Recently, I had the chance to spend the morning with Kendyl Brock Hunter, Occupational Therapist/Certified Hand Therapist at Pro Therapy in Cleveland, Georgia and her OT intern, Sarah Hagberg, a student at Brenau College.
Hunter is a busy mom and has served White County Schools close to a decade as the Board of Education chair.
With her knowledge as an OT as a springboard, I was curious to see what tips Hunter could share about self-care.
Pulse: What do you recommend to patients and colleagues as good techniques for self care?
Hunter: We have physical therapists here, but I’m an occupational therapist and Sarah is an occupational therapist. And a little difference between PT and OT is that the OT’s perspective is a little more holistic… a “take care of the whole person” perspective.
There are things things like dry needling, electro-stimulation, fluto therapy ultrasound…all are helpful but we look at “why” you’re in a situation that gives you pain like lifestyle, sleeping patterns, ergonomics during the day and hobbies. The things that can get you in trouble.
Whatever your passion may be can lend itself to problems. It’s hard to modify your passions, so we look for ways to modify behavior (or tools) so that you can enjoy your passion.
We evaluate and we look at and teach ways to cope. For example, Is there an imbalance? Then we look at strengthening things we can do. Are you tired? We look at energy conservation like taking breaks. For example, if you grow weary as the day goes on, we recommend getting the big things out of the way early in the day when your energy is at its highest. We want you to be independent in your life.
Hagberg: We’re conscious of: What is your story? What are you doing with your time? What do you want to do with your time? It’s how we create goals…what do you want your life to be?
Pulse: Is there anything in particular you do for yourself to keep yourself in good shape emotionally and physically?
Hunter: I was at a conference with the American Society of Hand Therapists, a specialized group within PT and OT. We had a meeting in Philadelphia and we were all talking about that here we are…heathcare providers and we were discussing, “How do you follow through with these things at home or just in your regular lifestyle?”
One of the things that came up were habits…just healthy habits. And what they were saying is to just get up and start doing that one good thing every day. It becomes so innate, so ingrained to your day-to-day habits that when you don’t do it, you miss it.
For some people, it’s reading a book; for ome people it’s writing and so they take twenty minutes and sit down and write. Some people need to run…need to jog. It may be a spiritual thing, you may need to sit down and read your Bible lessons every day. But there is something that helps to ground you and calm you and center you and that’s an important healthy habit to adopt.
One of the habits I’m working on is I would like to, at least every other day, do some sort of exercise like Pilates. The kids and I just did kick boxing and we loved it.
I do think it’s more of a seasonal kind of thing…healthy habits in the wintertime is just getting in some exercise.
And of course, I love to cook and in the wintertime that works out well.
Spring and summer I love the outdoors. I love my flowers and planting. I do Bonsai. It gives you a sense of peace. When you’re out working and sweating, you release your natural endorphins.
Of course, I enjoy my family and that grounds me.
I think another thing that helps just busy people in general is you need to make a list and check that list. At the end of the day you can feel a sense of accomplishment. Otherwise you just get pulled in too many directions. And the worst feeling in the world is going to bed feeling like you haven’t accomplished anything. So, if you can prioritize and check some boxes along the way, it helps.
Hagberg: I think I would sum up everything with one phrase, “What is meaningful to you?” Set goals based on that idea and and you can live a passionate life.
Hunter: And I always remind my patients…Just breathe!
