What Are You Doing With Your 24 hours?

Nahndi Bush, M.D. • September 8, 2021

What Are You Doing With Your 24 hours?

Many of us have plans to take better care of ourselves. We may even have specific goals: more exercising, less fast food, quit smoking. We talk about getting that eye exam, or mammography, or seeing the dentist for cleaning and routine x-rays, not just for a bad tooth. How many of us get regular eye exams before we notice we can’t read well, drive at night or can’t stop rubbing our tired, itchy eyes? Or even after we have these problems? “If I could just find the time…”

Guess what? We all get the same 24 hours. No one has special powers to reach into the cosmos and find an extra 2 hours that the rest of us can’t access, but some of us do manage to find time for self-care, time with family, or to start a new healthy habit because they make it a priority. What is a priority in your day? It may be difficult or expensive to go to a gym and work out for an hour 3 times a week, but can you walk in your neighborhood or a mall for 30 minutes instead? Mmmm, okay, can you work up a sweat dancing to some old school music in your living room for 15 minutes a day? “I have bad arthritis”, or “I’m in a wheelchair and have no legs” you say. Then can you sit in a chair while you watch television and lift water bottles or canned beans up and down over your head during every commercial break?

We all have to prioritize our day. Given that none of us has a spare body, we must make the care of that flawed and temporary vessel a priority. What we put in it matters. What we do to it matters. You get one set of eyes, for example. By nature they will change, and often begin to fail you over time, but there is much you can do to preserve your vision or even restore it when you get regular examinations. Do not let fear of bad news keep you from checking out a problem - early diagnosis is empowering. Better yet, get exams before you have a problem.

Whether it is scheduling your annual eye exam, reading with your child or grandchild for a few minutes each evening, or taking 10 minutes a day to purposefully move your body, plan your day with intention. Choose your priorities well. It will make the difference between just, well, living... and living well.

< Older Post Newer Post >

NJ Eye and Ear Specialists Begin Performing Procedures at New State-of-the-Art Precision Surgery Center

June 15, 2026

NJ Eye and Ear Specialists Begin Performing Procedures at New State-of-the-Art Preision Surgery Center

Why Your Runny or Stuffy Nose Might Not Be “Just Allergies”

March 30, 2026

Nose always runny?

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month: Protect Your Vision with Early Detection in New Jersey

January 20, 2026

January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss in the United States. Often called the “silent thief of sight,” glaucoma can develop without noticeable symptoms in its early stages, making regular eye exams in New Jersey essential for protecting long-term vision health. More than four million Americans are currently living with glaucoma, and many do not realize they have it. The condition damages the optic nerve, typically due to increased eye pressure, and often begins by affecting peripheral vision. Without early detection and treatment, this vision loss can become permanent. Who Is at Risk for Glaucoma? While anyone can develop glaucoma, certain factors can increase your risk, including: Being over the age of 60 Having a family history of glaucoma Belonging to certain ethnic backgrounds Living with diabetes or high eye pressure Understanding your personal risk and scheduling routine glaucoma screenings in New Jersey can make a meaningful difference in preserving your sight. The Importance of Comprehensive Eye Exams The most effective way to detect glaucoma early is through a comprehensive dilated eye exam. This exam allows your eye care provider to measure eye pressure, evaluate the optic nerve, and check for subtle changes in your field of vision—often before symptoms appear. Book Your Glaucoma Screening in New Jersey At NJ Eye and Ear, our ophthalmology and optometry team provides personalized care using advanced diagnostic technology to help patients detect and manage glaucoma as early as possible. This January, take a proactive step toward protecting your vision. Book your glaucoma screening in New Jersey today and safeguard your sight for the future.