How to Unplug and Unwind: Your Guide to a Guilt-Free Vacation Return

Ah, vacation. A precious chance to trade stethoscopes for sunscreen, early morning rounds for maybe (just maybe!) sleeping in, and the comforting chaos of the clinic for a different kind of beautiful chaos – family time. You’ve poured every ounce of yourself into caring for your patients, and that break was essential to recharge those superhero batteries. But now, reality kicks in. The thought of juggling a mountain of callbacks, patient updates, a demanding caseload, and the endless needs of your family can feel… well, overwhelming.

Fellow vet moms (and dads!), we get it. That post-vacation dread can feel particularly heavy when you’re balancing the intense demands of veterinary medicine with the equally intense demands of parenthood. But it doesn’t have to steal your hard-earned peace!  It’s possible to support both versions – the compassionate veterinarian and the incredible parent. Let’s explore some realistic strategies to navigate that return to work without feeling like you need another vacation to recover from your vacation.

1. Strategic (and Realistic!) Prep Before You Leave: Setting Your Future Self Up for a Slightly Softer Landing

Pre-vacation time is likely a whirlwind of tying up loose ends at the clinic and packing for the entire family (which feels like an Olympic sport). Aim for strategic, achievable steps.

• Mama-Level Prioritization and Delegation: Identify the absolute must-dos at the clinic before you go. What can truly wait? Delegate with clear instructions to your amazing team, trusting their capabilities. Be honest with yourself about what realistically won’t get done before you leave. 
• The “If-Then” Handover (Because Life Happens): Create a concise handover, focusing on critical patient cases and ongoing treatments. Include clear “if this happens, then contact this person” instructions. If you’re leaving pets or plants in the capable hands of a house-sitter, make sure to provide a quick rundown of any important routines, appointments, and emergency information.
• Block Time for Your Return: A Gentle Re-Entry: Before you leave, block out the first part of your first day back (even if it’s just an hour or two) specifically for catching up. No appointments or meetings if possible! This is your dedicated “unpack the task list and the mental baggage” time. Acknowledge that the first day back might feel a little chaotic, and that’s perfectly normal.
• Quick Tidy, Big Impact: Even a five-minute sweep of your workspace before you leave can make a difference. Returning to a slightly less cluttered space can feel surprisingly calming amidst the storm.

2. Setting Boundaries While Away: Protecting Your Precious Family Time

We know it’s hard to completely switch off, especially when you care so deeply. But setting boundaries is crucial for recharging for both your roles.

• Designate Check-In Times (Only If Absolutely Necessary): If you feel you must check in, designate very specific times (once a day, perhaps?) and stick to them. Resist the urge to constantly monitor emails, text, lab work or EMRs. Trust your team – they are capable and caring.
• Communicate Your (Limited) Availability: Let your team know your communication boundaries beforehand. Something like, “I’ll have limited access to email but will check once a day for urgent matters.” This sets clear expectations.
• Embrace the Moment: This is your time to be fully present with your family. Soak it in. Those cuddles, the laughter, the adventures – these are the moments that refuel you in a different, equally important way. And if you’re on vacay solo? Oh. My. Goodness. Stop scrolling, sink a little deeper into that daiquiri, let yourself fall asleep during that massage, and turn up the music as loud as you want! This is your precious time. 

3. Smart Strategies for Your Return: Navigating the Double Shift

Okay, you’re back. You’re wearing both your vet and parenting hats again. Let’s tackle this with a plan.

• Triple Prioritization (Work, Family, Sanity) – The Glass and Plastic Ball Analogy: Think of your tasks – both at the clinic and at home – as a collection of balls you’re juggling:

  • Some balls are made of glass: drop them, and they’ll shatter. These are critical patient cases, urgent family needs (a sick child, a crucial school event), and your own non-negotiable well-being (like ensuring you get a minimum amount of sleep). 
  • Other balls are plastic: drop them, and you can pick them up later without irreparable harm. These are less urgent admin tasks at work, non-essential household chores, and social obligations that can be rescheduled. 

Your first priority upon returning is to identify and keep those glass balls in the air. Don’t get so caught up in trying to catch every plastic ball immediately that you risk dropping a glass one. Focus on what truly cannot wait.

• Batching Like a Boss: At work, group similar tasks. Respond to all those emails in one go, make all your calls together. At home, batch meal prep or laundry. 
• Communicate Your Catch-Up Needs (at Work and Home!): At the clinic, let your team know you need a little uninterrupted time to get back on track. At home, communicate with your partner or family about needing a bit of breathing room.
• Resist the Urge for Immediate Over-Scheduling: Don’t fill your first few days with back-to-back meetings at work or a million after-school activities. Allow for some buffer time to adjust.
• Progress, Not Perfection: You don’t have to be the perfect vet and the perfect parent and the perfect partner, daughter, community member, friend (spoiler alert: no one is!). Instead, focus on making steady progress. Remember: “perfection is the enemy of greatness”. Some days will be smoother than others, and that’s okay.
• Protect Your Personal Time: Once you’ve identified your priorities, guard that time fiercely. Say no to non-urgent requests at work and don’t feel guilty about carving out a few moments for yourself amidst the family and clinic demands.
• Practice Fierce Self-Compassion (You Deserve Joy!): You are juggling so much. Acknowledge that it will take time to get back into the rhythm. Be patient and kind to yourself. You are so, so amazing.

4. Long-Term Strategies for a (Slightly!) Easier Balance:

To make every return even less daunting, explore how the right technology can support you in achieving this balance.

• Leverage Technology for a Smoother Day: You can use innovative tools and technologies to save time and simplify your day. Like a more intuitive and efficient electronic health record (EHR) system that allows you to complete records more quickly and accurately. Or integrated communication platforms that make it easier to collaborate with your team, share patient updates seamlessly, and reduce time spent on phone calls. By optimizing both of these core processes, Shepherd Veterinary Solutions helps you manage your tasks more effectively and get home sooner to your family. Features like automated reminders, built-in scheduling tools, and integrated lab results can make a real difference in your ability to balance your professional and personal life.
• Foster Collaboration and Support: You are not alone in the rewarding yet demanding world of veterinary medicine and parenthood. Shepherd recognizes the power of a strong support system. Our platform is designed to enhance team collaboration, making it easier for colleagues to share information, cover for each other when needed, and build a cohesive work environment. This means you can feel confident delegating tasks and knowing your patients are in good hands when you need to step away. 
• Model Healthy Boundaries: When you can manage your workload effectively and get home sooner, you provide an example for your entire team. This creates a clinic culture that values work-life balance for everyone, and gives permission to all team members, including fellow parents, to prioritize their personal time without feeling guilty. With Shepherd, you’ll not only gain the tools to manage your work, but create harmony with your life outside the clinic.

Vet moms and dads, you are absolute baddies. Returning from vacation doesn’t have to feel like a punishment. By implementing realistic strategies, you can navigate the post-vacation whirlwind with a little more grace, a little more ease, and a whole lot of self-compassion. You deserve to enjoy your time off and return to a workplace that supports your well-being, both as a dedicated veterinarian and as the incredible parent you are - YOU deserve joy!

About the Author

Lauren Jones, VMD, is a veterinarian, practice owner, and industry innovator, and the Director of Veterinary Medicine at Shepherd Veterinary Solutions. A proud University of Pennsylvania graduate, she’s spent her career helping veterinary teams work smarter, not harder. Dr. Jones blends clinical know-how with business savvy to empower veterinarians, streamline operations, and fight burnout. She’s passionate about making technology work for vets, not the other way around, helping practices thrive while delivering top-notch patient care.