Reclaiming well-being in pharmacy: Caring for yourself in a life of service

WELL-BEING

By Paria Sanaty Zadeh, PharmD

Pharmacy is rooted in compassion and a drive to improve lives, but that same dedication can sometimes come at a personal cost. Amid the daily demands of caring for others, you might unintentionally neglect your own well-being—especially early in your career, when you’re energetic and eager to make an impact. But by prioritizing your well-being, you can sustain both your passion for patient care and your personal fulfillment.

Throughout my journey, I’ve learned that building a meaningful, balanced career requires self-reflection, self-advocacy, and intentional self-care. These actions aren’t always easy, requiring continuous commitment and regular recalibration. With ongoing effort, they empower you to thrive both personally and professionally.

In this article, I share the lessons and actionable strategies I’ve learned to help you reclaim your well-being while leading a fulfilling career.

Building resilience

Finding the right fit in your professional journey—whether in a role, workplace, or pharmacy career path—can feel like a series of trials and errors, and it’s natural to feel discouraged or depleted from time to time. But resilience isn’t just about “toughing it out;” it’s about reassessing, adapting, and moving forward with intention.

I’ve navigated periods of uncertainty and self-doubt during career transitions, with resilience serving as my anchor. Each step, however winding, has been an opportunity to learn, grow, and redefine my goals. Building a strong support system of mentors, family, and friends has been invaluable, helping me to process challenges, reminding me that I’m not alone, and encouraging me to keep progressing.

Actionable strategies to develop resilience:

• Seek mentorship: Identify individuals whose perspective and experience can guide you through difficult situations.
• Reframe setbacks: View professional challenges as opportunities for learning, self-discovery, and growth rather than as failures.
• Build a “personal resilience toolkit”: Incorporate small daily practices, such as movement, social connection, and mindfulness, to strengthen your ability to cope and thrive.

Embracing imperfection

It’s no secret that the pharmacy profession’s focus on precision and accuracy can inadvertently fuel perfectionism. Early in my career, I felt self-imposed pressure to perform flawlessly on every task and demonstrate my value—a cycle that led to avoidable stress and diminished my well-being. Over time, I realized that this relentless pursuit of perfection wasn’t serving me; it was holding me back.

I’ve since embraced progress over perfection, adopting the mindset that “done is better than perfect.” Distilling projects into manageable tasks and celebrating each win has helped me stay productive and keep stress levels in check. Importantly, maintaining my focus on what I can control and taking one step at a time has made all the difference.

Actionable strategies to overcome perfectionism:

• Break it down: Divide large responsibilities into small, achievable steps. Focus on the next best action and complete one piece at a time.
• Practice positive self-talk: Shift your perspective from “I need this to be perfect” to “I’ll do the best that I can.”
• Celebrate progress: Acknowledge each milestone and win, no matter how small, as meaningful momentum.

Advocating for self-care

In high-stakes health care environments, self-care can often feel like a luxury. But I’ve learned that advocating for self-care is essential—not only for yourself, but also for the teams you work with and the patients you serve. When you prioritize your own well-being, you’re better equipped to care for others.

Recognizing well-being as integral to professional practice, rather than an afterthought, empowers you to take proactive steps to cultivate it through daily habits. By integrating and normalizing self-care, you can lead by example and inspire others to follow suit, helping to create healthier, more supportive workplace environments where everyone can thrive.

Actionable strategies to advocate for self-care:

• Model well-being practices: Share how you prioritize your favorite self-care activities and encourage others to do the same.
• Set a self-care goal: Whether it’s taking short breaks or getting enough sleep, make caring for yourself a daily habit with small, consistent actions.
• Create space to disconnect: Advocate for workplace policies that support personal time, such as uninterrupted lunch hours and coverage during time off.

Finding balance

Working in pharmacy has taught me that balance is fluid. It’s a dynamic journey to match your dedication to patients with a commitment to your own health. Striking this equilibrium requires mindfulness and adaptability as your roles evolve and life circumstances shift.

As the profession expands, it’s important to remember that taking breaks, setting boundaries, and communicating workload concerns aren’t signs of weakness. Rather, these practices are acts of strength that promote long-term sustainability, especially in our demanding roles, and they are essential for achieving the balance needed to succeed both personally and professionally. Fortunately, the cultural shift in health care toward recognizing the importance of practitioner well-being offers hope for a more sustainable future.

Actionable strategies to find balance:

• Reflect regularly: Check in with yourself to assess how you’re managing both your professional and personal time, along with your level of satisfaction with this balance.
• Adapt as needed: Allow yourself the grace and flexibility to adjust your routine when it’s no longer serving you.
• Focus on sustainability: Ask yourself, “Can I maintain these habits and this pace long-term?” If not, re-evaluate what needs to change and when.

Combating burnout

Despite your best efforts toward personal well-being, burnout in pharmacy can be very real, as long days and emotionally taxing situations take their toll over time. For me, reconnecting with the meaning of my work invariably helps reignite my purpose and passion. I remind myself why I chose and entered this profession: to make a positive difference in patients’ health.

However, purpose alone isn’t enough to stave off burnout. I’ve learned the importance of defining personal limits, embracing rest, and investing in practices that replenish me. Simple, mindful moments—like journaling, walking in nature, or simply pausing to breathe—help ground and rejuvenate me, getting me back on track.

Actionable strategies to combat burnout:

• Define and set boundaries: Protect time for yourself by scheduling non-negotiable breaks and stepping away when needed.
• Recharge daily: Commit to small self-care routines each day, such as a short mindfulness exercise, to mentally reset and restore your focus.
• Identify burnout triggers: Reflect on what’s draining your energy, like specific stressors at work, and take steps to reduce or manage them.

Shaping a healthier workplace culture

The pharmacy profession centers around the health of others, but it’s crucial to prioritize your own well-being, too. Caring for yourself transcends avoiding burnout. t’s about crafting a well-rounded lifestyle that empowers you to show up as your best self and thrive.

By addressing the well-being challenges faced by pharmacists, you create space to care for yourself while cultivating a healthier, more supportive workplace. Whether you’re navigating transitions, overcoming perfectionism, or recovering from setbacks, remember that you’re not alone. Together, we can foster a culture that values not only the work that we do, but also the people who do it.

Paria Sanaty Zadeh, PharmD, is APhA associate director of practice implementation in Washington, DC. She has a strong passion for advancing pharmacist-led initiatives, improving health care systems and processes, and bridging the gap between pharmacy practice and public health. When she isn’t creating innovative resources or managing projects, Paria enjoys exploring local attractions, hosting gatherings, and adventuring outdoors.