Running on Empty: Reflections on Residency Burnout

By Sarah Gajda, PharmD | LMHMC

Projects, projects, and more projects. Add in staffing, longitudinal responsibilities, presentations, research deadlines, and trying to maintain some semblance of a personal life, and it’s no surprise that burnout can start to creep in. I’ve learned that burnout doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it shows up as disengagement, decision paralysis, procrastination, or just a constant undercurrent of exhaustion that doesn’t go away after a day off. There are stretches of the residency year where the workload feels relentless. 

Burnout among pharmacy residents is not just anecdotal – it's well documented. National data from the APhA Well-Being Index and published research (Gyori et al., 2025) highlight high levels of stress and depressive symptoms among residents across the country. Burnout has been associated with increased medical errors, decreased patient satisfaction, higher turnover, and worsening mental health outcomes. As pharmacists in training, working in environments where patient safety and precision are critical, our well-being directly impacts the quality of care we provide. 

Over the past several months, I’ve had to be intention about how I get through the tougher seasons. Spending time with my co-residents has been huge; sometimes I just need a good rant session or to be surrounded by people who understand exactly what I’m going through. I lean on my friends and family outside of residency to remind me that there’s life beyond the hospital. I try to use project days strategically and actually take time off when I need it. Creating a small routine, whether it’s going to a weekly yoga class or working in my favorite coffee shop, adds a sense of normalcy. I’ve also learned the importance of communicating with my RPD, RSC, and mentors when I’m overwhelmed. They’ve been through this before, and sometimes saying things out loud makes the load feel lighter, but they can also help prioritize tasks and create a detailed schedule to make the work feel less daunting. 

In the middle of the tough moments, it can feel never-ending. But when I step back, I feel proud of how much I’ve grown and what I’ve accomplished. Residency has stretched me in ways I didn’t expect, and while the uncertainty of what’s next is a little scary, I know I’ve built the skills and resilience to handle whatever may come my way. If you’re in a heavy season right now, you’re not alone, and you’re likely more capable than you think.