Kaitlyn Q. Weslosky, PharmD, BCPP
Clinical Pharmacy Provider- Psychiatry
Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center
Wichita, KS
Dr. Weslosky received her Bachelors in Pharmaceutical Studies and Doctor of Pharmacy through the University of Kansas. Following her graduation from pharmacy school in 2019, she went on to complete her PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at The University of Kansas Health System and PGY2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System. Dr. Weslosky is currently working as a Clinical Pharmacy Provider specializing in Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorders at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, KS.
After months of residency on top of 18+ years of school, it is an exciting and proud day to start your first clinical pharmacist job. Many new practitioners have been dreaming of this day for years; it is what fueled them during the challenges of pharmacy school and residency. It is no surprise then that many new practitioners are eager to get involved with as many opportunities as possible. It is also very likely that they will be greeted with numerous invitations to join work-groups, committees, organizations, and other commitments during the early years of their career. And while it is important to engage fully in your work, this time in early practice comes with a high risk of overcommitment which can have both short and long-term consequences on overall job satisfaction. It is common for people who feel overcommitted at work to grow to dislike their job, feel resentment toward their peers and supervisors, or even desire to quit. The consequences of overcommitment can lead to unnecessary stress, poor physical and mental health, and burnout.
Oftentimes, new practitioners may realize they are taking on too much but do so anyway. This can happen for a variety of reasons in early practice. Sometimes, pharmacists feel insecure in their new position and seek out extra responsibilities to be seen as capable and helpful by their supervisors and peers. Additionally, new practitioners may find it hard to say no when asked to take on new duties, especially when the request is coming from a supervisor.
Other times, people may not realize that they are adding too much to their plate until it is too late, and they find themselves overwhelmed by responsibilities. People may take on more than they can manage because they are excited to participate wherever possible. After working toward this career for years, it is thrilling to finally be doing what you love. Because of this, new practitioners are often eager to take on new responsibilities without having a full sense of the requirements that come with such commitments. This leaves one vulnerable to saying “yes” to opportunities that do not actually align with their goals for their career.
It is much easier to take on new tasks than it is to shed old ones so it benefits people to avoid overcommitment in the first place. The best way to do this is to know what to prioritize. No one can set your boundaries for you so you must have a strong grasp on your goals and an idea of how to get there. Reflect on how this new commitment fits with your personal goals and how it should be prioritized with existing responsibilities. Think about your 5-year plan. Does this new responsibility bring you closer to those goals? Or will the time and energy required for this task interrupt you working towards these goals? Always pause before saying yes to new opportunities to give yourself time to reflect on these questions. This is important to do for big and small request as a few small favors can add up quickly. Take some time to learn what the commitment at hand entails. How many meetings are there? Do they conflict with existing obligations? How many hours per week can you anticipate spending on this commitment? If you are not sure the answers to these questions, find out before agreeing to participate.
Even once you have decided a new responsibility does not fit into your current schedule and goals for the future, it can still be challenging to say no. Often people are worried that by doing so they are closing the door on future opportunities. However, I would encourage you to think about it as leaving room on your plate to take on future opportunities that align more with your values and goals. Another way to keep the door open for the future is to maintain relationships with the person or group. Perhaps instead of joining a board, you continue to attend meetings showing your interest in the matter while respecting your personal needs and boundaries.
Managing existing commitments appropriately will allow for your day to flow more smoothly and your time at work to be less stressful. It will also allow you to identify open space to take on new commitments if desired. There are countless tools that can be used to prioritize work. One prioritization method to consider is the ABCDE Method developed by Brian Tracy 1 . This technique requires users to list out all of their existing commitments. Commitments are then assigned a priority level, A through E. A items are most important and something that must be done. These tasks often have serious consequences if not completed and should be prioritized first when completing work. B items are tasks that are still important and should be done but have more minor consequences if not completed. C items are things you would like to complete but do not have consequences if not done. D items are any that may be delegated to open your time to complete higher priority tasks. Finally, E items are those that should be eliminated. While it can be challenging to give up existing commitments it is important to do so as it allows for more effective time management. After your tasks have been sorted A-E it is time to get started completing your to-do list, starting with your A tasks.
Overcommitment is common in early practice but can cause harm in the long run. Overcommitment can lead to increased stress, resentment, and ultimately burn out. It is important to prevent overcommitment, but this can be challenging. A helpful practice to avoid overcommitment is to reflect on your personal goals and priorities to determine if a commitment is right for you or not. Never feel guilty for turning down an opportunity. It leaves you with more time to dedicate to tasks that most align with your personal goals and allows for that spot to be filled by someone who is truly passionate about the work they are taking on.
