Chatham OT Students Launch #OTChangingLives
Brought to you by the Class of 2022 Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Students at Chatham University
Did you know April marks National Occupational Therapy (OT) Month? In order to celebrate, OT students at Chatham have launched the #OTChangingLives campaign, which emphasizes ways to incorporate occupational therapy techniques into your everyday life. Each Sunday in April, they’ll be posting a new OT challenge for you to participate in on their Facebook page and at the end of each week, participants will be entered into a raffle to win a $50 gift card.
Additionally, they’ve developed a newsletter featuring at-home tips for staying healthy in the midst of social distancing and stay-at-home orders. Below, you’ll find some of their tips and tricks, as well as a daily health checklist.
Rest & Sleep
Rest and sleep are more valuable than most people know, and it's easy for our sleep schedule to be thrown off by inconsistency. Our bodies perform best when we have an established sleep hygiene routine. Here are some tips for improving yours:
Take brain breaks throughout the day—step away from screens to exercise, get outside, and give your brain a rest
Avoid the snooze button—set a consistent time to go to sleep and wake up
Eliminate excess light—light rays, even artificial ones, can disrupt sleep
Unplug—stop using electronics an hour before going to bed
Stick to the schedule—engage in a consistent routine before going to bed, i.e. reading, brushing teeth, meditation
Study your sleep—read The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life One Night At a Time by Arianna Huffington
Social Participation Amidst Social Isolation
Humans are designed to be socially engaged; it provides us with purpose and a sense of belonging. How is it possible to engage in social participation while we are in social isolation? Here are a few ideas:
Zoom—this online video platform is booming right now. You can Zoom your family and have dinner together; you can Zoom your friends and catch up; you can even play games like Pictionary and Tic-tac-toe. If you’re missing campus, check out Chatham’s campus-themed Zoom backgrounds.
Phone calls—use this time to call your loved ones. Call your family members and ask how they are doing, call your coworkers and classmates, or call a friend you haven’t talked to in a while.
Self-Care Central
Caring for yourself is essential. If you have some extra time on your hands, now is the perfect time to try some new healthy hobbies. Here are some hobbies to fill your new-found leisure time:
Reading (without breaking the bank)—on Libby (a free app) you can borrow audiobooks and ebooks for the length of a library loan (21 days). Gather some friends, read the same book, and discuss over Zoom.
Knitting & crocheting—a great hobby for all ages! Knitting can create a mindless and therapeutic release. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to make items for your loved ones. YouTube has great videos for beginners.
Gratitude journaling—this is a simple way to fit some guided meditation into your lifestyle. Gratitude journaling can be as simple as writing down 3 things you are thankful for each day.
OT Checklist
Here is a helpful list of ideas for maintaining and improving your health and wellness. Try completing five of these a day—
Read ten pages of a book
Call a family member to check-in
Go outside for 15 minutes
Try a new recipe
Work out for 30 minutes
Organize a drawer or closet
Write in a journal
Work on a puzzle
Play a board game
Listen to new music and share with a friend
Go for a run
Write a letter
Complete a DIY project
Ride a bike
Thanks to Chatham’s Class of 2022 Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) students for putting together these helpful tips. For more information on Chatham’s Occupational Therapy programs, visit our website.
