“Treat yourself as your first client.”
It’s excellent advice that we’ve received as Duke OTD students. Starting graduate school is a huge occupational transition in one’s life, and with that comes the responsibility of caring for yourself and staying attuned to your ever-changing needs. These needs can appear in aspects of your physical, social, or mental health, and all are essential to prioritize so you can show up as your best self.
By “filling your cup first,” you open yourself to being capable of filling others as well, contributing and participating in your new community to the fullest extent. While it is easy to put your self-care on the back burner to tackle the demands of your program and career, this will ultimately leave you unsatisfied with your experiences and increase your vulnerability to lasting negative impacts on your health and well-being.
Thinking of those three aspects of health that come with different needs, here are a few ways to support your health and treat yourself with client-centered care, optimizing your bandwidth for occupational participation in your school, career, and community.
Physical Health
- Healthy nutrition
- Yoga
- Meaningful exercise
- Walking
- Sleep
- Daily routines
Social Health
- Making new friends
- Building a support system
- Lunch dates
- Game nights
- Staying in contact with home
- Preserving your social battery
Mental Health
- Mindfulness
- Positive affirmations
- Self-acceptance
- Meditation
- Time outdoors
- Designated rest days
Few people are in a better position than an OT to understand the impact of having meaningful participation and occupational balance to promote life satisfaction. You will spend years throughout your graduate program and future career gaining knowledge on how to give this advice to clients, and it is just as important to understand how you can apply the same concepts to your own life. Apply the same ambition you have to serve others to serve yourself, and you’ll become an even stronger student and OT than you could imagine.
The better you show up for yourself, the better you can show up for others!!