How do you fix burnout in pharmacy without changing the environment you’re in? There’s nothing. You can’t meditate burnout away. You can’t do yoga to make burnout go away. You can’t go to therapy enough. You can’t take enough Prozac or Xanax to make burnout go away. The only real way we can change burnout is by forcing major companies to completely change how they treat pharmacists, how they allow them to work in these workplaces, and the demands that are placed upon them.

And until we change the environment, it’s not going to happen. We’re stuck in a cycle where pharmacists are pushed beyond their limits, expected to juggle increasing workloads, meet unrealistic metrics, and sacrifice personal well-being for corporate profit margins. It’s a toxic equation that no amount of individual coping mechanisms can resolve.

But kudos to the pharmacists out there who are taking a stand. They’re refusing to accept jobs with tempting bonuses that come at the cost of their mental health and quality of life. There’s a misconception that there’s a shortage of pharmacists — what there really is, though, is a shortage of companies willing to treat pharmacists with the respect and support they deserve.

It’s not just about the paycheck; it’s about the toll these environments take on us as professionals and as people. When we’re constantly under pressure, stressed to the breaking point, it doesn’t just affect our job performance — it affects our families, our health, and our overall happiness. We’re sacrificing more than just time and energy; we’re sacrificing our very well-being for the sake of profit.

The solution isn’t simple, but it starts with us demanding better. It starts with advocating for workplace policies that prioritize mental health and work-life balance. It starts with companies recognizing that investing in their employees’ well-being pays dividends in productivity and morale.

So, to my fellow pharmacists, let’s continue to challenge the status quo. Let’s support each other in saying no to unsustainable work conditions and yes to environments that value our contributions and respect our humanity. Together, we can create a pharmacy profession where burnout isn’t the norm, but a rare exception. It’s time for change, and it begins with each of us taking a stand for our own well-being and the future of our profession.