From Travel to Exercise to Alcohol, ECPs Recharge in Diverse Ways
Work out. — Steve Whitaker, Whitaker Eye Works, Wayne, PA
I unwind and recharge with Pilates and girls brunch. — Leah Johnson, Central Texas Eye Center, San Marcos, TX
Beach!— Paula Hornbeck, Eye Candy & Eye Candy Kids, Delafield, WI
Ride my bike or go to the gym in the early mornings before work, listen to podcasts throughout the day, sit down for a great meal with my wife after work.— Ted McElroy, OD, Vision Source Tifton, Tifton, GA
Listening to INVISION’s podcast. — Josh Bladh, Dr. Bladh OD, Diamond Bar, CA
Motorcycle camping. — Dave Goodrich, Goodrich Optical, Lansing, MI
Drink Scotch. — Richard Kemerling, Margolis Vision, Castle Rock, CO
Golf. — Rick Rickgauer, Vision Associates, Girard, PA
When it comes to recharging as an optician, a good optical challenge between our owner (LDO), lab manager (LDO), and myself (LDO). We press each other and create situations that force us to get our heads back in the books. This happens weekly sometimes. — William Chancellor, Eye Can See Eyewear, McDonough, GA
We spend time off at an old farm that we own in rural West Virginia. It’s so peaceful; no sign of neighbors and only about ten cars drive by a day. — Barbara Bloom, OD, Weber Vision Care, Harrisburg, PA
Go to the mountains or to the beach for a long weekend. — Laura Wright, Upstate Eyecare, Greenville, SC
CALM meditation app on my iPhone. — Vlad Cordero, Focus Eye Care PC, Hackensack, NJ
Did someone say Happy Hour?!? — Meredith Hall, Miller Family Eye, Cedar Rapids, IA
I just came back after a weekend with girlfriends. We rented a cabin, drank some adult beverages, took naps, and talked about husbands, work, kids, family, and life. I came back on Monday ready to get organized and tackle my mounting to-do list. I feel better about this than I have in ages! — Jenna Gilbertson, McCulley Optix Gallery, Fargo, ND
Rock concerts. — Steve Nelson, Eye Candy Optical, Westlake, OH
Travel and music. — Pablo E Mercado, Mount Vernon Eyecare, Dunwoody, GA
I need to figure that out. — Zachary Dirks, OD, St. Peter and Belle Plaine Eyecare Centers, Saint Peter, MN
I spend time with family or friends who are not in this field. I go to the beach to seaglass and beach comb. — Doreen Erbe, Snyder Eye Group, Ship Bottom, NJ
Go to CE. — Cedric Mitsui, OD, Big Island Vision Center, Hilo, HI
Desert in the winter, beach in the summer. — Amy Pelak, Proview Eyecare Optometry, Corona, CA
I play World of Warcraft with my friends. It’s relaxing but still stimulates the brain. — Frances Ann Layton, Eye Associates of South GA, Valdosta, GA
Sleep. — Leisa Lauer, Dr. H Michael Shack, Newport Beach, FL
Vacay! — Cynthia Sayers, OD, EyeShop Optical Center, Lewis Center, OH
Sleep, sleep and more sleep. — Jill Sweig, OD, Oyster Bay Optics, Oyster Bay, NY
Beer festival, dancing at a 70’s/80’s club — shout out to Johnny’s Hideaway! Atlanta natives of a certain age will know this place. — Tom Brillante, OD, Decatur Eye Care, Decatur, GA
At work, when I need a quick, 5-min recharge, I run receipts reports or restock inventory. I find repetitive patterns and reassuring numbers are great for self-soothing! Off work: hiking, mountain biking, reading, eating at our great local restaurants, and snuggling O’Malley the Alley Cat. — Jen Heller, Pend Oreille Vision Care, Sandpoint, ID
Just got back from two weeks fishing in the Amazon. That was a pretty good recharge. I find working a three day week gives me a pretty good recharge each week, but office stays open five days. — Texas L. Smith, OD, Dr. Texas L. Smith & Associates, Citrus Heights, CA
Over the weekend, go driving. — BJ Chamber, Carrera Optical, McQueeney, TX
Exercise. — Kaleena Ma, MK Vision Center, Forest Hills, NY
My artwork and my writing for fandemoniumnetwork.com. — Angel Miller, Cynthiana Vision Center, Cynthiana, KY
Bicycling. — Fred Sirotkin, OD, Eagle Eye Care, Columbia, MD
Fresh air! — Candy Crone, Wayne Optical, York, PA
Trade shows like Vision Expo always tend to give us a little boost of motivation when we get back. — Travis LeFevre, Krystal Vision, Logan, UT
Woodworking; repurposing headboards to benches among other things. — Scott Felten, Fox Valley Family Eye Care, Little Chute, WI
I travel. Whether it’s a big trip or just a weekend getaway, getting out of my normal zone helps recharge. Also, some spa time is also a big help. — Christine Howard, Attleboro Vision Care, Attleboro, MA
Drink beer! IPA preferably. — Dave Schultz, OD, Urban Optics, San Luis Obispo, CA
It’s nice to get away from the business but for me I love working and luckily, I work in an area of the country that a lot of people come to visit so it’s kind of like we’re always on vacation… just being back recharges me from time off. — Julie Uram, Optical Oasis, Jupiter, FL
Family! — Pam Peters, Midwest Eye, Downers Grove, IL
I start with a very serious discussion with myself. I consider the facts, why things are not going as planned, if there is a rotten apple causing discord, what caused situation and then what actions I need to take. The next step is to plan and prepare a meeting to address the issues at hand. This usually recharges me, giving a positive attitude. I believe no situation is hopeless, and something can always be done. Right or wrong, you keep moving forward and don’t give up. One of Murphy’s Laws states “left alone things go from bad to worse.” — Pam Housle, Texas State Optical of Nederland, Port Arthur, TX
Caribbean vacation. — Brian Finley, Island Opticians LLC, Palm Beach, FL
Eating apples! They always give me a burst of energy. — Jade Kowalic, Rophie Eye Care, Dunedin, FL
Take a week off and go anywhere.— Sandy Slang, Ophthalmology Associates, Cudahy, WI
Lock the doors and try on glasses for an hour! Nothing is more fun!— Jennifer Leuzzi, Mill Creek Optical, Dansville, NY
Look forward to weekends. — Betty Aret, The Eyecare Boutique, Wexford, PA
Play with my three kids, travel with my wife, read and attend church. — Ken Boltz, OD, Kenneth D Boltz OD LLC, Dublin, OH
Vacation! — Amina Ebrahim, OD, D Vision Eyecare, Allen, TX
Vision Expos. — Scott Keating, OD, Vision Trends, Dover, OH
Retire? — Jill Schnurer, OD, Village Eyecare Co., Clarkston, MI
Vacation!!! — Susie Phillips, Dr. Brendon Johnson, OD, Pekin, IL
Sleep, elliptical, pray. — Brian Parker, Temecula Eye Center Optometry, Temecula, CA
What’s that? — Caitlin Binyo, Vision Center, Bellingham, WA
Moving my shop from commercial location to its new, sweet, in-home location has helped so very much in recharging! Having a shop downtown along with running my home, single-handedly was just too much, like having two homes to keep up! This integration is just the best for my stress and psyche … plus I’ve been able to clean up all business debt! — Elle Tatum , Island Spectacle, Bainbridge Island WA
Mini weekend vacation somewhere warm and not too far; like Florida on a Friday and coming back Sunday evening. — Diana Canto-Sims, Buena Vista Optical Boutique, Chicago, IL
I plan to take some time off before Thanksgiving to do some late season yard work and plant some fruit trees. I will also be taking a road trip to MI to spend Christmas with my in-laws. — Jesse Ellis , Eye Health Vision Center, North Dartmouth, MA
Play with grandkids. — Robert McBeath , Edina Eye Physicians and Surgeons, Edina MN
Coffee or Red Bull. — Heather Harrington, Elevated Eyecare, Denver, CO
Yoga, vacations, bar trivia or concerts. — Harris Decker , Eye Designs of Westchester, Scarsdale, NY
I take a day off. Sometimes I just need some “me” time. On my day off, I quilt. — Vicki Thompson , Grandville Optical, Grandville, MI
I’m a big crafter and that relaxes me. — Colleen Brondo, Visual Eyes Optical, Stanhope, NJ
What’s the Brain Squad?
If you’re the owner or top manager of a U.S. eyecare business serving the public, you’re invited to join the INVISION Brain Squad. By taking one five-minute quiz a month, you can get a free t-shirt, be featured prominently in this magazine, and make your voice heard on key issues affecting eyecare professionals. Good deal, right? Sign up here.
INVISION Staff
Since launching in 2014, INVISION has won 23 international journalism awards for its publication and website. Contact INVISION's editors at editor@invisionmag.com.