My self-care top five

Michaela Mahan is a third-year PharmD candidate at the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy.

Being a student pharmacist can be a rewarding but stressful journey. Forming bonds with classmates and gaining new experiences through student organizations and internships is life-changing. However, prioritizing self-care is crucial for success. With your busy schedule, it’s easy to forget to set aside time for yourself.

Burnout can slowly sneak up if you’re not watching. I’ve experienced burnout during pharmacy school, and it’s given me a new perspective on the meaning of self-care and how to avoid burnout happening again.

Your overall well-being is important to handle everything that comes with being a student pharmacist; therefore, burnout is best avoided. To help with this, I’ve created a top-five list for helping my fellow student pharmacists avoid burnout.

1. Carve out time in your day to do the things that improve your health.

This is always easier said than done. For me, I like to do daily guided meditations. Throughout the day, I have reminders on my watch that prompt me to take a minute and breathe. These little reminders to take just a few minutes of my day give my mind the space to relax and refocus.

2. Find a quick daily activity.

Even a few minutes can have a positive impact on your well-being. I found color-by-number sheets that help me unwind without requiring too much focused attention.

3. Make a predetermined plan to destress from school and life on a regular basis.

Each week, I pick one activity to look forward to in addition to my daily self-care. I enjoy hiking and being outdoors, so one week I will plan to go my local state park and do a short hike. Another week, I might find a farmer’s market to visit.

4. Be creative!

I try to take advantage of any unique events or offerings that my school has to offer. For example, I’ve taken a pottery making class and loved it. My school also has a free art museum, so I make a trip whenever there is a new exhibit. Set aside time to learn a new hobby like crochet or knitting.

5. Get involved.

Find activities in your community to attend. I came across a silent book club to try, and now I go every month. Consider volunteering for a community organization outside of pharmacy. Animal shelters, senior centers, and local churches/synagogues/mosques often have service activities or college groups outside of your profession.

Worth the risk

I know that it can be intimidating to take this time out of each day and week. It was for me. I was apprehensive because I assumed taking time away from studying would mean my grades would suffer. I knew I had to take the risk and to my surprise, they never budged; if anything, my grades improved. Once I started taking time for self-care, my outlook became more positive, and I felt better overall.

Burnout does happen to student pharmacists. Creating time for well-being can help avoid burnout in the first place and make you more resilient to it.