If there is one thing I am unabashedly proud of, it is that I work in the field of Therapeutic Recreation.
I am a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, and I believe with every ounce of my being that the work I have done over my 10-year career has been incredibly impactful and ultimately life-changing. Despite the many challenges that come with the territory of working in this field, I stand tall in my beliefs about the benefits of therapeutic recreation and will share them with anyone who asks.
This is why Therapeutic Recreation Month (also known as February) is one of my favorite months of the year. We have an entire 28-day span to share with the world how strongly we believe in the power of purposeful recreation, leisure, and play for improving the quality of life for those we serve.
International TR Month was created in 2012 with the purpose of giving those who work in the field a designated time to connect, advocate, educate and celebrate this amazing career we have selected. I have celebrated TR Month in many different ways and I have seen others do some incredibly creative things as well that have left me feeling motivated and inspired.
In today’s post, I wanted to share with you all 6 Ways you Can Celebrate Therapeutic Recreation Month 2022.
6 Ways to Celebrate Therapeutic Recreation Month 2022
1. Perfect your TR Elevator Pitch
I have been talking about having a TR elevator pitch from my early blogging days. Some folks get upset with me when I say this – but the truth is we all need one. The world is a busy place, and people have a lot on their minds. If you want to have someone buy into how you can help them, or consider hiring a CTRS for their team, OR whatever else your goal maybe – you are going to need to be able to explain to them what you do in a powerful and succinct way. INSERT your perfected Therapeutic Recreation Elevator Pitch.
Lucky for you, our friends at @TRRetreat have created just the resource for you to do so. Check it out here → The Complete Guide to Developing your Therapeutic Recreation Elevator Pitch
2. Create a TR Inspired Online Platform
I cannot tell you how joyful I feel when I see RTs out there in the world of social media creating posts about their work with their own unique spin on it! Over the past 3 years that I have been in this amazing little corner of the internet there has been an absolute BOOM of accounts, blogs, pages, etc., dedicated to this wonderful field we are in. If you have a calling in your soul and a message to spread, take this as your sign to create an online TR-inspired platform.
3. Provide a Staff In-service/Training
Don’t roll your eyes at this one! Gone are the days of boring ol’ powerpoints full of snore-worthy definitions (I kid – I kid). But in all seriousness, those of us who work in the field of Therapeutic Recreation have a certain jes nes se quoi called CREATIVITY. This is our opportunity to put on our originality caps and offer a training/ in-service that is unique to this incredible field we work in.
A few years ago, an incredible team I worked with hosted a TR Month Amazing Race Event for the center staff. Teams wearing different headbands of blue, green, yellow, and red sprinted around the compound answering riddles and completing challenges relating to the field of TR. The event resulted in an increased understanding of TR and copious amounts of laughter.
4. Plan a TR Staff Self-Care Activity
Recreation therapists need self-care activities too. Languishing, burnout, and compassion fatigue have been on the rise since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. TR Month is a fantastic time to take some much-needed rest and relaxation from our demanding workloads. What better way to blow off some steam than to do it with your TR co-workers.
Start the conversation by asking those you work with what some of their favorite flow-inspired activities are and then make plans accordingly. Some departments even paid hours and funds for staff bonding or team-building time. Make sure you ask your administration if they would be willing to support your self-care endeavor. Then go do what TRs do best – have fun!
5. Create Education/Promotional TR Materials
So you may not have time to plan a big event or Covid-19 regulations are keeping you tucked away in your home right now. But that doesn’t mean it has to put a damper on your TR Month. Take that incredible knowledge you have inside your head and create some educational or promotional materials. You can share what you create on social media or send out by email. There are some great online platforms for you to take designer-worthy content nowadays (I recommend Canva).
Therapeutic Recreation Ontario has some great shareable TR Materials for use or inspiration.
6. Attend a TR Career & Well-being Retreat
You may be thinking, “What? I have never heard of a TR Career & Well-being Retreat! What is this all about?”
Well, I’m so glad you have asked my friend. There is an incredible announcement happening this weekend. But in the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for…
- An online opportunity designed to refresh your soul with purposefully designed experiential activities and lessons from inspiring speakers.
- A deep dive from those passionate about Therapeutic Recreation to help anyone who may be battling feelings of impostor syndrome or disconnection.
- A 1.5-day reprieve from the overwhelming daily tasks that leave us feeling burnout, exhausted, and unmotivated.
- A meaningful community of like-minded professionals designed to renew your spirits and encourage you to do the incredible work you know you are capable of.
- And to top it off, a way to earn all the CEUs you need this year!!!
If you are ready to Know Your Worth this TR Month – be sure to follow @TRretreat on Instagram or facebook.com/TRCareerWellbeingRetreat for a BIG announcement this weekend.
I hope this article provided you with some inspiration for how you can celebrate TR Month this year.
I’d love to know in the comments below how you plan to advocate, educate and celebrate this month.