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Honest conversations with pet professionals about real life and how to show up for yourself with grace and compassion.
If you worry that you aren't doing enough for the animals and clients you serve—yet what you're already doing feels exhausting and unsustainable—you're not alone. In each episode, I talk with fellow pet professionals about what drew them to this work, what keeps them going, and what drains them. We explore the meaningful words, quotes, or mantras that guide them, and discover what they wish they could magically change for all of us in this field.
These aren't quick-fix solutions or surface-level pep talks. Whether you're a dog trainer, veterinary professional, pet sitter, or shelter worker, these conversations offer practical insights into navigating this demanding but deeply meaningful work—and remembering that taking care of yourself isn't just allowed, it's essential.
Episodes
Thursday Jan 16, 2020
Thursday Jan 16, 2020
Burnout is normal—and fixable
- Have you had the “Sunday night feeling,” the stomach-sinking realization that your break is over and it’s time to go back to work?
- Have you become less patient and less interested in other people’s needs?
- Do other people’s choices leave you feeling irritable or cynical?
- Have you started making dumb mistakes? Letting things fall through the cracks that ordinarily you’d catch
- Have you felt isolated? Had the sense that everyone’s counting on you, but no one really cares about how you’re holding up?
- Does it feel like whatever you do is never enough?
- Do you find yourself unable to leave work at work?
- Are you replaying situations in your head long after they’re over? Do people tell you you need to “let it go?”
If you answered yes to some of these questions, it’s likely you’ve experienced a period of professional burnout.
Leslie Stewart, PhD, LPC, says this is completely normal and to be expected.
Really. It’s normal. And expected.
In fact, most helping professionals (counselors, doctors, nurses, firefighters, social workers, and, yes, pet professionals) will have a few bouts of professional burnout in their careers.
Well, that’s good news and bad news.
The good news is that there are lots of helpful strategies you can use to set yourself up for success. You may not be able to completely avoid periods of struggle, but knowing what to look for and when to intervene will put you way ahead of the curve.
Visit https://colleenpelar.com/62 for the show notes and to download the Professional Quality of Life Scale, Self-Care Assessment, and recommended wellness activities.
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