Occupational therapy (OT) is a health and wellness profession that focuses on assisting individuals across the lifespan to gain the skills necessary to be safe and independent in all areas of daily life. Occupational therapy is one of the most misunderstood professions in our society.
That’s right, occupational therapists don’t just help individuals who are injured while at work!
You can think of an “occupation” as anything you need to do or want to do from the moment you get up, until the moment you go to bed. If for any reason you cannot perform those tasks, an occupational #therapist is qualified to assist you.
Occupations are how all humans create an identity and occupy the time. Whole OTs frequently work with individuals who have physical or cognitive disabilities, they may also work with able-bodied individuals to promote and maintain health.
One concept that is fundamental to the promotion of wellbeing is occupational balance. Occupational balance refers to the balancing of work, leisure, and rest within your day. One way to achieve occupational balance is to plan ahead and build leisure and rest into your weekly schedule.
Try to schedule one hour of the day to engage in a meaningful occupation, whether it be exercise, meditation, baking, crafting, or any other activity that brings you joy and helps you to relax. In today’s busy world, it is easy to push aside those things that bring us back to the center.
Making time for one hour of leisure participation takes up only four percent of your day and leads to a more balanced lifestyle, an important piece of the health and wellness puzzle.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Breanna Snyder is an occupational therapy professional (former intern at the Hope Network Neuro Rehabilitation Center).