Practice team digest

Practice team wellbeing in winter

Five practice owners tell OT what they want their teams to do to prioritise their health this winter – and what they’re doing to lighten the load both on and off the practice floor

4 min read

Young cartoon woman wearing pale pinks and browns drinks a cup of warm steaming tea from a navy mug by a window – through which are a navy ocean, green hills, and white clouds

Getty/Annika McFarlane

Lucy Miller

14 December 2025

Often, the run up to Christmas can feel a little less than cheery – cold weather (but no snow), a to-do list for both home and work that only seems to get longer, and a general anxiety that we won’t be waking up in daylight again for approximately 11 and a half weeks.

It can be hard to prioritise wellbeing – whether mental or physical – in December. But conversely, with dark mornings and lots of pressure to wrap up the year, winter is the time we most need to.

With this in mind, OT asked five practice owners what they want their teams to do to prioritise themselves – and what they’re doing as the boss to help them along the way.

Zabir Ali, optometrist and owner of Wessex Optical

“My wellbeing tip is for my staff to eat and drink healthy seasonal foods, such as soups and broths, to support their gut health and immunity over the winter period.

“We promoted National Self-Care Week this November. The practice teams were given 15 minutes each day to take care of themselves by going for a walk or meditating. The feedback was great – it allowed the teams some time to slow down and be kind to themselves as our bodies adjusted to the winter period.”

Stephanie Lipsey-Liu, optometrist director at Charles Lea Opticians and domiciliary provider, Freedom Eyewear

“We hope that our practice team members will put themselves first and not take on too much. A few of our staff members have a habit of doing everything for everyone else in their families and not thinking about their own mental and physical health. It’s ok to say no sometimes.”

Craig McArthur, owner and optometrist at Peter Ivins Eyecare

“Look after each other. Stick together as a team. Everyone gets ill at some point. Nurture a culture that allows people to stay home when appropriate so as not to spread an illness throughout the rest of the team and our patient base. [There should be] no judgement or resentment. Allow people to recover and return when well, without financial penalty or resentment from colleagues. The system is built on trust and loyalty.

“Our practice is very busy throughout the week and very popular with families, so we are exposed to a lot of bugs at this time of year. We have six medical-grade multi-stage HEPA Nano filters throughout the practice: one in each of our two consulting rooms, one in each of our two equipment rooms, one in the dispensing area, and a large unit in the reception area. The air cleaning system reduces the likelihood of our team being exposed to air-borne colds and flus.”

Saleem Patel, optometrist and director at Vision Express Gloucester

“I invest a lot in team building, whether it’s going out for meals or playing mini golf. Recently, I took them all out for an Indian. We all had a good giggle over the table.

“I get to understand my staff better by going out with them than I do at work. I can hear what they’re telling me. Sometimes, when we’re in practice and we’re so busy with our patients, we forget things that might be important for the staff. Going out engages and brings a positive vibe to the whole team. We can talk about things, away from work, that we don't normally get a chance to talk about. I think it’s important, and I hope that I can do more of it in the coming years.

I’m very much for the team: unlocking that potential, capturing people’s strong points, and developing them as individuals

Saleem Patel, optometrist and director, Vision Express Gloucester

“We also have an award ceremony – a celebration at the end of the year for the success that we’ve had. I do individualised awards for leadership, empowerment, thirst for knowledge, and admin or optometrist of the year, with vouchers and prizes. That has really brought the team together.

“I’m a big advocate of training, and I’ve set a budget aside for next year for my optical assistants to go and do some ABDO courses in optical systems. I’m very much for the team: unlocking that potential, capturing people’s strong points, and developing them as individuals. Everyone has got so much potential, and we just need to pick out the right people, doing the right things.”

Andy Britton, optometrist and practice director at Specsavers Haverfordwest

“Get your flu jab. As frontline healthcare workers, you need to protect yourself and others.

“Keep getting outside and getting exercise. It’s possibly more important at this time of year, as many of us don’t see natural daylight during the course of our day.

“Also, watch what you eat and drink – I have to try hard not to comfort eat or drink during the winter season.”

“In terms of practice support, our wonderful mental health first aiders, Chris and Kelly, are the go-to in practice. Chris continues to publish his monthly mental health bulletin, with hints and tips for keeping the head in the right place.”