Because changing engrained routines isn’t easy, but you can make it fun.

Invision October 2026

“HOW CAN MY ALARM already be going off?” I mumble trying to stop the beeping. “That was not restful sleep… I don’t have a meeting until 9am… I’ll skip the gym today and get the rest I nee …” Ding!

“Chance completed a 456 calorie workout!”

The notification startles me and has me questioning how the HECK he got such an intense workout in before 6AM! But I put down my phone, grab my gym clothes, and start figuring out what workout I can do to burn more calories by day’s end…

There are lots of ways to try and change habits, but the methods that stick are those that gamify it. A workout buddy you don’t want to lose to. A book club you recently joined. Even that monthly meetup that puts a smile on grandma’s face. The habits that actually stick, are the habits you’ve gamified.

Why? Is it because games are fun? Yes. But that’s not all. A game has structure, rules, and guidelines. A game has a clear goal to accomplish. A game creates a challenge. When played properly, games are fun. Here’s how to gamify optical changes:

The Object of the Game

A goal is necessary to achieve anything. In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll depicts an exchange between Alice and the Cheshire Cat. Alice asks for directions. “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” the cat replies. Alice says she doesn’t care where she goes just as long as she gets somewhere. To which the cat snickers, “Oh, you’re sure to do that, if only you walk long enough.” In short, you can’t get to a destination you don’t have. Without a goal, you just travel aimlessly in hopes you’ll get “somewhere.” What makes games fun is the pursuit of the object of the game.

Let’s apply this to the daily routine of an optical, rather than getting stuck “somewhere,” set a unique goal for the team that switches things up from the norm. For Spexy members, a monthly goal that lasts for at least two months is long enough to integrate the new habits into routines. Declaring a clear goal, or object of the game, is the first step in the gamify process.

How to Play

Knowing the rules keeps everyone playing the same game. If someone moves four spaces and has to pay rent on Park Place, then the next player yells, “Go fish!” it isn’t going to be a very fun game. Everyone must know the rules and what it takes to win. Then everyone knows their role.

You might assume a goal for Multiple Pair Sales would fall to the opticians but that would be a big, missed opportunity. Receptionists can escort waiting patients to the optical and share their favorite sunglasses to get them looking. Techs can start a conversation about prescription sunwear during testing. Letting everyone know how to play will give them confidence to achieve the goal. Scan the QR code for a video on creating an Optical Goal Tracker.

On Your Turn

Humans love routine and routine creates accountability. When you can count on someone and they come through, it makes doing the difficult thing worth it. Taking your turn to see grandma light up when you visit is a reward that makes cancelling your other plans worth it.

Eyecare businesses make the mistake of setting a goal, following up once, then letting it fade as old habits take over. Instead, schedule time to check in. Giving your team a set time to report back on how it’s going and share the struggles they are facing will make the habit creation more likely. Successful businesses set aside time at every team meeting to review as a group and arrange quarterly check-ins with individual team members. One of the best outcomes of these routine check-ins is that the team members begin to trust leadership and look forward to giving updates on their progress. Everyone gets their turn.

Working out at 6AM is not easy, but it’s fun beating Chance’s calorie burn. Cancelling plans with friends is not easy, but seeing grandma smile is worth it. Change is not easy but gamifying it does make it easier.