As a fellow healthcare professional, I completely understand what it feels like to be perpetually tired, overworked, and mentally exhausted.
I worked as an inpatient pharmacist at a hospital for 3 years, and I have a taste of life in the day of a retail pharmacist as well. I also had the privilege of serving my community during the most trying of times at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. I have witnessed the serious toll of the pandemic on many of my close work friends and family, including my husband. As a dentist, my husband experienced his fair share of challenges as well.
As a couple who got married in the midst of the pandemic and as members of the healthcare community, it was so humbling to experience the type of appreciation and respect we received at that time. But what really helped us escape from reality (even if it was for a little while) was our courage to get vaccinated and open the doors to travel again.
I know there is a sense of responsibility, pressure, and even guilt associated with taking time off or using PTO as a healthcare professional. I’ve felt every single one of these feelings before, but I can tell you from personal experience that travel truly helps you reset and refocus. And it allows you to go back to work performing even better than before.
Even if you don’t feel comfortable traveling or flying just yet, I encourage you to still take the PTO and have a staycation. You can always enjoy your time off in the comfort of your own city by checking into a beautiful hotel and having a pool day or a spa day.
As a healthcare worker, we always put others first, as we should. But over time, I’ve realized that our communities want to see us happy and re-energized as well.