Making New Year’s resolutions, optometry style

A new year is upon us, and that means everyone-including us-is asking about your New Year’s resolutions.

According to Nielsen, the top resolutions are:

• Stay fit and healthy

• Lose weight

• Enjoy life to the fullest

• Spend less, save more

• Spend more time with family and friends

• Get organized

• Will not make any resolutions

• Learn something new/new hobby

• Travel more

• Read more

We won’t talk about how many of those are broken in the first week.

See how resolutions changed from last year

We asked ODs from around the country about their New Year’s resolutions. See if your resolutions matched theirs…or get a new idea!

Marc Taub, OD

Memphis, TN

Editorial Advisory Board member

A back surgery-free year!

Jeff Anshel, OD

Encinitas, CA

Editorial Advisory Board member

I resolve to stop making resolutions and just do what I want for as long as I want to…feeling better already!!!!

Whitney Hauser, OD

Memphis, TN

To enjoy every single thing my kids do because they’ll be off to college before I know it!

Related: Top 10 stories of 2017

Michael Cooper, OD

Willimantic, CT

Editorial Advisory Board member

My New Year's resolution is to continue being as progressive as possible and being more diligent on work/life balance.

Steven Ferrucci, OD, FAAO

Sepulveda, CA

Editorial Advisory Board member

My New Year’s resolution is to stop making resolutions that I have no intention of upholding.

Ben Casella, OD, FAAO

Augusta, GA

Chief Optometric Editor

Exercise more so I can keep writing my monthly craft beer column with a clear conscience.

Rachel Grant, OD

Memphis, TN

Professional: Be more organized/prepared on a didactic level; 2018 will be my second semester lecturing to the first-year students, and I really want to be a couple of steps (weeks?) ahead of them and the material this time!

Personal: Move more toward a plant-based diet. No documentary or article really pushed me in this direction, but last year one resolution I had was to cook more meals at home. In coming up with recipes, I have found there’s a lot more vegan/vegetarian options/alternatives out there than I realized (and that taste good), which makes it a lot more feasible. But notice how I said move “more” toward…

Also, read 50 books. I have set this goal for myself for a few years now. Read any 50 books. The closest I have come is to Number 49 (City on Fire), but I just couldn’t make it through it in time.

Dan Bintz, OD

Elk City, OK

I really need to exercise, even a small amount. I have all the stuff I need, except for the time part.

Bryan Wolynski, OD, FAAO

New York City

I know it’s a little cliché, but to make sure I go to the gym after work, no matter how stressed and tired I am.

Related: Top 10 healthiest cities in the U.S.

Tracy Schroeder Swartz, OD, FAAO

Madison, AL

Editorial Advisory Board member

For 2018, my resolutions are:

• Spend more time with family.

• Do intense pulsed light therapy for ocular surface disease

• Not have any surgery

• Write 100 fascinating articles for Optometry Times

Michael Davis, OD

Eldersburg, MD

Educate my optical staff better so they can better educate the patients on the fine points of optical products.

John Rumpakis, OD, MBA

Lake Oswego, OR

Editorial Advisory Board member

My New Year’s resolutions are to work harder, covet relationships more, be kinder and smarter, and to smell the roses a bit more frequently and not to let the bumps in the road overshadow the sun on my back.

Barbara Fluder, OD

Merrillville, IN

I don’t usually make resolutions. I think continuing to be a good, compassionate person is always an ongoing pursuit. I hope to continue to be open to life’s lessons and continue to expand my optometric knowledge.

Cristina Schnider, OD, MBA, MSc, FAAO

Director of global professional affairs, Johnson & Johnson Vision

Be compassionate and tolerant-the world needs more of both!

Alan Glazier, OD

Rockville, MD

Editorial Advisory Board member

Say “no” more often. Let that stuff go. Focus more on the things that count

Justin Bazan, OD

Brooklyn, NY

Editorial Advisory Board member

None this year; I’m too busy.

Related: Bottom 10 healthiest cities in the U.S.

Diana Canto-Sims, OD

Chicago

Editorial Advisory Board member

My New Year's resolution is to savor life with new experiences. Make sure to experience something different or new at least once a month. Learn from my mistakes and from other people’s mistakes. Those aren’t as painful.

William R. Hall, OD

Bloomfield, NM

Resolve to stay afloat for another year if I should have control over it.

Sathi Maiti, OD

Seattle

Mine was to sew a tiny pair of pants for my OD Barbie, which I did!

Angela Marie Scifres, OD

Georgetown, KY

Learn to incorporate nutraceuticals into eye health more often. Personally, my resolution is to begin running/activity classes after work for stress relief.

Marta Fabrykowski, OD, FAAO

New York City

Personal: Read 12 books in 12 months. This translates into clinical practice so I can converse with patients on what they are reading when refracting for a progressive or reading glasses Rx-patients love to open up about this neutral subject. I can get great book recommendations, too.

Professional: Dive deeper into analyzing hospital operations to improve access and streamline patient care for better patient care and experience.

Crystal Brimer, OD, FAAO

Wilmington, NC

Editorial Advisory Board member

For years, I’ve picked one word to use as a filter through which to view things that year, as opposed to a long list I can’t accomplish.

But I haven't picked one for 2018 yet!

Last year was “simplify.” So much for the long list; sometimes I can't even succeed at one word!

Check it out at myoneword.org.

Related: 10 holiday dos and don’ts for ODs in 2017

Janet L. Carter, OD, FAAO

Elko, NV

I resolve to have more time for me. And also to get on a regular workout schedule.

Pam Miller, OD, FAAO, JD

Highland, CA

Editorial Advisory Board member

I actually do not make any New Year’s resolutions. My feeling is that you should live throughout the year caring for your family, yourself, your friends, and your patients. Support the causes you believe in, and continue to make our world a better and healthier place in which to live. Resolutions get broken only shortly after they are made; it is far better to live your life to the best of your abilities and care for others accordingly.

Mike Ware, OD

Tupelo, MD

Learn to relax when I have five patients waiting and I am off schedule, purge a couple more vision care plans from my practice, and bring in at least one new piece of technology.

Brian Chou, OD, FAAO

San Diego, CA

For 2018, I resolve to gluttony, drinking, and sloth. Resolutions are meant to be broken, right?