Episode 80: 5 hacks for supporting your mental health in today's ever-changing world

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During an interview on The Vet Blast Podcast, Sonja Olson, DVM, commented on the availability of mobile apps that can support mental health. Remarking on the fact that most people are nearly always carrying a phone, she shared some simple strategies that anyone can employ:

"I think that our phones have become a part of our bodies. We might as well use them for good. There are a lot of really wonderful apps that have become available to track our caloric intake, our activity, our breath, our sleep, and of course, more mobile resources equals more likelihood that you're going to utilize them when you need them...Download some apps that inspire you, some music that inspires you. Use that phone for good."

Lori Harbert, LCSW, commented on the importance of taking breaks at work to recharge one's mind and attitude:

"I think when you're looking at the culture of veterinary medicine, taking breaks is foreign to most folks. They're pretty much 'go, go, go.' They're driven by the clients that are in the waiting areas and the patients they need to take care of, so taking care of themselves is always last...Microbreaks are so important. There's research to support that if you just take about a 5-minute break at intervals in your day, it can reset, recharge, [and] refocus you, so you're not so exhausted. You would think talking about microbreaks is an easy thing to get people to do. It is not that easy, and we have to talk about it frequently because we don't give ourselves permission to do it, and that's huge."

Listen to the full podcast below for more.