How many times have you said (or thought):
"There just aren’t enough hours in the day."

If you’re in veterinary practice, chances are it’s a daily mantra. Between back-to-back consults, unexpected emergencies, staff questions, and a mountain of admin, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly rushing yet never really moving forward.

But here’s the truth: doing too much doesn’t make you more effective - it makes you less valuable.

When “Busy” Becomes the Default

One of the biggest frustrations in vet practice is the unrealistic expectation that everything can (and should) be squeezed into a single day. Clients run late, emergencies derail schedules, paperwork piles up - and yet the pressure to “do more” never seems to let up.

The result? Overworked vets and nurses who are constantly busy but not always productive. And being stuck in this cycle has hidden costs:

• Declining focus
• Rising stress and mistakes
• Team burnout
• A creeping sense that you’re always behind
  
  

If you’re nodding along, it might be time to rethink how you’re working - not just how much.

Urgent vs. Important: The Matrix That Changes Everything

President Eisenhower famously said: “What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important.”

Enter the Eisenhower Matrix, a simple but powerful way to stop wasting time on tasks that don’t matter:

1. Urgent + Important → Do these first.
2. Important but Not Urgent → Schedule them before they become crises.
3. Urgent but Not Important → Delegate them - they’re usually other people’s agendas.
4. Not Urgent + Not Important → Delete them - they’re clutter disguised as work.
   
   

In practice?

• That never-ending inbox = urgent but not important.
• The project you keep pushing aside = important but not urgent.
• The task that’s been on your to-do list for months? Probably neither important nor urgent.
  
  

The hidden cost of doing too much is that you spend your energy on low-value tasks while high-value, strategic work slips further away.

The Power of Doing Less (on Purpose)

Here’s a counterintuitive truth: the best way to get more done is to do less.

One practical strategy? The “three things a day” rule.
Pick just three meaningful tasks you will complete today - and when they’re done, stop.

For one vet leader, this shift changed everything:

• Less overwhelm
• More control
• Visible progress every single day
  
  

Instead of chasing endless lists, focus on the few things that actually move the needle for your patients, your practice, and your wellbeing.

Delegating and Deleting Without Guilt

Many vets struggle with delegation, convinced only they can do things properly. But here’s the reality: if it’s not the best use of your skillset, it’s costing your practice more than it’s saving.

Ask yourself:

• Could someone else on the team do this faster or just as well?
• Could outsourcing (accountant, VA, lab services) free up my focus?
• Does this task even need to exist?
  
  

Deleting low-value tasks isn’t failure. It’s leadership.

Final Thought: Your Time Is Your Most Valuable Asset

You can’t create more hours in the day, but you can take back control of how you use them.

The hidden cost of doing too much is not just exhaustion - it’s the opportunity cost of never doing the things that matter most.

So tomorrow, instead of starting with everything, start with three things.
Delete the noise. Delegate the rest.

Because in vet med, your time isn’t just precious. It’s the difference between burnout and balance.

Take Back Your Time with The Lost Vet

At The Lost Vet, we help you find your passion and purpose again. 

You’ll have:

• The job you always dreamed of
• More time for you and your friends and family, hobbies and interests
• Increased profit and growth with less stress
• An empowered team
• Clients that truly value the service and advice you provide

Don’t take our word for it, contact us today to find your passion and purpose again.