Fuel the fire

I love my job and the people I work with. For me, that motivates me to work hard, stay late and give 110%. But what do you do when you no longer have that passion or fire for the place where you spend most of your time? I’ve been fortunate enough to have always found the answer to that question but I’m sure it hasn’t been so easy for others. Feeling passionate about your job is essential for success, especially in pharmacy. As soon as that feeling fades it leaves room for careless mistakes, errors and potential harm to patients. The first step in solving the lack of enjoyment in your professional life is to try to narrow down potential causes. Read: Taking the fear out of pharmacy assessments Do you like the people you work with? Do your daily tasks seem repetitive or bore you? Are you just plain tired and burnt out? I once worked at a pharmacy that I loved. As the one that organized it from top to bottom after a major renovation, I truly felt as if it belonged to me. Not in a financial sense, of course, but I put so much into shaping it, that it really was a part of me. Not long after the renovations were complete, a new woman started working there. She was dominating, controlling and had a toxic attitude. To make a long story short, she basically took over and acted like she was in charge, despite having no pharmacy experience, nor knowledge. It got to the point that I dreaded going to work and was often working entire shifts without speaking at all. For anyone that knows me, this is very much out of character for me, since I am outgoing and can be quite talkative. Read: Tech forges link between clinical and technology Unfortunately, if you are in a similar position and the reason behind your lack of enthusiasm for your job is due to your coworkers, you may need to find another job. I hate that I let someone push me to the point of leaving but it was necessary for my overall happiness. If a toxic employee seems like a permanent fixture in your pharmacy, the best solution is to move on to something better. Work that is repetitive and boring can create a different barrier to success. If you are constantly doing the same task over and over, it becomes easier to act complacent and overlook things you wouldn’t have previously. One option that might help in this case is to speak to your manager about changing up your daily routine. It’s likely that you can’t change your responsibilities altogether but switching with a coworker every so often may help to alleviate the monotony you feel. Alternatively, adding another task that sparks your interest is a great way to spice things up. Try arranging a “Technology in Diabetes” info night or take the lead on developing ideas to increase new customers! My grandfather used to say “A change can be as good as a vacation.” If you’re feeling burnt out, but taking some time off isn’t an option, tryout some of the suggestions mentioned above. See if a change in scenery provides the respite you need. For anyone fortunate enough to be able to go on vacation but haven’t, keep a few things in mind; the pharmacy will survive without you. It may be a little more hectic or even chaotic for your team, but they can, and will, manage. Having time to yourself will allow you to come back refreshed and stronger than ever. You aren’t much help to anyone if your physical or mental exhaustion could lead to mistakes. Also, pharmacy work is never ending. You’ll never be able to get everything done before you take a break, so accept that and allow yourself some time off. Lastly, a vacation doesn’t have to mean travel. If a trip isn’t in the cards, plan some self care at home or a night out with friends. If none of these hit home when assessing the reason behind your waning love for your job, do a self search and try to narrow down what’s really at the heart of the problem. After all, pharmacy without heart truly is a problem!

Fuel the fire

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