Not all distractions are bad

Abstract

One of the popular e-mail “funnies” that makes the rounds periodically is about training a puppy. The puppy tries to do what the owner wants, until a squirrel runs by and the puppy loses all focus. Do you ever identify with being the puppy that sees the squirrel? Are so many things happening at once that there is little recognition of any one item, let alone focus on several items? I believe anyone working in health care these days understands. Everyone is doing more with less, and it is very easy to get distracted by the “squirrels.” Do you ever wake up at night wondering if you fully completed a task or left something undone because of being interrupted? We know that having well-defined goals is important. However, setting goals or planning in a busy pharmacy often is difficult. And, goals alone won’t always help. Dividing those goals into an achievable plan and prioritizing the plan is often necessary. Being flexible as priorities shift also is a must. Setting limits on meetings, checking e-mail, Web searches, etc., can free up some time that can be used for accomplishing those priority goals. On a daily basis, however, distractions occur that can eat up our valuable time and energy. Those are our squirrels. ■Well-defined goals and a plan can help you manage distractions.■Professional associations can provide valuable information and positive interactions. ■Well-defined goals and a plan can help you manage distractions.■Professional associations can provide valuable information and positive interactions. When we get really busy, sometimes we think of our professional organizations as a distraction rather than as a way to help achieve our goals. Through activities with our professional organizations, such as APhA, we can be better informed. Through networking with other pharmacists and health care providers, we can learn skills, techniques, and ideas that can help us meet our own goals. And, we can help others through mentoring and coaching. What could be perceived as a distraction is actually a powerful method of professional development. Information that is available from professional meetings or association websites can be valuable for pharmacists. Spending time, either in person or virtually, with like-minded individuals allows us to have positive interactions that actually increase our ability to focus and be successful with our goals. I encourage all of you to envision how APhA and other pharmacy associations can be part of our professional life. Don’t consider these organizations to be another squirrel passing by!