Adison Hoppas is a third-year PharmD candidate at the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy.
As a student pharmacist, it can be extremely difficult to balance classes, studying, working, extracurricular activities, and—most importantly—self-care. One thing I’ve learned throughout pharmacy school is how important it is to maintain a routine and stick to it. Prioritizing my daily routine has allowed me to be more productive and have more fun at the same time.
Read along to follow me through a typical day in my life to see how I balance my work and my personal life.
Morning
In the mornings, I usually wake up around 7:00 am. This allows me time to get ready, eat breakfast (usually a power crunch protein bar), and look some things over before class. During this time, I like to look at my calendar for the day and then make a to-do list of the things I absolutely must get done that day. As a heavily involved third-year PharmD candidate serving on four student organization executive committees, this keeps me on track throughout my day and helps me to not forget tasks I need to get done.
Without my daily to-do list, I would be lost. Next, I usually head to school for any morning meetings I may have that day and then class.
Afternoon
After class, I typically stay at the school to attend student organization general body meetings or any other meetings I may have for that day. Then, I’ll go home for lunch and usually take an hour or two for self-care (unless it’s a heavy exam week of course).
My self-care varies depending on the day, but I like to spend my time either outside golfing and playing pickleball when the weather is nice, reading or baking inside on a rainy day, or spending time with friends catching up on the latest reality TV show. If I’m not doing any of those activities, I’m probably spending time with my two cats or napping!
Evening
Once I’ve recharged my brain for the evening, I get back to being productive. Some evenings I spend my time working as an inpatient pharmacy intern or volunteering at the local free medical clinic. Other evenings I will spend my time studying and catching up on assignments.
After dinner, when I’m not too busy with academic-related priorities, I like to spend this time brainstorming ideas for the positions I hold within the school. For example, as the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy APhA–ASP policy vice president, I’ve been working on ways to remove the fear and stigma that comes with policy and increase the education we offer to students. This is just one of the many projects I am passionate about and have spearheaded this year.
Once I’ve completed my to-do list for the day, it’s usually time for bed! I try to go to sleep at a consistent time each night to not throw off my schedule, but I try to give myself grace because every single day can present a new challenge!
Staying physically and mentally healthy
All student pharmacists know that these years can be some of the most chaotic years, but remaining optimistic and prioritizing my routine as much as possible has truly allowed me to stay healthy, both physically and mentally. Taking time for myself allows me to take care of myself so that I can perform well in school and stay heavily involved in the organizations I am passionate about.
The goal as a pharmacist is to take care of patients, but don’t forget to take care of yourself, too!