Every year I find myself wanting to write about New Year‘s. There is a desire to summarize wins from the past year and look forward to larger opportunities in the new. Often the personal and professional lives of a pharmacist are intertwined, so any resolutions affecting one can have a direct impact on the other.

We all know 2020 was wild, no need to pretend we didn’t notice.

I wrote my last post in Oct, it was 6 months after the start of this pandemic. In that time, I’ve probably had a dozen article ideas ranging from breaking down the past flu season rush to Thanksgiving thoughts. There were thoughts of some Hallowe’en zaniness with some inevitable reference to cloxacillin capsules, and congrats to those pharmacist candidates finally able to write their PEBCs. Every single time I began a paragraph, I couldn’t help but reference the mixed up state of the world due to Covid. I got tired of comparing or contrasting everything we know and love with what’s been happening, so I took the coward’s way out:

I waited for 2020 to fade into the background and 2021 to take centre stage.

The page hasn’t so much turned, as we’re still in the throes of a global pandemic, but it does feel like the story is taking a new direction. Were there silver linings from all of the disruption? Absolutely. However it’s safe to say that an overwhelming majority of those near and dear to me are happy to put 2020 in the rearview mirror.

With that in mind, here is a partial list of my aspirations for this year. I hesitate to call them resolutions, only because one of my aspirations is to go easier on myself when I’m not as resolute as I want to be:

• Look forward to things – meeting friends, taking day trips, going window shopping, planning projects, etc. Living day to day in isolation is a sacrifice we make to keep others safe, but we can’t take for granted the incredible toll it has taken on our collective mental health.
• Better discipline – to make time for things that are important. Working from home has changed the dynamic between productive work and downtime. Schedules are fuzzy and personal accountability is paramount. I strive to improve my focus and re-establish a routine that properly dedicates time to work, and prioritizing my physical and mental wellness.
• Go easy on myself and those around me – For those that experience anxiety and depressive symptoms on a regular basis, the past year was another monumental challenge to face. As the economy opens, remember that better days are ahead, though it won’t be a straight line progression. There will continue to be days of self-doubt and isolation. That is okay, and expected.
• Communicate – Being open and honest with those I love is more important to me now than ever before. This extends to my professional life as well; being comfortable articulating my feelings around my work makes it easier for my managers to work with me to keep our work engaging and rewarding.

2021 is not the light at the end of the tunnel, but the light ahead shining over a vast sea of opportunity. Let’s sail forward together.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.