good vet is about learning for life, not for an end of a module. No future client will be asking for your first year anatomy grades. They will want you to be able to fix their animal, if there is a problem (and how much will it cost (lol)). So do enough to pass and any extra is really up to your commitment. It will help you in future to be familiar with the information if you worked hard but working and grades are not always equal.
- Hobbies – This is largely underrepresented part of life in university. Where do we find the time to go yoga and art workshops or even working on projects outside of barrage of tests? As trivial as they may seem, having an outlet which is creative will give you a balance that improves your ability to approach your work. People who are able to be do polar opposites of their work often end up being some of the most accessible and talented well-rounded vets… commit to yourself improvement.
- Gossip – Drown out the fuzz. Literally. People love to gossip about other people. I often say its an easy way to not talk about the stress of university 24/7. It follows students everywhere and sadly veterinary medicine is no different. Whether it is one group of people calling someone a ‘parasite’ for asking for notes or another group of people trying to ask why that student even studies veterinary medicine, there will always be something. Unfortunately if you are particula
Stay away if you can, focus on yourself and your process
rly passionate about a subject, someone will have an issue with it and no-one ever really can stay out of it unless Harry Potter has a spare invisibility cloak lying around. At all costs, minimise being a gossiper especially about other people in a negative fashion. It is often more draining than initially apparent and can negatively affect your mental health. Imagine having to navigate that gossip every time you encounter that person or this group of people. No thanks.
- Seek support – There is a horrible taboo especially within medical lanes about seeking support especially surrounding mental health issues. Whether its the poor view of animal behaviour, psychiatry etc. the dim view needs to change! Mental health is just as important as your physical health, if not more. Within remits of a university working on both is important but often when you encounter a mental health concern, once its changed, its ten times as hard to regain. Seek a counsellor, a confidante, a psychiatrist etc. Someone who is trained to validate your feelings and help guide you through steps to work on your self-care. Do not be scared for help, it is not a sign of weakness but a sign of the greatest strength, especially when surrounded by such a competitive arena.
- Positive people – It is the oldest story in the book. ‘The people who you associate with are a reflection of you’. There is a lot of truth to it. Do you have people who stress and complain and focus on the problems all day and night? If you can, change it up. It is okay to be frustrated and be tired from time to time. It is a sign you are human. We all do it. Crucially however what no-one should settle for is to remain in a loop of stress and dark clouds. Offer your support to your peers but if they choose to dismiss it and remain in a ball of frustration for whatever reason, you can and will be drawn into that negative spiral. You do not need to be a vet student, counsellor, parent, brother or sister and try and look after your own mental health at the same time. Associate with people who remain positive and that will positively reflect in yourself.
- Relax – This ties into hobbies but guys… sleep is underrated. It really is. There are so many research articles on the importance of detoxifying your brain after work and getting your hours. Remember it not only is the quantity of sleep but the quality of sleep as well. Try and have a go to method for quality sleep. Shower, bath, go for a run, take naps… Netflix and chill if you have to. Safe sex is strongly advisable. (Tip: I found a good pair of pyjamas have improved my own sleep significantly so consider every part of your sleep routine!)
- Nutrition – Your body is a top of the range, Formula 1 car or a private jet commissioned by the dignitaries of the world… You aren’t going to want to put second hand, used oil into it, if you can avoid it. Pending the right price, you want the best you can get fuel to maximise efficiency. It doesn’t always have to be the most expensive option either! Off days and pizza is just a great choice when you cannot bear to look at the dishes in your sink. But do your best to minimise your losses to ordering fatty, high dairy, high salt, high sugar foods, high caffeine, high nicotine etc. Its the outlets we like to indulge in, I know! But every percentage you work away from these temptations, the closer you will be to feeling more positive about your life and with the tools (brain) to getting there.
- Do what makes you feel happy – Do not let anyone dictate to you what you are or where you are to go in life. You may not be the most naturally gifted person or the best student in the year but with hard work and attitude your accomplishments can just be as good if not greater than anyone else. Do not be defined if you don’t want to be. Be comfortable in your skin and realise that the majority of people who try to, will not be there when you start achieving. What they have to say isn’t as important as it initially feels.
Mental health is so important and I cannot stress it enough as a starting point to your lives as vet students. I can promise you, if your main efforts go into looking after your brain and body, you will reap the awards. Study efficiently, take time out, achieve a balance, have fun… all of these are stepping stones to success. Do not accept anything less.
Any mental health related enquiries or general thoughts, feel free to contact me at dreadyvet@gmail.com
Dready Vet 