Pharmacy over the years has had a greater and greater deterioration in work life balance. 100 hour contracts have made this even worse. Add to this Smart phones, tablets and the instant communication world where instant replies are expected and the stress levels of the office are never left there they are brought home to the lounge and even the bedroom. I was waiting for a train to London the other day and there were twenty people on the station and all bar one was staring at their phone either texting or reading e mails.
We must all endeavour to have a work life balance and reduce the number of unnecessary e mails and texts we send and this is turn will help to reduce the numbers we receive.
Check you are focussing on real priorities and remember to build some time into your week for yourself! You may want to get your hair cut or go to the gym or catch a movie, do not let it slip. You owe it to yourself and it is you that fuels your efficiency and wellbeing.
Internet Pharmacies are an opportunity for higher margins and better work life balance as the patients are virtual and interventions are succinct, information is exchanged by e mail usually or by a phone call. Pharmacist hours are usually 10 or 11 start and 5 to 7pm finishes. There are no waiters as such and they can be assembled all day and have to be ready for the courier or the post man in the evening. The standards in the internet pharmacies may vary from a shoddy warehouse to a purpose built pharmacy inside a warehouse. The rental costs of the lease and fit out are lower as the internet pharmacy need only B1 and B8 planning. The public do not see the units so they can be functional but do not have to be high quality shop fittings, they just need to be fit for purpose.