WE KNOW BETTER, but let’s face it — in the public imagination, eyecare professionals are associated with indoor environments where a certain erudition … even punctiliousness … dominates the daily completion of tasks. Stop a person in the street and ask them to imagine an optician or an optometrist, and our bet is that the mental image conjured up is more librarian, or kindly family doctor, than rock-climbing instructor. Yet when we asked our readers to tell us about their hobbies, many replies came in that painted a different picture. They showed us that outside the dispensary or exam lane, many of you channel your energy into bold and adventurous pastimes.

Research suggests that engaging in serious hobbies (no, binging Netflix doesn’t count), especially those that challenge comfort zones, can significantly enhance mental resilience, problem-solving skills, and innovative thinking. Adventurous hobbies, in particular, are linked to traits such as curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to take calculated risks. In one study by the University of Utah, 56 adults participated in four- to six-day wilderness hiking trips organized by Outward Bound. Of the subjects, 24 took a 10-item creativity test the morning before they began their backpacking trip, and 32 took the test on the morning of the trip’s fourth day. The results? Those who had been backpacking four days got an average of 6.08 of the 10 questions correct, compared with 4.14 for people who had not yet begun a trip.

“Four days of immersion in nature,” the authors showed, “increases performance on a creativity problem-solving task by a full 50%.”

And that’s just nature hiking. The seven profiles below offer vivid proof that whether it’s the adrenaline rush of ziplining, the meditative calm of beekeeping or the relentless pursuit of perfection required in long-distance shooting, such hobbies can recharge minds and bodies, leading to improved focus and productivity. Read on and be inspired!

Rialeigh Yoder on one of her backpacking trips into the Shenandoah National Park.

Rialeigh Yoder
Sea Eye Care, Norfolk, VA

“Part of the fun,” explains optical manager Rialeigh Yoder of her backpacking trips into the Shenandoah National Park, “is having the crud scared out of you, getting through it, and then realizing you conquered a fear.” For Yoder, being out in nature is self-care. “I really enjoy hiking and being outside and the disconnect from the ‘real world’ brings me a sense of balance. I am an introvert but perform the duties of an extrovert daily, so I need to recharge those batteries. Being outdoors helps with that.”

And while she acknowledges that planning, organizing, and coming up with creative solutions when gear breaks are all skills she uses as a manager, “the reality is that backpacking is what I do to not think about the clinic — and that does not make me a bad employee.” Generationally, Yoder feels she’s part of the “bridge” between the older mindset of working hard at any cost because you owe your loyalty to the company and the younger pro self-care generation where your own mental health comes first. “I see the pros to both.”

Yoder typically sleeps in a hammock — known with a dose of black humor as a “bear burrito” in the hiking community, she says. “There have been plenty of times where there have been bumps in the night and you can get inside your own head and feel the anxiety or fear start to nag. By the time you wake up in the morning — and probably see raccoon tracks around — everything is perfect and the air smells so fresh.”

Back in the office, her outdoor adventures are a great conversation starter. “Having varied experience in outdoors, motorcycling, boating, kickball and other sports allows me to recommend products from a place of knowledge.” Patients can also see passion and appreciate it, says Yoder, who feels she can ask questions about their hobbies and have a true consultative selling process. “The staff all know about my hobbies and if it has been a particularly long week they will tell me, ‘Maybe you should go hide in the woods for a day or two this weekend.’ I get the hint.”

Jen Heller and her dog Alina recently completed a 25-mile hike over a snowy pass in Idaho’s Selkirk Mountains.

Jen Heller
Pend Oreille Vision Care, Sandpoint, ID

“I’m terrible at sticking to any sport, for the most part,” confesses business manager Jen Heller. The upside of this is that she’s already made impressive headway on a long bucket list of adventures that has seen her complete a sprint triathlon, a 150-mile road race, and learn to e-foil. “I like setting myself a challenge each year, or each season, and training for it and growing from it,” she says. “Mostly, the excuse is to do something that gets me outdoors.” One thing she’d always wanted to add to that list was a multi-day solo hike. Last summer, confident that her favorite hiking companion — her 6-year-old lab mix, Alina — was old enough to accompany her, she found the time and added the through-hike adventure to her “done” list, completing a 25-mile solo through-hike with her pup over a snowy pass in Idaho’s Selkirk Mountains.

Not long into the hike, “I discovered quickly that I had overestimated that year’s melt rate. We had been snow-free in our valley for months, but my partner couldn’t even drive me the last mile to the trailhead due to snow coverage!” No matter, she decided.

“The first day, I think my biggest concern was crossing the rotten snow at the pass safely. I had to carry my dog’s pack for much of it so she wouldn’t punch through and ‘posthole’ into rocks, creeks, boulders, etc. My pack was already over 40 pounds before adding hers to the top of it.”

Probably the most terrifying part was her third creek crossing. “The warm temps had snow melt rushing down the mountain. I set up camp and waited for an early morning crossing, when the cooler temps would drop the stream levels by a foot. I roped the dog to me so she wouldn’t get carried downstream as she swam and stumbled my way across in a spot where there were backstop boulders to catch us if my feet washed out.” The water here was cold, deep and strong, but thankfully Heller didn’t slip all the way in.

“That particular part was where the consequences for failure were highest, and I had to shake off the adrenaline afterwards. I just might have screeched out a triumphant yawping sound as I stumbled out on the far bank,” she recalls.

To Heller, the benefits of putting herself through this type of challenge are obvious. “Stagnation is bad, for people and for businesses. If life is boring, make it exciting. Always seek more outdoor time, and find ways to bring the outdoors in.”

In winter, for example, she makes a point of getting up before the sunrise and going cross-country skiing with the dog.

“Greeting the cold morning in that manner gives me a glow that people often comment on at work, and I share the joy it gives me by showing them photos or telling them about the beautiful things we saw as the world woke up. The happiness we bring back is contagious!”

“Time, perseverance, and simply curiosity.” Kevin Count displays the sweet fruit of his —and his bees’—labor.

Kevin Count
Corner Optical, Glenview, IL

For optician and frame maker Kevin Count, entering what many would consider the anxiety-inducing world of beekeeping started with a simple conversation. “A coworker of my wife is an avid beekeeper,” he explains. “We had several conversations regarding the hobby which sent me down a YouTube rabbit hole for months. That same summer, the coworker installed a hive in my backyard and gave me instructions on how to care for the bees. I have been hooked ever since.”

It’s that quiet, meditative time spent with his hives that draws Count in. “I really enjoy the peace of beekeeping,” he says. “Standing in a yard with your veil on, quietly looking through frames of bees to identify their status, is quite calming.”

When it comes to parallels between beekeeping and his professional life, Count sees a lot of overlap. “The biggest parallel would be understanding that beekeeping, frame making, and being an optician all share a common drive to learn more. To understand the hows and whys of what is happening. Why are my bees failing? Why is this design not working? Why does this PAL not work with this Rx on this patient?” For Count, it’s all about taking the time to understand and apply new information. “You can’t rush a bee to make honey, any more than you can rush yourself to develop knowledge and skills. It takes time, perseverance, and simply curiosity.”

Count also sets the record straight about honeybee conservation. “Honeybees are not endangered. Honeybees are a managed resource, like cattle or chickens. As such, there is simply no real chance of their extinction.” But he stresses the importance of supporting native bees, which are under pressure. “Planting a native plant garden is always a great way to start.”

And for Count, sharing his hobby with his customers has been a natural fit. “My customers are very aware of my hobby as I give all the honey away to anyone who wants it. I have regular conversations regarding bees and being a beekeeper. I’m also regularly asked when I’ll have more honey.”

As for merging his two passions, Count hasn’t yet been inspired to create a bee-themed eyewear piece — though he’s open to the idea. “Not yet, but maybe I should!” he laughs. “Maybe the readers could email some ideas of what that pair should look like.” (We’re open to it! Email [email protected] with your bee-themed eyewear design ideas!)

Terri Brown
The Eye Site, Alva, OK

Office manager Terri Brown’s love for ziplining started in the early 2000s during a cruise stop in Puerto Rico. “Looking at excursions, we decided ziplining sounded like fun and signed up,” she recalls. “I am an adrenaline junkie and love the rush of things like roller coasters, etc.” The thrill of flying through the trees in a dense forest was something that immediately hooked her. “It was so much fun with the rush of flying through the forest among the trees,” she says. But the experience wasn’t without its challenges. “It was pretty sketchy, so I was a bit nervous that first time! The only brakes on those early ziplines were our hands on the cable above our heads and the final stop on each platform was a 5” pad wrapped around a tree!”

That initial experience led Brown to seek out more ziplining opportunities, and she’s since ziplined in places like Hawaii, Missouri, Mexico, and Colorado. “Now we look for more opportunities to get that zipline rush,” she says, with another trip to Mexico planned soon.

Her colleagues and friends are well aware of her enthusiasm for ziplining. “A few plan on joining me and some have expressed no interest and said that was a definite no!” she laughs.

For Brown, the link between her hobby and her work as an office manager is clear: adaptability. “I think you need to just be able to go with the flow, just like in a business, when the unexpected pops up and changes your plans for the day.” Whether it’s an unanticipated change in a zipline course or a sudden shift in the office schedule, being able to stay calm and adjust is a key skill she relies on in both environments.

Kency Bauers-Spann
A Proper View, Winston-Salem, NC

Optician Kency Bauers-Spann has always been drawn to water. “I grew up in the lake country of central Texas, so I have always been an outdoorsy person with a particular love of swimming and water sports,” she says. “When I relocated to North Carolina eight years ago, I maintained a love for hiking but would always lament to my partner about the lack of swimmable natural waterways. He surprised me with kayaks two summers ago and we now spend almost every warm weathered weekend out on the water!”

Kayaking has delivered both peace and pulse-quickening moments. “Probably the most frightening experience happened last summer,” she says. “We decided to try a new river a little farther from our home. It was a drier summer, so the water was low in several spots. We had just reboarded our ‘yaks after having to pull them over a rocky outcrop, when my partner, who was behind me, shouted ‘Oh no.’ I looked back to see a black water moccasin fly out of the trees over head and started chasing after us in the water.”

“Fun fact,” she adds, “this type of snake is extremely aggressive and venomous. That thing chased us for at least half a mile, and I have been nervous about going anywhere with heavy tree canopy since.”

Despite the occasional close call, Bauers-Spann has found that time outdoors sharpens abilities that carry over into the office. “I think the most useful skill I’ve gained by being out in the woods so often is how to react quickly, and make clear decisions under pressure,” she says. “I’ve gotten pretty good at seeing what may initially look like an obstacle as a chance to try something different to solve the problem in front of me.”

She’s open about her hobby, and her coworkers and patients get a kick out of it. “As far as my colleagues, it’s a lot of teasing about my sunburns or calloused hands and maybe a little bit of concern for some of the situations I get into. Many of our patients have similar hobbies, so it’s always fun to share stories or offer recommendations of cool new spots.”

Robert Easton, OD
Easton Eyecare, Oakland Park, FL

Practice owner and optometrist Dr. Robert Easton’s deep interest in long-range shooting has roots that go all the way back to childhood. “My father took me hunting at age six with my first gun; a 410 single shot Stevens with a full choke,” he recalls. “In order to hit anything, you had to be a good shot.” Over the years, father and son shared many bird hunting outings. Then, as a teenager, Easton’s interest expanded. “Later on, my uncle invited me to his Big Cypress Swamp hunting cabin to go deer hunting so I purchased my first rifle; a Model 70 30-06 with a 3-9x Weaver scope at age 16.” He remembers sighting in that scope west of Fort Lauderdale, “before the development began in western Broward County, now called Plantation/Coral Springs.”

He continued target shooting for years with his 30-06, along with 9mm and .40 caliber handguns, but the pivot to long-range precision came more recently. “Two years ago, while at the NRA [convention] in Indianapolis, I attended a long-range shooting lecture by a former marine sharpshooter and found the science of the sport intriguing. Physics plays a large part in long-range shooting. My major in undergrad was chemistry but I minored in physics. After that meeting, it all began.”

Easton says his optometric expertise gives him an edge. “Corrected vision is so important and knowing your dominant eye makes a difference when looking through a scope and what side of the gun you are on. The scope adds magnification to the target at 1,000 yards but you need to see the internal reticule, too.”

The crossover between precision shooting and practicing optometry isn’t just technical — it’s mental. “I find shooting to be a release, not like yoga, but the use of the mind to know where to aim, know when to breathe and know when to pull the trigger,” he says.

“You have to think of [the fact that] wind from any direction can affect the bullet as it travels supersonically through the atmosphere.”

Though most patients aren’t aware of his hobby, some certainly are. “Most of my patients do not know I’m a gun enthusiast. However, my police officers, detectives and conceal carry friends do know and come to me for that reason. We talk guns, ammo, scopes, and upgrades to make our firearms more accurate and easier to use.”

Karen Michaelson
Kare Consulting / I Wear By K, Wyoming, MN

While most of the ECPs featured here seek out physical adventure, Karen Michaelson’s pursuits are rooted in compassion and care — and they’re every bit as demanding.

Michaelson has been rescuing neonatal kittens for years, juggling everything from transport and intake to fundraising, adoption events, and “glamour shots.” It’s work that’s as exhausting as it is heartfelt.

“There are so many moving parts to the neonatal care of kittens,” she says. “There are a multitude of physical issues. One is eye infections that lead to loss of vision if not treated quickly.” She adds, “Rewarding moments for me are to see them find their purrfect furever family.”

The emotional toll can be heavy, especially during Minnesota’s intense “kitten season.” But she keeps going — partly because she knows the stakes. “At six months, what still is a kitten can have its first litter and up to four litters per year,” she says. “That is 48 kittens born.”

Caring for fragile animals has helped her navigate some of life’s harder stretches. “It’s helped me feel needed or (kneaded) to make a small difference in all the chaos,” she says. “Between career, industry volunteering, and loving my father through dementia.”

That is her second passion: dementia awareness. In 2019, Michaelson’s father Joe — an optician for 76 years — suffered a traumatic brain injury at age 93. Now 98, he continues to live with advanced symptoms.

What began as personal became something bigger. She founded The Dementia Lifeboat, teaming up with Laura Wayman, “The Dementia Whisperer,” to share insights with the public and the eyecare industry. “Vision, hearing, and taste are the last senses to diminish when it comes to dementia symptoms,” she says.

Her next project is already in the works: Eyes of Dementia — an effort to raise awareness across the field she’s worked in for 45 years. “I want to make a difference in the industry to help and support the understanding of dementia ‘symptom’ awareness. What it really is and what it is not.”