New year, new you – but first...

From leading a healthier lifestyle that is driven by eating my five-a-day and exercising more regularly, a range of potential resolutions have already made my ‘maybe’ list.

However, rather than stick to the obvious resolutions that revolve around people’s eating and drinking habits (which are traditionally made on 31 December and statistically shown to be broken by 5 January) I think that I will focus my efforts on learning a new skill – either personally or professionally, or both.

For those practitioners who want to opt for a career-driven resolution too, but are stuck for ideas, opportunity in the profession to upskill is aplenty in 2017. From further certificates in particular eye conditions, to beginning your journey to becoming IP-qualified, varied degrees of dedication and workload are required.

A hot topic over the last six months has been Minor Eye Conditions Services (MECS), which is another area that practitioners may opt to explore in 2017. As well as the business benefits that come with offering additional services in practice, there is also personal benefits, with MECS-accredited practitioners referencing the increased level of work satisfaction that it gives them.

Those still unsure about MECS should revisit OT’s summer Workshop article on why and how to become accredited.

If you've started to think about your New Year’s resolutions, please share them with us via the AOP’s community forum.