Advocating for Yourself at Work: Why It Matters

In the veterinary world — and really, in any caring profession — it’s easy to give so much of yourself that you forget you’re a person with limits, needs, and a life outside the clinic or office. We show up for our teams, our patients, our clients… sometimes at the cost of showing up for ourselves.

Advocating for yourself at work isn’t selfish. It’s the opposite. It’s a professional skill, a wellness tool, and a way to create sustainable longevity in the work you care about. And yes — it even has ripple effects in how you rest, travel, and reconnect with yourself when you finally step away.

And for those of us in leadership positions, it’s especially important. Not because our work is more stressful (all work is stressful), but because you’re setting the tone and expectation. If you don’t prioritize yourself, your team won’t feel comfortable doing it, either, no matter how much you tell them to use their darn PTO already!

So let’s talk about what self-advocacy really means, why it matters, and how you can begin strengthening that muscle in your workplace.

What It Actually Means to Advocate for Yourself

Advocating for yourself isn’t about being demanding or confrontational. It’s about being clear, honest, and proactive about what you need in order to do your best work — without losing yourself in the process.

Self-advocacy includes:

• Communicating your workload and limits

• Asking for clarification, support, or resources

• Setting boundaries around your time and responsibilities

• Speaking up when something isn’t sustainable, safe, or fair

• Valuing your own expertise and experience

Think of it as putting your oxygen mask on first. You can’t help anyone — not your team, not your clients, not your patients — if you’re running on fumes.

Why It Matters (More Than You Think)

Most people don’t burn out because they don’t care. They burn out because they care without guardrails.

Advocating for yourself:

• Prevents resentment, overwhelm, and compassion fatigue

• Improves team communication and transparency

• Helps you stay in your profession longer

• Enhances job performance and satisfaction

• Creates a culture where everyone can speak up

• Reinforces your self-worth

And here’s the tie-in to travel:

When you advocate for your needs at work, you create actual space in your life — space for rest, for adventure, for the long weekend you keep meaning to take, for that wildlife trip that reminds you what joy feels like. Travel is a form of self-advocacy, too. It’s you saying: I deserve time for myself.

Working With Your Team (Not Against Them)

Self-advocacy works best when it’s collaborative. You’re not demanding special treatment — you’re opening the door to healthier workflows and communication.

A few ways to approach this:

• Use “I” statements: “I’m at capacity with X. Could we reassign Y or shift deadlines?”

• Be transparent early, not reactively: Saying something before you’re drowning prevents more work for everyone.

• Give context: When people understand the “why,” they’re more likely to support the “what.”

• Ask questions instead of making assumptions: “How flexible is this timeline?” “What would help the team most?”

• Offer solutions: You’re not just identifying a problem; you’re helping fix it.

Healthy teams prefer honesty over burnout.

Understanding Boundaries (And Why They’re Not Walls)

Boundaries aren’t barriers — they're the structure that allows you to function.

Professional boundaries might include:

• Not checking email during days off

• Clarifying when you’re on call vs. off

• Saying no when a task exceeds your bandwidth

• Sticking to your scheduled breaks

• Separating personal time from professional time

Boundaries aren't restrictive. They are permissions: I’m allowed to rest. I’m allowed to have a life outside of work. I’m allowed to take a vacation without guilt.

How to Set Boundaries in a Professional, Respectful Way

1. Be Clear and Direct

Ambiguity leads to resentment. Clarity leads to understanding.

Example: “I’m unavailable after 6 p.m., but I can address this first thing in the morning.”

2. Be Consistent

If you honor your own boundaries, others will learn to honor them too.

3. Communicate Early

Surprises are stressful — consistency is not. If you know you have a trip planned, tell the team early so coverage is easy and stress-free.

4. Hold the Line (Kindly)

A boundary you don’t protect isn’t a boundary — it’s a suggestion.

You can be firm and kind at the same time: “I hear that this is urgent, but I’m currently off shift. Let’s loop in XYZ who is on today.”

5. Give Alternatives Where Appropriate

You’re not shutting doors — you’re offering solutions that don’t sacrifice your mental health.

How Self-Advocacy Helps You Actually Take Time for Yourself

When you consistently advocate for yourself:

• People don’t panic when you take PTO

• Your team knows how to function without you

• You feel less guilt stepping away

• You trust your boundaries enough to really unplug

• You create space for joy and rest

Travel — whether it’s an Arctic adventure, a long weekend in nature, or a quiet cabin in Colorado — becomes something attainable, not a pipe dream.

Taking time for yourself isn’t a luxury. It’s longevity.

A Permission Slip to You

You deserve workplaces where your voice is heard, where your limits are respected, and where you can both give and receive support. And you deserve time to breathe, rest, and explore — whether that’s across the ocean or just across town.

Advocating for yourself is how you protect your passion, your energy, and your ability to keep showing up with heart.

And if you ever need help dreaming up those moments of rest — whether you want a wild adventure or a quiet retreat — I’m here to help.

Yours in flight,

Tianna