Getting Out of Your Practice to Grow in It

In independent practice, it can feel counterintuitive or almost irresponsible to take time off to attend conferences and meetings, especially in a world with many virtual ways to engage. The schedule is full, the decisions are constant and it often seems like no one else can quite handle things the way you do. But over time, many of us learn the same lesson: When we don’t step away from our practices, we can’t truly grow.

When you’re in your practice every day, it’s easy to keep doing things the same way they have always been done. While we may have goals we set in 2026 (or things we don’t want to do), it is often hard to make the time to learn something new and put our plans into practice.

Stepping away creates perspective. Whether it’s attending a conference, visiting another practice or simply being in a room with colleagues who understand your challenges, a change in environment can bring a brand new perspective.

What I find is that the most meaningful insights and ideas that I bring home from meetings and conferences are not always from the formal education (although I learn a lot!). Some of the most impactful changes I’ve made to my practice have come from conversations I’ve had with friends and colleagues at meals, in hallways and at happy hours. Hearing how other doctors run their practices, manage their staff and communicate with patients can be incredibly impactful, and it can’t happen if we never leave our offices.

Coming back from a conference can feel energizing and reassuring. You may have ideas that can take your practice to the next level, optical changes that will make an immediate impact or you feel reassured and confident that you are on the right path. It also feels good to know that the challenges you face are not yours alone.

Stepping away from the office is a challenge, but the energy and insight of in-person meetings don’t carry over through a screen. It’s the lunchtime conversations, the networking, the exposure to new ways of thinking and doing—the forces that drive our practices forward and help us reach our goals.

What conferences or meetings are you attending in 2026? I look forward to seeing you there!

Yours in success,

Jennifer L. Stewart, OD

Read Dr. Stewart’s February insights here.