Thriving in a demanding environment
Juan Garcia is a final-year PharmD candidate at the Purdue University College of Pharmacy.
Student pharmacists’ schedules can often be extremely demanding, with the need to balance schoolwork, extracurriculars, a job, and more. With hustle culture—an environment that emphasizes hard work and long hours above all else—being ever more present in society, it can be easy to think of self-care as lazy or selfish.
Taking care of yourself is not selfish, and you should do your best to find ways to incorporate and prioritize it in your schedule. During pharmacy school, this means you should be taking regular breaks, saying “no” when necessary, and understanding your limits. As you get ready for a career as a pharmacist, it is imperative to remember the saying “You cannot pour from an empty cup.” You must take care of yourself before dedicating everything to helping patients.
Do what works for you
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to wellness! When searching for ways to incorporate wellness into your routine, find the activities that truly make you happy and keep you healthy. Make those a priority. If you have no idea where to start, reach out to those around you (fellow students, professors, coworkers, etc.) and get an idea of things you might like to try. Some of my favorite wellness activities include
- Listening to music/podcasts
- Watching movies and shows
- Lifting weights at the gym
- Being around friends and family
Even after you have an idea of what you enjoy doing, I encourage you to continue trying new habits to see what other activities you might enjoy. Regardless of what activities you decide to engage in, the most important element is that you are consistent. Whether you update a calendar, to-do list, or set reminders on your phone—whatever works best for you—find some way to make it part of your schedule.
Finally, find a balance and remind yourself that not every day, week, or month is going to be perfect.
Progress is not linear
As you get further into your wellness journey, it’s important to remind yourself that not every day is going to be good, and that’s okay. Life is going to be full of ups and downs. During your good days, express your gratitude, and, on your bad days, remember that life does get better.
If you ever find yourself struggling, never be afraid to reach out to those around you and ask for help.