Today I read about Olympic athletes opening up about the relentless pressures of performing to their max and the mental health problems such as performance anxiety and depression as a result.
I don't mean to compare OTs with Olympic athletes, but I know that some OTs work in very stressful environments, are expected to deal with a huge workload, perform too long beyond healthy limits, meanwhile trying to satisfy their clients and most likely their manager too.
The question is: are you satisfied yourself? How long are you able to perform at this level? How long do you want to perform at this level? What do you need right now to stay happy and healthy? How do you prefer to work? How can you align your work with your values and life view? How can you make this happen?
Sometimes we need to step back, take a breath and be honest with ourselves. When was the last time you checked in with your dreams in life?
It can be a challenging process to re-consider your career. I know. In between travelling, working abroad, moving from The Netherlands to Ireland, I have had two careers: as a primary teacher and an OT.
Now I'm combining private OT practice with being an OT Life Coach for people with Neurodiversity and for Healthcare Workers/OTs, as well as being a mentor for OTs who wish to use coaching as an OT intervention. And I'm loving it!
All I can say is: be brave and ask the questions. Be honest and if you like to get honest support from a 'neutral person'... consider being coached to find your way! 'You're worth it!'
Dear Jennifer.
Glad to read that you felt less alone in this after reading my post.
A safe, non-judgemental space to explore values, expand perceptions and explore options can go a long way.
Please feel free, at any time, to contact me to explore this further if you like. As an OT Coach I provide free 'chemistry sessions' (potentialcoachingonline@gmail.com)
Take care.
Thank you for the post. I felt from reading it, it helped me feel supported and not so alone in the pressures of being an OT. It is hard to keep staying strong to do the best we can for everyone else and yet thinking of taking a breath to ensure we feel satisfied and balanced in ourselves. The coaching route you are journeying through sounds extremely therapeutic and satisfying. It has given me some inspiration to explore further.
Thank you
Hi @Ageeth Hup
Your forum was shared on social media, with the following comments:
Hannah Childs
Absolutely. I do this regular now, since the pandemic. I have made a lot of changes to follow my dreams. All too often we get caught up in our busy life's and fail to notice time flying by and honouring what is important to us! Thanks for posting.
Jodi Peterson, OTR, CAPS
Very timely post Ageeth Hup. Every day OTs teach and encourage our clients to prioritize their wellness and practice self-care. Perhaps we underestimate the amount of courage that takes for them, and for ourselves. Ms. Biles is a model of that courage. All of us would benefit from reflecting on the meaning to our own lives.
Sorry, I mean Performance anxiety of course.... ;)
A great post @Ageeth Hup! Thank you for the insight and inspiration, to better align our work with our values and priorities in life. Very topical too! We will bring your forum to the attention of fellow Members, via our social networks, to generate speedier responses.