Taylor Helms is a third-year PharmD candidate at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Starting pharmacy school can be an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming. Classes are more intense than those taken as an undergraduate, and there is a push to be heavily involved in student organizations. This can leave students spreading themselves too thin.
Chronic stress can lead students to experience symptoms of burnout, such as feeling mentally exhausted and devoid of motivation. Many students report feeling burnout at some point during pharmacy school, which results in negative self-perception as well as worsening academic performance.
At our APhA–ASP Chapter, combating burnout is one of Operation Self Care’s main goals. Each year, Operation Self Care holds a “Phit Pharmacist Month” and organizes various workout classes that students can attend free of charge. Some of the classes offered in past years include Orange Theory, Burn Boot Camp, Progression Climbing, and Purvelo Cycling. These classes provided a time for students to decompress through exercise while connecting with classmates.
How I take care of myself
I have found exercise to be especially helpful in overcoming my own feelings of burnout in pharmacy school. My roommate and I turned our garage into a home gym, and we work out together every day before class. Starting my day off with exercise sets me up for success throughout the day, as I already feel like I have accomplished a task.
Another thing I do to make sure I am taking time for myself is planning at least one social event to look forward to each week. Some weeks this is as simple as a “Bachelor Monday” with friends. But just being intentional with my time and making sure to do things that bring me joy has been so important in keeping my feelings of burnout to a minimum.
Make the most of it
You have probably heard the saying “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” I find this is especially true in pharmacy school. If you are not taking care of yourself, keeping up with academics and student organizations, as well as maintaining relationships with family and friends, can feel nearly impossible. At the end of the day, pharmacy school is only 4 years, so make the most of this time and enjoy it. It goes by fast!