The queso cure

Grace Richardson is a third-year PharmD candidate at the Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy. 

Pharmacy school is hectic and stressful. Between memorizing the Top 300 drugs, tackling patient cases, and preparing for exams, it often feels like you don’t have time to breathe. What do I personally make time for, no matter what? Eating.

Let me tell you why my favorite Mexican restaurant is a safe haven during pharmacy school.

An intentional pause

My favorite place to commune with my friends is a local Mexican restaurant located about 2 miles down the road from campus. The moment my friends and I sit down in a booth at Las Palmas, the stress of school magically disappears. We discuss anything and everything that doesn't involve school. A small bowl of queso may not cure burnout, but being present with classmates and friends outside of school certainly helps prevent it.

These dinners remind me that well-being doesn't always mean an elaborate routine. Sometimes it’s about intentionally setting aside time amid a busy schedule to have fun. For me, Las Palmas is that time when my friends and I take a break and enjoy good food in the comfort of good company. It is that intentional pause, a place where my friends and I can hit the reset button. 

You can strengthen resilience

In a profession where you are taught to care for others, it’s easy to forget to care for yourself. I have been subject to pushing myself and saying that I will rest “after the exam” or “when the semester is over,” and even “after this week.” But wellness doesn't work that way. Just like medication adherence requires consistency, so does self-care. By intentionally setting aside time for moments of joy, whether that’s reading a novel, watching a favorite show or movie, or sharing queso with friends, you can strengthen resilience and protect yourself from burnout.

Practice makes perfect

Pharmacy school does not just prepare students to be pharmacists; it also prepares for the lifestyle that comes with being a pharmacist. Health care professionals, in general, experience a high level of burnout, so learning to prioritize self-care now will help you develop the discipline to do so in the future. Managing the stress of school and intern hours is only the beginning, so building a strong foundation in self-care activities is necessary for effectively handling stress in the workplace. The more you practice self-care, the better you become at it. As the saying goes, “practice makes perfect.” 

For anyone feeling overwhelmed and stressed by pharmacy, my advice is to find your version of “the queso cure.”