Wouldn’t life be just that bit easier if you knew what to expect? Read on and we will share some secrets!
Welcome to the amazing ride of being an occupational therapist! Whether you are graduating soon or you're about to dive into the professional world, your first year as an OT is a whirlwind of excitement, challenges, and everything in between. Wouldn’t life be just that bit easier if you knew what to expect? Read on and we will share some secrets!
So, you aced your exams and breezed through your clinical placements, well done! Diving into OT practice daily is a whole different ball game. Your learning is going to increase (yep, we’re serious), as now you get to put into practice all you studied at university and come across a myriad of things you haven’t. These are the things only experience can teach, but trust us, the juice is worth the squeeze.
Don't be discouraged if you feel like you're stumbling through your caseload at first or struggling learning your new organisations processes. Embrace the learning curve, ask questions, and don't be afraid to seek guidance from your supervisor and team. Remember, every experienced OT was once a newbie too. The sooner you get comfortable with being curious, or asking the same question three times, the faster you will find your feet.
Spoiler alert… you're going to mess up. It's inevitable. But here's the thing, making mistakes is part of the learning process. Remember, the goal is healthy striving over perfectionism.
Mistakes provide an amazing opportunity for growth and learning, so view them as an opportunity. The right organisation will have scaffolding in place to support you to ensure any mistakes will never be big ones, so be kind to yourself, learn from them and move on.
Repeat after me; self-care isn't selfish, it's essential! Your first year as an OT can be overwhelming, with challenging cases, balancing priorities, integrating into a new team and organisation, and lots of paperwork. So, amidst the chaos, don't forget to prioritise your own well-being. This can look like working part time (who doesn’t love a 4-day work week!), ensuring your workplace supports flexibility, as well as ensuring that you do things in your own time to support your wellbeing. Whether a weekend getaway, or simply curling up with a good book, carve out time for self-care and make it non-negotiable. You matter, and beyond that, ensuring your battery is charged is going to make you a better OT, and ensure your clients get the best from you.
Feeling like you're in over your head? Guess what? That’s normal. Every OT has moments of doubt and uncertainty, especially in the early days of their career. Reach out to your fellow OTs for support, swap stories over coffee, talk to your supervisor, and remember to breathe. Your biggest asset when you feel like this is your ability to reach out for support. Despite the story you may tell yourself, no one is expecting you to know everything. Trust us.
Don’t forget to celebrate the wins, no matter how small they may seem. Did a client achieve a personal goal? High-five! Completed a complex report? Treat yourself to a victory dance (we won’t judge!). Recognise and celebrate your accomplishments and remember you're making a difference in the lives of your clients, on a daily basis. It’s amazing when you think about it!
So, there you have it, a few nuggets of wisdom to help you navigate the rollercoaster ride of your first year in the field. Remember to embrace the journey, learn from your mistakes, prioritize self-care, lean on your colleagues for support, and celebrate every victory along the way. You've got this!
