KICK ASS VETS (2026)

06/07/2023

PART 2:

7. FIND SUPPORT: find like minded people (often parents with kids the same age are most helpful because they understand) to vent, bitch, laugh, swap stories, and lean on each other. Knowing someone else also is struggling is helpful sometimes to know you aren’t alone.
8. ACCEPT HELP: learn to ask for, and accept help! This is exceedingly tough for me, and a huge one for both me and my hubby. But when pregnant, working, with a toddler, you may need help and that’s ok. Also, with this comes with accepting help as people are able to help you, and letting go of micromanaging tendencies. (See Superhero Syndrome blog for more on this)
9. GIVE YOURSELF GRACE: be kind to yourself, forgive yourself, don’t be hard on yourself, whatever term you need to use. If you can only function at 20% your normal, and that’s you giving 100%, because you are exhausted from growing a fetus, that’s ok!
10. SHARE THE LOAD: if you are lucky and have a partner, talk to them and ensure you are sharing the load as equally as you can. And that won’t mean you each do half of each task, but divide and conquer and it’s ok to play to your strengths. But as a “momma” you don’t need to do it all yourself!

It’s all DAMN HARD (for me anyways)… so do your best, be honest with yourself, your work, your partner. Ask for what you need and don’t micromanage so that others can actually help! And reach out for help if you are struggling! We ALL struggle, instagram pictures are high light reels!

And, slow down (I know, I HATE it when people tell me to slow down) and enjoy the happy bits, and try to not let the hard bits ruin your day. Remember, parenting IS a job, and any job has ups and down. 20% of the time you won’t like (or May hate) your job, 20% it’s the best thing in the world, and 60% is just doing and getting s**t done. There isn’t something “wrong” with you if you don’t love every moment with your little angel/monster!

Enjoy what you can, and try to ride the bad waves! And do it in your own style because none of us know what we are doing!!!

06/07/2023

PART 1:

Working, being pregnant, and being a mom… all at the same time.

What has it been like? In a nutshell… tough!

It will be different for everyone, depending on your situation, how much help you have (family, daycare, etc), working hours/schedule, your baby’s temperament, your personality, etc.

TIPS (Based on things that worked for us):
1. WORK SCHEDULE: if you can, be creative and flexible with your work hours to fit with your child care needs. (Ex. My husband works from home, and selectively picked a remote job to ensure this so we could share the child caring load. I selectively picked a job where I could work weekends/evenings)
2. ROUTINE: get into some sort of routine so you don’t get Decision Fatigue by 9am. Whether it’s what you do with baby, what you feed baby or yourself, etc. Babies also love routines! It’s ok to eat the same meal for dinner every night!
3. EXPLORE PROGRAMS FOR KIDS: there are lots of FREE things you can do with babies and kids, so ask around! Taking them to the library (lots have a play space), government run programs (in BC Canada it’s called “Strong Start”).
4. GET “ME TIME”: at some point you need time away from tasks and baby. For me this is nap time sometimes (but usually that’s when I try to get work done), or more commonly when I bring baby to “child minding” at the gym. They watch you kid for a bit so you can work out/nap in the change room/ swim/ relax in the hot tub. This was a life saver for me and allowed me to keep some fitness up which is important for my mental health.
5. TRIAGE: my good friend .vet.ed told me to triage things in my life and not stress if everything didn’t get done. This has been a mantra for me the past couple years! If it’s not life imperative… it can wait!
6. RESET EXPECTATIONS: for me this was huge, and continues to be difficult. Reset the concept of what success and failure looks like, as a professional, parent, partner, fitness, friend, etc. let those around you know you are doing your best, and you just can’t give as much of yourself as you would like, because there isn’t more to give. “That’s another puzzle piece I just can’t handle right now” has been my phrase.

17/05/2022

LOCUM BOUNDARIES:

Do you take last minute shifts?

Do you like that you can charge extra (1.5x or 2x for shifts scheduled with

10/05/2022

LOCUM BOUNDARIES TIP:

Do you give out your cell number? or your personal email? or do you have a separate email that you only use for work?

If you are the type of person that has trouble saying "no", and will feel guilt, or deliberate every single shift request... and you want a day or two 'off'... then DON'T GIVE OUT YOUR CELL NUMBER!

If you truly want to have time off when you are off, without thinking about, scheduling or managing work shifts... then have a separate email you use for work, and then you determine when you check it!

See blog: https://www.kickassvets.com/blogs/locumBoundaries.php for more details!!

03/05/2022

LOCUM BOUNDARY TIP:

SCHEDULE!

This is one of the most important parts of work-life balance that doesn't get nearly enough attention by owners, bosses, managers, employees and locums!

Everyone should pay more attention to schedule!

40 hours in one schedule is amazing, and hell in another schedule!

And, a "good schedule" varies from person to person.

Figure out what is "good" for you:
- long or short shifts?
- how many days/nights in a row?
- afternoon, morning or night shifts?
- how many shifts in a month?
- a big run all at once and then a break, or having the shifts spread out?
- every tuesday off for boxing class??

Determine what is "good" for you, and then make rules about which shifts you will take, and which you won't!

See the blog for my personal rules!

See blog: https://www.kickassvets.com/blogs/locumBoundaries.php for more details!!

26/04/2022

Locum Boundaries:

Determine if you are willing to be on-call, yes or no.

For some, this is hell, for some, it's no big deal.

Figure out who you are, and set that boundary.... and set your "price" for being on call... whats worth it to you, to your sleep, your ability to have a glass of wine, or do a work-out uninterrupted!

See blog: https://www.kickassvets.com/blogs/locumBoundaries.php for more details!!

19/04/2022

LOCUM BOUNDARY TIP:

Set SMART Goals!

Figure out WHAT you actually want to get out of locuming! Why are you doing it? For the money, for the schedule, for the variability.

Then, with those WHYs answered, figure out how to actually get what you want!

Figure out exactly how much money you want to make for life, so you aren't just chasing the dollar and working too much and getting burned out. Figure out what specific schedule works for you. Figure out how much you can actually work, or how much you can actually make per hour, so you can create a budget and financial plan! And, set limits that fit with what is feasible!

See blog: https://www.kickassvets.com/blogs/locumBoundaries.php for more details!!

10/04/2022

I see it over and over, veterinarians get exhausted and burned out from their full time job, and they quit to locum, thinking it will solve all their problems.

Then they start locuming, and the problems aren't fixed. They are still over-worked, tired, stressed, and burned out!

Setting boundaries in full-time work is important, but it's equally and sometimes even more important as a locum/relief vet, when you get pressure from MULTIPLE clinics to work!

Setting boundaries will:
- improve your feelings about working
- allow you to enjoy life (travel, family time, sitting and watching Netflix- whatever you do!)
- create stability and longevity in your career
- maintain an ongoing plan for $$ and life
- allow you to determine what rate you need, to balance income vs. demand
- give you actual TIME OFF, instead of illusioned time off

See the full blog: https://www.kickassvets.com/blogs/locumBoundaries.php for more!

30/03/2022

Create a support network to talk about Imposter Syndrome, to talk about mental health, to talk about everything you are going through.

Learning to lean on others, and confide in others, can be hard for people that are used to pushing themselves, relying on themselves, and being independent... but being an island can be lonely.

Knowing that other amazing, powerful, strong, smart people have suffered from Imposter Syndrome (like - who openly talks about her brushes with Imposter Syndrome, and makes me feel better about when it rears it's head in my life!), makes it easier for you when it affects you!

So, talk about it, and create that network, so you can have support when you need it!

- see Katie for all things Imposter Syndrome

Blog: https://www.kickassvets.com/blogs/imposter.php

23/03/2022

Celebrating your wins... no matter how small or large, no matter if it is work or life, is important in terms of acknowledging your successes and accepting praise!

So, be proud when you say "I've accomplished X" and say it loudly, to anyone that will listen!

- see Katie for all things Imposter Syndrome

Blog: https://www.kickassvets.com/blogs/imposter.php

20/03/2022

Now that I’m back to locuming, I’m faced with the question you guys ask me all the time… “What’s a fair Locum rate?”

You want to be paid appropriately but you don’t want to be greedy!

This is how I SET my rate:
- I determine what I would work that job for per hour as full time, then as add 25%.
- I then determine if I will be working the “hard” (weekends, overnights) shifts or the “easy” (weekday day) shifts and us that to slide or adjust that first value up or down by a range of about 20%.

IMPORTANT… it doesn’t end there!

This is how I CHECK my rate:
- I keep track of my billing so I know if aim over or under charging for my services, to be fair to both myself and the business
- I check to see that my hourly rate is approximately 1/4 what I am billing/hour
-1/4 is 20% production plus 25% Locum loading

It will vary shift to shift, but I track this to ensure that I’m doing my part for the clinic, but also to use as ammo for a raise if needed if I realise aim under charging!

If you need help with this and looking at your numbers and making a plan to ask for a raise, check out my CONSULTING SERVICES at www.kickassvets.com

09/03/2022

When you receive praise... just say "Thank You!"

Why is it so hard for us to say "thank you, I worked hard", or "thank you, it was difficult but I pushed through", or "thank you, I appreciate the compliment", or just "thank you" when we recieve praise.

We so often diminish our accomplishments by saying "thank you BUT... it wasn't that hard/ I got lucky / I had a lot of help/ etc."

Yes, acknowledge the help and team... but also, acknowledge your part in your accomplisments. OWN those compliments and be comfortable accepting praise!

- see Katie for all things Imposter Syndrome

Blog: https://www.kickassvets.com/blogs/imposter.php

KICK ASS VETS

06/07/2023

06/07/2023

17/05/2022

10/05/2022

03/05/2022

26/04/2022

19/04/2022

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30/03/2022

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20/03/2022

09/03/2022

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