Pharmacy school for me is a full-body workout for the brain, with hour of lectures, labs, and exams that can feel like a marathon with no finish line. But I never want it to consume my entire identity. Holding space for my own creative projects reminds me I am more than lecture slides and lab coats. It also keeps my stress in check. Personal time feels like a reward I look forward to, so I work harder and smarter on school tasks first, knowing my passions are waiting on the other side.

(Here are the passions that keep my curiosity alive)

What I Juggle Outside the Classroom

Private Notes-app journaling. I keep a running journal of feelings, stray thoughts, and tiny lessons. It’s a judgment-free zone that lets me process life before I ever share a polished post.

Cooking at home. When I became serious about my health, I realized restaurant calories were sabotaging my goals. Cooking meets my health goals while sparking creativity. Stirring a pot of peppersoup-a spicy West African soup often made with ingredients like goat meat, chicken, or fish, and flavored with bold spices like scotch bonnet-after a long study session feels like therapy.

Solo travel. Travel teaches me far more than any history class did. I plan my own itineraries, join Facebook groups for local tips, and figure things out on the go. Every trip stretches my perspective and fuels a fresh batch of curiosity for when I get back to the pharmacy bench.

Student leadership. From fraternity chapter meetings to committee work, these roles sharpen my soft skills and remind me why collaboration matters in healthcare.

(Here’s how I carve out time for my passions)

Where the Time Actually Comes From

• Thursday nights. After chapter, my brothers and I catch up until 1 AM, just conversation and laughter.
• Comfort-show binges or reading when my brain refuses more drug cards.
• “Say yes” moments. If friends suggest lunch or a quick outing, I protect that time. Lunch with friends recharges my focus for late-night study sessions more than caffeine ever could.
• Saturday fight nights. Watching UFC is a non-negotiable reset button that refuels my motivation for the week.

(Even with this system, overload still sneaks in.)

When Everything Feels Like Too Much

The worst overwhelm hits when my effort outpaces my results. When overwhelm hits, I use a 10-minute ‘brain dump’ in my Notes app to list every task, then prioritize three to tackle that day. It’s like decluttering my mind. I used to compare myself to classmates who partied or traveled and still seemed to ace exams. That habit had to go. I remind myself that everyone’s path is different and focus on my own growth instead of the scoreboard.

(The upside? My passions often feed my pharmacy work in surprising ways.)

How My Passions Feed My Profession

A trip abroad reminds me what culturally competent care really looks like. For example, navigating an Italian street market taught me to listen more than I speak, a skill I now use in patient counseling. A psychological-thriller novel sharpens my pattern-recognition skills for obscure side-effects. Cooking to a specific calorie goal teaches me the real-life challenges patients face when we talk nutrition. Even late-night conversations with fraternity brothers become practice for clear, empathic communication on the ward. All of these moments end up in my Notes app and eventually turn into blog posts, counseling tips, or fresh empathy for the next patient I meet.

(None of this works without the right mindset.)

Mindset That Keeps Me Steady

• Prioritize: school deadlines first, passions as the reward.
• Work hard, accept imperfect: progress over perfection.
• Celebrate effort: a good meal, a short trip, or thirty minutes of journaling is valid self-care.

Balancing pharmacy and passion projects is not about perfect symmetry. It’s about weaving tiny threads of curiosity through my daily grind so the final tapestry looks like me, not just my career.

Thanks for reading! What’s one passion you carve out time for, and how do you make it work with a busy schedule? Drop a comment below. I love learning new tricks.

Prefer a quick, swipe-able recap of these habits? Catch the visual version on Instagram 👉 @curiorxlife.