“No matter how organised you are, something will always change”

6.30am

I wake up before sunrise. I begin with ablution and prayer. For me, that is a form of grounding – a moment to release tension and reset, taking a sense of calm into the rest of the day.

After that, I’ll have a single-origin Ethiopian or Yemeni coffee, with some raw, unpasteurised honey and a fresh French butter croissant. It is a simple routine, but one I enjoy, and it gives me a moment to pause before the pace of the day begins.

I’ll then spend a bit of time catching up on what is happening in the world markets, gold prices, global trends, and anything that may have a knock-on effect. Those wider factors often find their way into day-to-day practice.

I’ll then check messages and emails briefly, just to make sure there is nothing urgent that needs dealing with.

Running a practice means you are never completely switched off. Over time, I’ve learnt that resilience starts with managing that, rather than letting it take over the day.

Haris Iqbal

A coffee and a croissant start the day on the right note at NVision Eyecare

8.30am

I arrive at the practice and spend some time with the team before we open. We go through the diary, make sure everything is in place, and prepare for the day ahead.

No matter how organised you are, something will always change. That is just part of running a practice.

Running a practice means you are never completely switched off. Over time, I’ve learnt that resilience starts with managing that

9am

The day starts with patients. I purposely opened my practice in one of the most deprived areas of Wolverhampton, where I was born and brought up. That was important to me. I wanted to give something back to the community that shaped me.

Many of the people I see are not just patients – they are individuals and families I have known for years. You build relationships over time, and that changes how you practise.

Optometry gives you time with people. I try to use that time properly. Over time, I’ve seen young people from the area go on to pursue careers in medicine, optometry, pharmacy, and dentistry. Some come back and say thank you for inspiring them, which is always meaningful. Sometimes the most important part of the consultation is not the prescription – it is the reassurance, the conversation, or simply listening.

Alongside routine eye care, there is an increasing clinical workload — from glaucoma monitoring through glaucoma enhanced referral pathways to acute presentations via the community urgent eye care service. Managing this alongside a full clinic requires adaptability, prioritisation, and composure.

I purposely opened my practice in one of the most deprived areas of Wolverhampton, where I was born and brought up. That was important to me

1pm

Lunch is usually quick, if it happens at all. There is always something that needs attention: calls, admin, or decisions that need to be made. One of the biggest challenges in optometry is balancing clinical care with running a practice.

I also take a moment to step away and pray. It gives me a chance to pause, reset, and step out of the pace of the day, even if only briefly. You are constantly switching roles throughout the day.

2pm

The afternoon continues with clinic, whilst also supporting the team and keeping everything running smoothly.

I make a conscious effort to be present. It matters for both the team and the patients. It builds trust, maintains standards, and keeps everything grounded.

In a profession where pressures are increasing, consistency matters more than intensity.

5.30pm

Once the clinic finishes, there is often still work to do. Over time, I have realised that resilience is not about doing more. It is about focusing on what actually matters and being consistent with it.

6.30pm

After work, I make it a habit to spend time with family. I’ll usually go and see my nieces or nephews and play with them for a while, before going to visit my mum. Even if it is just for a short time, it makes a difference.

That time helps me switch off from the day.

8pm

Later in the evening, there is usually some work left to finish: reviewing things, planning ahead, or catching up on anything missed during the day.

Like most practice owners, you never fully switch off. But over time, you learn how to manage that in a way that is sustainable.

Optometry, at its core, is about people. In a challenging environment, it is easy to focus on pressures. But resilience comes from remembering why you started.

For me, it comes back to something simple: to serve my community, to use my time with patients properly, and to make a difference to people’s lives.