4 Things Pharmacists Should Do Every Day

It is important for pharmacists to maintain their health even when faced with a stressful day. The entrepreneur and motivational speaker Jim Rohn said: “take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” Check out these 4 things pharmacists should do every day as part of a healthy lifestyle:

Eat a nutritious breakfast.

You may be asking yourself whether to eat breakfast before heading out to work each day or if you even have the time. Skipping meals has been associated with obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, and elevated fasting lipid levels. One study found that men who skipped breakfast had a 27% higher risk of coronary heart disease compared with men who ate breakfast.¹ Some studies show that eating or skipping breakfast has no effect on weight loss.² If you are normally hungry in the morning, then it is a good idea to have breakfast. Bring a snack such as a granola bar if you are generally hungry later on at work.

Get a good night sleep.

This may be easier said than done, but it is important to get a good night sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults 18-64 years of age get 7-9 hours and those 65 and older get 7-8 hours of sleep each night.³ It is important for pharmacists to make sleep a priority not only for their health, but also to be at your best for work. Check out the following sleep health tips:³

• Create a sleep schedule.
• Exercise daily.
• Develop a relaxing bedtime routine such as reading a book.
• Make sure your room is at a good temperature.
• Sleep on a comfortable mattress.
• Avoid caffeine in the evening.
• Turn off all electronics before bedtime.

Make sure to exercise daily.

Pharmacists should exercise daily to improve their physical and mental health. Even if you are not able to exercise for a full 30 minutes each day, any type of physical activity can help. Whether you decide to walk, swim, or run, make it a fun activity for you, and bring along your family or friends for motivation. I highly recommend taking an aerobics class such as Zumba, which will energize and motivate you. If you make exercising fun, then it is more likely to become part of your routine.

Take time for yourself each day.

Make sure to take time for yourself each day. Whether you watch your favorite television show saved on your DVR or read a few pages of the bestseller you recently checked out of the library, develop a daily routine that works for you. Create a weekly event with family or friends such as a game night. Fun and relaxing activities will help you to relax and recharge.

References

• Cahill LE, Chiuve SE, Rimm EB. A prospective study of breakfast eating and incident coronary heart disease in a cohort of male US health professionals. Circulation. 2013;128(4):337-343.
• Dhurandhar EJ, Dawson J, Allison DB. The effectiveness of breakfast recommendations on weight loss: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014;100(2):507-513.
• How much sleep do we really need? National Sleep Foundation website. https://sleepfoundation.org/excessivesleepiness/content/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need-0. Accessed April 15, 2017.