Longer...Harder...Hopefully More Conscientious!

As a follow up to yesterday's post...

We are all going to have to earn more education, work longer and also maintain more skills than the generation before us therefore we need to be more conscientious about knowing ourselves (strengths and weaknesses in a work setting), our threshold for stress and how to manage that stress. Because we are all working longer, a career change may occur as our strengths and weaknesses shift throughout our lifespan.

I feel like working as an Occupational Therapist is a good example of this. Years ago individuals went to college to earn a bachelor's degree with a few basic math/anatomy/science/psychology courses and a few courses on the theories that were specifically based on OT. Things have changed and now researching and collecting data is necessary to maintain a career in this field which has increased the course work necessary to have entry level skills as an OT. In the education setting and other public agencies I have heard a rumor

that there were report writers (assistants/secretary's) who wrote the reports based on the therapists notes from the evaluations. So, currently an OT  (and other professions) has to maintain the specific skills necessary to keep up with new ways of collecting data and research, to prove the treatment sessions are successful and also maintain clerical skills. The increased use of technology has also given us the ability to do more throughout the work day. While completing a job analysis for myself (yes, I find it interesting), I figured 20 minutes a day to tend to email. Not that much, is it? Out of a school year it's 61 hours. We all know it's more than that, especially when email is on our phones and available to us at 10pm or on the weekends. Twenty years ago a memo through inter-school mail or a phone call had to be made. Sometimes, people had to wait longer than 60 minutes for your response.

My point is, things have changed. And that means we need to change the way we take care of ourselves and how we approach our jobs. Effort to address your health and well being is a necessity.

The next couple of posts will be more fun....addressing play/leisure activities rather than the 4 letter work...W.O.R.K.

What Does Work Mean to You?

This post is a component of the Siesta Hut.

Work. Oh Boy, what a topic! This is probably the last thing we want to think about on a 3 day weekend. It is a component of life that is heavily focused on in both of my college degrees. My master's degree is heavily focused on providing employment to individuals with disabilities which in turn allows these individuals to be independent, productive members of society. With a degree in Occupational Therapy (my bachelor's degree) I am trained to complete job analysis' on various different careers and occupations.  Basically think of your job and realize that somewhere in their coursework an OT did an assignment that worked on listing every physical and cognitive task involved with your job duties.  And then listed ideas and equipment to make these job duties easier based on the level of impairment an individual may have. Ranging from the stairs you may use to get to your office space, to the amount of physical output or level of long term memory it takes to be productive, to the level of dexterity it takes to punch a time clock or use a computer.

Work. Without it where would you be? Could you pay taxes? Rent? Maintain a car? Participate in play or leisure activities? Maintain your health? Working in America for about 40-60 years during our lifetime is pretty much crucial to a stable middle class life. Yes, really. The burger joint, movie theater or camp counselor jobs we all have throughout high school and college years are included in with earning our educations and skills and finding a place to hopefully gain some type of pension.

40-60 years? My hope is that with my educational background and own personal experiences I am able to break apart and analyze different types of jobs/careers and the individuals level of passion and satisfaction with what they are doing every day. In my case, am I able to lift and carry boxes/bags and fill out redundant pieces of paperwork. Yes, I am. Does this effect my level of performance during treatment planning/sessions and meetings. Yes, it does. Especially if it's an ongoing issue. And I am willing to guess that if you are working for a larger public agency and have been provided with stability and benefits and suffer from a health issue that may be hidden or managed when you are good to yourself, these little things at work really can effect your overall performance. At a public rehabilitation agency I would "pass" an OT evaluation and it would be stated that I am able to perform my essential job duties. What I have noticed is that there are a lot of gaps in terms of how to handle individuals with hidden disabilities in the workforce. Actually, my disability is obvious however my determination and motivation has outweighed the fact that certain components of work can be a challenge.

My goal is to always look at the bigger picture. Work hard. Pay bills and taxes and be a productive member of society, but find that balance of what matters to you and reduce the rest of it.

Stay tuned. This summer quizzes, survey's and hopefully discussion boards will be coming your way to address this issue.

http://20somethingfinance.com/american-hours-worked-productivity-vacation/

Teacher Appreciation Week

According to all the sales and discounts this is the last day I have to make a tribute to all the great teachers out there. Many times I can tell who I am chatting with (hairdressers, scientists, engineers or Teachers!). Usually they are social and loving to all different types of people and often have great sense of humors. They are the ones at group events who are able to entertain the kids and still able to know what the adults are talking about. They are masters at business casual dress.

As I look around it's not hard to see that public education is changing, Test taking, new curriculum requirements, changing policies, lack of funding, kids that are struggling with a variety of personal issues are all things weighing heavy on educators minds. At times it can be very distracting from the passion and drive that encouraged them to become an educator. I can't help but wonder if home schooling, charter schools or online programs are going to eventually out number public education they way the majority of adults knew it to be. And maybe that's ok? Looking back in history how long have things ever stayed the same? Maybe we shouldn't be so scared or worried about change.

Fortunately people are still human and it is my belief that it is human nature to want to connect, teach and influence individuals of the younger generations. I see these qualities in Izzo and Dantonio, a colleague who has recently opened her very own pre-school because things occurring in the public setting were stealing her passion and drive. I saw it in so many of my educators ranging from a pre-school teacher who sent birthday cards well into my twenties to college instructors. Books such as Tuesday's With Morrie have become famous because of this desired need to connect with our youth and provide an influence, wisdom and knowledge. The educators that I am thinking of influenced me in ways they could never imagine. They were some of the people that believed in me before I believed in myself. And that is what makes educators so special.

Currently working in a public school setting I have 2 sensory reports to write up, Medicaid monthly summaries, a grant to provide information for, my own milage form and a professional development form to complete. These are things I really don't want to do on a beautiful Sunday and because of that feeling I feel like lesser of an OT. But it's important to remember to look at the big picture and maintain a balance.