Technicians are always looking for new ideas to stay well so we can stay in ophthalmology. During the busiest moments, I use a technique that I made up while working in retinal photography with extreme patient workloads. It's called PAUSE, which I will discuss in this article.

When You Need to Take a PAUSE

P - Pause! If it feels like you don't even have time to take a breath, then you know it's time to pause! Stop. Take a breath and evaluate the situation.

A - Assess. Ask yourself, what needs to be done? What is most important to do next? What tools do I have (techniques, skills, instruments, teammates) and how can I best use them? Additionally, do I need a bathroom break? A snack? Water?

U - Utilize. Now that you know the what, when and how, put that into action. The little voice in the back of your head that was saying "I really need some help with this" is now able to take action.

S - Share. Tell your teammates where you're at. Share your experience and share the load when possible. Say to a teammate, "I'm really overwhelmed, can you take on XYZ?" Or even, "I need a moment to collect myself, I'll be back in 3 minutes."

E - Exhale! Let. It. Go. Remember, all will be done and all will be well with time.

You've just taken a moment to get yourself physically, mentally and emotionally back on track and now you're prepared to bring your best self to your patient care. You got this!

What Aspect of Your Job Brings the Most Joy?

When it comes to the long-term management of burn out, I think it's really important to focus on the aspects of our jobs that bring us the most joy and fulfillment and advocate for ourselves by communicating with our supervisor or manager about our needs. If you don’t get the support you need from them, and you have a passion and skill to bring, look to other avenues—for example, a mentor in a position you aspire to, outside networking, or a peer who's great at getting things done that can show you the way.

If you love ophthalmology, I think there's always a path that can be found where each of us can shine in a way that fills our cup—especially when you find the right team that knows that the best work is done, and the best patient care is provided when the whole team is working on Full.

Don’t Burn Out, Take Your PTO

Of course, managing our time wisely outside of work is important too. I always tell my brand new techs to start planning their time off now. I say, “You may not be burned out yet, but you can help keep it at bay by planning scheduled breaks in advance. This way your PTO doesn't end up going to ‘I literally can't even get out of bed today; I'm so burnt out and now I feel guilty for calling out at the last minute.’” Instead, it can go to long weekends, time with family and friends, or much needed (especially in the medical field) solitude!

Figure out what activities outside of work fill your cup the most and prioritize those. Maybe that means fewer family obligations and more solo nature walks, or more time with family and less time out on the town, or more nights out dancing and less time spent on your phone.

I also find investing in my career trajectory in my spare time gives me more motivation and focus at work. When I know I'm investing in myself and my field, and not just a corporation's bottom line, I feel so much better about the work I do. OP  

Sarah Chick, COA, OCT-C, is a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant with over 14 years of experience in ophthalmology. In her current role as Education Coordinator at Austin Retina Associates, she supports onboarding and continuing education for clinical staff. With a focus on fostering professional growth, she believes that when we invest in our teams and ourselves, we elevate the care we provide.