Take time to slow down and reset

Special Mental Health Awareness Month Article

James Brown is a third-year PharmD candidate at the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy.

Pharmacy school moves fast, and most days are filled with academics, school organizations, and various leadership roles. A CV shows what you accomplish when you are performing at your best, but your hobbies show how you take care of yourself when you need to slow down. They reveal the person you are when the curtain is pulled and the lights go dim.

In a world saturated with constant movement and stimulation, a time to slow down and reset is always welcome. Riding my e-bike is usually a way for that to happen.

My inspirations

Most times I ride alone and just let the bends of the road guide my mind. Country roads surrounded by farms, pastures, forests, dirt roads, the smell of freshly cut lawns, and lakes place me in a world that feels separate from the noise of everyday life. Other times my son rides with me in the comfort of the local park. It is a time to connect with him and teach him to slow down as well.

My wife and my infant daughter are also central sources of inspiration in my life. They remind me that while pharmacy school is important, it is not the only thing in my life that matters. Being a father carries a sense of meaning and purpose that extends beyond pharmacy school, and maintaining that balance is important to who I am. The physical movement and exertion also help release the stress that comes with constantly pushing toward the next goal. By the time I return home, I feel reset and better prepared for the next day.

Give yourself a break

Mental health and well-being activities are especially important for student pharmacists because it can be difficult to balance personal identity with professional growth. That struggle can wear on you, and at times you can lose track of how much of yourself you give up while trying to keep up with the constant demands placed in front of you. Even when there are breaks in the academics of pharmacy school, there are still responsibilities tied to leadership roles, extracurricular activities, working as a pharmacy intern, and many other commitments.

The demands and rewards of pharmacy school are high, but success should not come at the cost of personal relationships or mental stability. You need to make sure you give yourself a break from the weight of constant demands. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is step away for a moment, go on a detour, and remember who you are outside of the profession. Doing so helps ensure that the person you are at the finish line is still the same person who began the journey, only now refined into a pharmacy professional.