Sustainable UK Locum Optometry vs. Burnout Mode - Choose One!

"I'm earning £425+ per day locuming!"

"That's amazing! How do you feel?"

"Honestly? Absolutely destroyed."

This conversation happens more than you think, because there's a massive difference between locuming HARD and locuming SMART.

New Locum Mindset

*See's as the £500/day shifts in the middle of nowhere*

Wow! I'm going to chase as many of these as possible!

Day 1: "This is tough, but the money makes it worth it."

Day 30: "I'm earning well, but I'm exhausted."

Day 90: "I don't know how much longer I can do this."

Day 180: "Maybe locuming isn't for me."

Take it from me, there's a reason certain shifts pay so well.

Maybe it's a two-hour drive each way.

Maybe the equipment hasn't been serviced since 2015.

Maybe you're the fifth new locum this week because nobody wants to go back.

Maybe the staff treat locums like disposable contractors.

Maybe it's impossible targets.

What's the move? Here "The Smart Locum Strategy"

Step 1 - Why are you locuming? For hype, or because you want the flexible, high skilled & high paid locum lifestyle? Cement your resolve to become a part or full time locum.

Step 2 - Design your monthly diary: 2 Weeks of block bookings in rural areas, 2 weeks off? Mon-Fri? Fri-Mon with the higher weekend rate? Occasional weekday when kids are over their grandparents?

Know this clearly and then...

Step 3 - Book 1-2 months in advance, never book less than that as shifts dry up (unless you're checking for an emergency shift on your day off)

Step 4 - Prioritise local & friendly opticians vs. rural & high pay. This protects your sanity and allows you to locum long term

Step 5 - Financial literacy: Learn about maximising credit score, using investment ISAs and other smart money tactics to make your money go further vs. sitting in a bank losing value over time due to inflation. That allows you to get rid of some of the FOMO from not locuming and feeling like you need to take the money shifts.

Yes, it's "less money" per day. But they work more days because they're not burnt out. They get repeat bookings because practices love them. They have energy left for life outside work. They're building relationships that lead to better opportunities. Over a year? They often earn more than the "rate chasers."

If you're locuming—are you chasing rates or building relationships? If you're employed—what would "sustainable" look like for you?