How to balance volunteer positions as a student or new grad
In nearly every stage of life, we revolve our days around our education, and following graduation, our careers. As future or current occupational therapy practitioners, we are in constant fast-paced environments that can consume most of our free time. Though we have found our passions within this profession, it is so important and impactful to seek opportunities outside of our education or career, whether in leadership, advocacy, or volunteer experiences. For some, this idea may feel daunting and nearly impossible while in the midst of a full-time OT semester or a 9-to-5 job, so we hope to share some tips on seeking and managing extracurriculars, as a current OT student and OT practitioner in volunteer positions with AOTA!
1. If an opportunity is presented to you, or if you stumble upon an opportunity that sparks your interest but intimidates you at the same time, take the leap and try it out!
Whether it be directly related to occupational therapy or not, embracing change and testing out a new position helps to promote many vital skills and connections, and can uncover passions you may not have even known you had! Dedicate time each week to searching for short- or long-term endeavors that can help you to become more involved in your community, whether it be your work/school community or the community in which you reside. Embracing these roles can be so rewarding and can introduce you to incredible people and populations along the way.
2. It is important to prioritize and plan.
It can be easy to become overwhelmed with keeping up with everything from academics to extracurricular activities. We have found it helpful to utilize planners or digital calendars to track all assignments, exams, and extracurricular commitments. Time blocking is a helpful way to ensure you have ample time for all your commitments, by penciling them into your schedule. Communication is key to balancing a busy schedule. Let your professors, peers, and club leaders know your availability, and they will be happy to help!
3. Always practice self-care.
Taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of others. Schedule time throughout the week, even if only once or twice, to engage in an occupation you love. This will give you the clear mind you need to put your best self forward. For us, this includes reading, cooking, spending time with friends, and traveling.
4. Remember to be a team player.
Though the thought of committing to a position or experience can look a bit intimidating from the outside perspective as free time may be taken away from your daily, weekly, or monthly schedule, remember that you will more than likely have a team of people working alongside you. Lean on your team members, share any hesitations, and allow your support system to support you! We can learn so much from hearing the advice and experiences of others, such as how they manage their time or juggle various commitments. We have found that if we are having a busier month than usual, communicating this can be useful and reassuring.
5. Aim to be proactive.
The key to being successful in not only managing, but thriving in a busy schedule, is to aim to be proactive. Take advantage of your quieter moments and make goals for yourself with tasks to accomplish each day or week. Look weeks ahead at your schedule, approaching assignments, exams, and events, and chip away at them a little at a time. Waiting until any of these tasks are just days away will likely increase your stress levels and provide you with less time for your mental and physical health. Ensure you pencil in ahead of time your extracurricular commitments, so you know to tackle your other responsibilities before or after these events. If you are approaching a new semester, now would be a great time to secure an extracurricular activity or experience, allowing you to block this time off in your calendar from the get-go!
Becoming involved in outside commitments, such as the Student Pulse team, has been so rewarding and has only deepened the love we have for our profession while building on our interpersonal skills, among many others. Though the thought of hitting the “submit” or “send” button to pursue an extracurricular can feel scary, trying it out can change your life for the better, and will prevent you from thinking about the “what ifs”, or potentially regretting never trying in the first place. There are so many individuals, communities, and populations around the country and world in need of a person like you to make a difference in their lives, so we encourage you to take the leap!
Breanna Ciardullo, OTD, OTR/L currently serves as the Student Pulse’s Editor-in-Chief, and is an elementary school–based occupational therapist. She is passionate about promoting preventative mental health in young children, and in her free time enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Emily Olsen, OTS, currently serves as the Student Pulse’s Senior Editor and is a third-year student at the New York Institute of Technology. She is excited to graduate and to grow as an occupational therapist. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dog, trying new food, and spending time with friends and family.