#COVID19Creativity: A Return to the Roots of OT During the Pandemic

Regina Sarnicola, MS, OTR/L

Day 210

At the time of this writing, it is day 210 since the statewide shelter in place order was issued in California. I find myself forgetting more and more that things are not “normal” and that the global pandemic continues. I find the ease with which we have all adapted to be both comforting and disturbing. Our lives have been turned upside down, and we’ve had to learn to adjust to seeing our world from this new vantage point. While studying for the NBCOT® exam, I found myself reflecting on the Ecology of Human Performance framework, which focuses on the relationships between the person, context, task, performance, and therapeutic interventions in order to understand human occupation. Perfectly enough, some of the tenets of those interventions include “adapt,” “alter”, and my favorite, “create.” Are we not already adapting and altering our tasks, contexts, performances, and more to this new way of life every day?

Creation in the Time of COVID-19

Adapting and altering includes not only remembering to wear a mask or meeting virtually through platforms like Zoom, but also returning to what many of us love about OT as a profession: our ability and passion to “create.” The development of OT during WWI grew from the need to teach returning soldiers skills to learn, create, and build, in order to return to the workforce and find outlets to cope with the trauma of their experiences. While our experiences now are not comparable to those of war, we’ve learned in the past several months that there is a collective trauma emerging as a result of COVID-19 caused by the isolation, the anxiety, the loss, and the stress of the unknown. So, why not apply exactly what OT was meant to do to cope with this pandemic?

Wake Up, Eat, Netflix, Sleep, Repeat

Being someone who cannot sit still, at the start of quarantine and the end of my final Level II fieldwork, I couldn’t stop finding things to do to keep me busy. I was picking up embroidery, making a dent in my reading list, writing more often, teaching myself to paint, cooking and baking up a storm—all things that had either taken a back seat to my busy life or that I had always wanted to try my hand at and hadn’t. Beyond the newfound hobbies, the stress of life forced me to focus more on my mental health and self-care routines. I became more conscious of my sleep hygiene, got better at practicing mindfulness, and even took the time to call, rather than text, family and friends to catch up and check in.  

When the novelty of baking, cooking, and sewing was starting to wear off, I stumbled upon the world of pressed flower art. I was struck by how beautiful the work was but also the low barrier of entry into this hobby. After some research, I jumped into that subculture and have not looked back. In the few months I’ve been doing it, it has turned into a wonderful outlet for my creative spirit to arrange colors, patterns, and material. I’ve found further fulfillment in sharing my work by creating pieces and gifting them to others. While all the other hobbies I picked up along the way never felt permanent, this is something I can see myself doing for a long time.

From Practitioner to Patient

Then it all came full circle. I had been so focused on doing things for myself that I hadn’t realized I’d been gaining experience and practice in skills that I could use as an OT to teach to future clients. So often we think of our home and personal lives as separate from our work lives, but within OT the overlap can be priceless. The ultimate goal is to use the values that are familiar to us and to teach others, while also holding ourselves accountable and continuing to engage in activities that bring us joy. Who are we to talk to clients about the importance of self-care if we ourselves are not practicing what we preach? Also, if we have tried-and-true methods that have worked for us, we can share them with our clients rather than just providing impersonal suggestions. With our bread and butter being task analysis, the more familiar and practiced a task is for us, the more we are able to break it down and adapt it for a variety of populations and skill sets. 

We won’t have experience or insight into everything important or relevant to our clients, but the more we explore our own passions, the more we have to share, and the healthier we may become as OT practitioners because we are feeding our spirits.

Pick Flowers, Not Fights

Without knowing it, I found this new hobby at a time when I was especially in need of fulfillment in my day-to-day life. Oftentimes we may not realize how much we need something to enrich our lives until we find it. I understand that everyone has had a different experience of 2020, and I’ve been fortunate to be in a position to try these kinds of activities. It has brought a silver lining to this crazy year, and I hope others can find their silver lining as well. If anything, COVID-19 has forced us all to reexamine our busy lives, priorities, and routines. And while there is a lot that is missed, if we’ve learned to slow down a bit, enjoy the little things more, refocus on what is most meaningful to us, and attempt things that never would have gotten done, we can celebrate those little wins.

As 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic continue, if you can, throw on an apron, don a painting smock, maybe even build a birdhouse, or start that Etsy store. Harness your creativity and curiosity by moving those “to dos” from the bottom of your list to the top—and maybe even put on your OT hat to complete the look.

Regina Sarnicola, MS, OTR/L, is a 2nd generation occupational therapist and 2020 graduate of California State University, Dominguez Hills, where she received her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Her passions lie with the geriatric and veteran populations along with researching spirituality in OT practice. When she isn’t reading books, browsing antique stores, or kayaking, you can find her pressing flowers at girl_meets_flower_press on Instagram.