April is Occupational Therapy Month

Occupational therapy supports health and well-being through the use of meaningful “occupations”, the things you want (leisure/social) and need (self-care/chores) to do in your daily routine. We partner with you to identify how illness, injury, physical, and/or mental challenges are impacting your ability to live your life. We can teach you new skills and new ways of doing activities, suggest adaptive equipment and modifications for your environment.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all experiencing disruption to our normal lives. Here are a few ways to manage stress by engaging in healthy occupations and routines.

1. Self-care
   • Take a few deep breaths, breathe in through your nose and exhale out your mouth
   • Cook a well-balanced meal, try to eat meals at regular intervals
   • Continue to exercise, go for a walk or try an exercise class online
   • Get some sleep, go to bed and get up at your usual times
   • Set a daily limit on news and social media
2. Leisure
   • Schedule time to do hobbies and activities you enjoy
   • Connect regularly with friends and family by phone or virtual meeting
   • Finish a project you’ve been waiting to do, like sorting photos
   • Try something new like a virtual museum tour
   • Relax with a repetitive activity like coloring or knitting
3. Environment
   • Organize or re-organize your space
   • Open curtains and blinds during the day for natural light
   • Light a candle or use essential oils, lavender is calming to a lot of people
   • Turn on your favorite music, choose soothing or upbeat tunes to change your mood
   • Spend time outside or open the windows for fresh air

References

Centers for Disease Control. (2020) Daily Life and Coping. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html
Mynard, Lorrae. (2020) Normal life has been disrupted: a guide for managing disruption to occupational participation. Retrieved from: https://otaus.com.au/publicassets/af469002-6f6a-ea11-9404-005056be13b5/OT%20Guide%20COVID-19%20March%202020.pdf?246d3087-7f6d-ea11-9404-005056be13b5