5 resolutions for 2022: making good on goals

It’s admittedly schmaltzy and cute, but a New Year’s resolution may just be exactly what one needs. Any time can be a good time for change, and January 1 is somewhat arbitrary when you really think about it.

But, nonetheless, I am going to partake in the newness of a resolution this year. In fact, I may partake in several.

Here’s a list of resolutions that might make the cut because who doesn’t enjoy a good list?

1. Clear off my desk at work.

Remember that episode of “Married With Children” when Al Bundy mistakenly thought he lost his car at the car wash because, when clean, it came out a completely different color? My desk may be in worse shape than that car.

2. Make at least one business decision a week.

The saying goes, “The days come and go.” Sometimes that stretches into weeks, months, or even years, but I’m going to try and change that this year. By making at least one business decision a week with respect to my practice, I will be forced to keep moving forward as those days come and go. Let’s just hope most of my decisions are good ones.

3. Discuss spectacle and contact lens options more frequently in my exam room.

This task seems to all too commonly take an abbreviated back seat to discussing the condition of a patient’s eyes. I need to be better about that. Industry has given us more multifocal options in recent history, and I need to help spread the word for the sake of our patients.

4. Get more active in organized optometry.

Several years ago, I was really involved in some expansion of scope legislation. It was intense, and, after that, I took a bit of a back seat. I never stopped fighting for our patients, but I’m in a place now where I feel I can step up and do a bit more. I’m going to work harder on the committees I’m on, and maybe I’ll even join a new one or two. More on that to come this year.

5. Broaden my lecture topics.

You don’t need to say it. I already know you’re probably more than tired of sitting there listening to me go on and on about normal-tension glaucoma and oral pharmaceuticals. I knew the guy in the back row of that one lecture wasn’t taking notes on his tablet, so I snuck back there and saw that basketball game he was streaming. Well, I’m going to author some lectures on some newer topics this year. Maybe that guy’s state association will hire me again, and I’ll get a chance to make ocular disease more exciting than college basketball. I won’t hold my breath on that one though.

I’m sure there are things I’m forgetting with respect to optometry that need to take a front seat to some of the items on this list, but this is where my mind is as I pen this column.

What changes are you looking to implement this year? What changes in 2021 did you make that went well enough continue into 2022?

Reach out and let us know. We’re looking forward to hearing from you! Here’s to trending up in 2022.