The Therapeutic Evolution of Recreation During the Pandemic

The therapy of recreation is not new and something we can do ourselves. I am here to tell you so.

Let’s face it, the pandemic is not over. No matter what the changing daily headlines say the numbers speak for themselves. Not a plateau in sight currently. The encouragement is always there to stay at home if you can, work from home if at all possible, so those that can are. Even if you have to go to work you are likely still spending your free time where it is safer to be, at home.

The greatest to be affected by the wave of staying in is the Extraverts. Those who thrive on interaction with others, don’t feel normal without it. Extraverts are actually energized that way, keeping their momentum and life balanced by social anything. Be it social media interaction, video text, phone, or good old-fashioned chatting from your porch or balcony that should suffice for an extravert energy kick.

While those people having a preference for introversion are languishing in solitude. These persons are quite happy and able to function and feel normal with very little social interaction. Are energized by having time alone.

So, guess which of the two are most productive during forced alone time. Not difficult to figure out. However, both personality types might experience stress or frustration. What to do?

Try something new. People often think of “recreation” as something they do in their leisure time, which often it is. Weekend sports, going to the gym a few times a week, weekly card games, or art class. All of those things can be adapted to do at home.

Stretch your imagination and keep it within the limits of enjoyment. Trying something new might also lead to some stress if it is something that you don’t enjoy. Trying an at-home-cooking class for me, for example, would be a disaster. Facing utensils and things that measure could be traumatic. Something I would dread and easily give up on because I have absolutely no interest in it. However, following a free yoga app might hold my interest. You might not be inclined to write, do art, learn dance moves, or the creative exploration or adapted sports. Don’t rule these out however unless you absolutely dislike those activities.

Maybe you tried redecorating your space and the bold black and white striped wallpaper with organic sculpture you got off Ebay just doesn’t work for you anymore. Maybe your attempt at self-styled fashion design was a little too far-reaching and your sewing machine broke on organza and denim coming together. Photography got boring after too many selfies of you and your goldfish. Running out of money for Amazon shopping? Perhaps you find yourself reaching out on social media for discussion and are met with only dick pics. Well, here I am to help you out.

I went back to school as a mature adult for a second post-grad certificate in Therapeutic Recreation. This is within the context of therapeutic physical rehabilitation after surgeries or for adaptive medical conditions. Or people having special needs or any disabilities including temporary ones like sports injuries or more long-term like strokes or acquired brain injuries, etc. I also have an artsy background and do Life Coaching Online with individuals as well. More and more I read about people turning to life coaches and counselors or chat lines for momentary distress dealing with the pandemic. There are other avenues to achieving peace during a torrent that can be free and self-styled.

One thing that sticks out in my mind is the two constructs that make recreation work as a therapy:

1) adapt the activity to you personally

2) make it meaningful.

You can literally adapt any sport or creative endeavor to your personal likes and situation. If you’d like to learn more about how to make yourself happier when there is social stress, pandemic or not. Follow me here for a four-part series on how recreation can be therapeutic and within the scope of what you can do for yourself.

Recreation Therapists treat the mental, physical and emotional well-being of a person. Assessing and designing programs that are individual and often can be self-administered. So here we are. This two-part series will at least raise your awareness about you and what to do. Click Follow or Subscribe.

Out of every dilemma comes the substance to move forward. Out of every crisis comes a new way of doing things. Out of every effort can be a step to magnificent new learning.

More of Lisa A Lachapelle’s work HERE and HERE

Also published on Medium Online Media