VWhen Work-Life Balance Loses Its Balance. (And How to Fix It) with Josh Vaisman, Positive Psychology Strategist, CCFP, MAPPCP (PgC)
Happiness in the workplace. We’re all striving to achieve it and for some of us every day can be a challenge. As caregivers, we naturally prioritize care for others and frequently neglect taking care of ourselves. Our mental health eventually suffers which is one reason why so many veterinarians experience emotional distress in the workplace. That’s why veterinary medicine as a profession is working so hard to better understand how to improve workplace well being. The urgency of the moment is particularly acute with studies indicating that veterinarians are much more likely than non-veterinarians to think about suicide and 2.7 times more likely to attempt it. Learning to spot signs of distress and manage the emotional demands of the job are tremendously important.
My conversation with positive psychology strategist, Josh Vaisman is extremely illuminating. He discusses burnout, if work-life balance is real, and how to help cultivate environments in which veterinary professionals can thrive. Whether you’re a veterinary health professional or just want to be happy at your job, this is a conversation you need to hear.
BIO:
Josh has been a proud member of the veterinary community since 1995. In 2009, he took the leap into practice management and ownership, and continued in those roles in two small-animal hospitals until 2018. A lifetime optimist and overall “happy guy,” Josh was shocked to find himself feeling spent, alone, and crying over breakfast while his surprised wife looked on with disbelief. Recognizing he had burnt himself out, he made the difficult decision to step away and recapture his authentic self. Since then he’s dedicated his professional trajectory to elevating veterinary staff and teams so they can authentically flourish in their work. To that end he’s obtained certificates in areas such as Positive Psychology, Workplace Culture, and Building Effective Teams and is pursuing a Masters Degree in Applied Positive Psychology & Coaching Psychology. He co-founded Flourish Veterinary Consulting LLC to bring the knowledge he's obtained to life.
Josh lives in Colorado with his amazing wife, 3 insane parrots, 2 Great Danes that occasionally share the couch, a 7 lb cat known as the “Golden Child,” some fish tanks and a few bee hives. In his free time, he enjoys teaching about beekeeping, playing indoor soccer, and dreaming about moving to Kauai.