Student pharmacists are constantly busy studying for exams, preparing for presentations, fulfilling leadership responsibilities, participating in service activities, and much more. With so much going on, it can be easy to forget to make time for yourself and your well-being. However, making time to destress and do something fun is incredibly important to prevent burnout.

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.

About 40–60% of pharmacists are experiencing burnout due to systemic challenges in health care, and an increasing number of pharmacy personnel report poor well-being postpandemic.^1,2 Together, these put both pharmacy personnel themselves and their patients at risk of harm in the process, making it more important than ever to pause and reflect on our individual well-being.^1,2 It’s challenging, though, to know what a “normal” state of well-being looks like for a high-stakes, high-workload profession—or, better yet, whether “normal” is even healthy to begin with.

To us, running is not about who is faster, can run farther, has more miles on their shoes, or has run in more places. Running is a way for us to spend time with people we care a lot about while still finding a way to spend time on bettering and advancing ourselves.

As a final-year student pharmacist on rotations, I understand the importance of prioritizing my well-being amid the demands of academia and professional responsibilities. I want to share with you my personal journey and emphasize the significance of self-care. For me, my hobbies and outdoor activities help me de-stress and find balance during pharmacy school, work, and rotations.