As an Occupational Therapist, I see the activities we engage in through the eyes of occupational science. As humans, we have an innate drive to occupy ourselves and how we do this is very individual. Some of these occupations are healthier than others, but this series focuses on a range of activities that can have many positive impacts on anyone whilst also making excellent therapeutic tools, supporting the re-learning of old skills, or developing new ones.
When I use activities as a therapeutic tool, it is my job to find out what sort of activities are meaningful to you, and then combine this with the knowledge of your condition, your current level of ability, and your goals for rehabilitation or condition management. This, alongside activity analysis, allows me to tailor the activity to make it achievable enough to be enjoyable, but challenging enough to help you achieve your goals.
The humble allotment
I have the pleasure of having my own allotment, and I also volunteer to help keep the local Headway Dorset allotment ticking over, and often reflect on the many benefits on offer.
The Headway allotment has raised beds, and a wheelchair-accessible bench, making it inclusive. It is an amazing resource, and in need of TLC this year after a drop in interest – so my hope for 2023 is that I can inject a bit of newfound enthusiasm into it! Even without a lot of TLC through this long hot summer, there is still produce!
We can categorise activities as self-care, leisure and vocational – and an allotment can tick all these boxes. It provides a vocational role if you are ‘working’ the land, and growing produce, and is often a pleasurable activity done more for enjoyment than anything else. It can be a leisure activity, and I cannot overstate the ‘self-care’ element of pottering around on the plot! The benefits for mental and physical health are plentiful and I cannot think of many places as relaxing and enriching as an allotment.
So, if you are not already sold, check out some of the benefits below!
Physical benefits
If you have been off work after an illness or injury, an allotment can provide the opportunity for working up a sweat and help improve your general fitness levels. If you have a long-term condition and want to maintain good levels of fitness and flexibility, an allotment is a fantastic low-pressure place to start.
The important thing is to grade the task. Ensure that you start at an achievable level that will not lead to fatigue, injury or exacerbate any symptoms.
Sensory benefits
Sensory challenges can include a loss of sensation due to an illness or condition but can also mean that we process or experience certain sensations as overwhelming. One of the things that I think can be so therapeutic about an allotment is the availability of so many lovely sensory experiences – but in an environment that tends not to overwhelm.
You are outside in natural light, and whilst there is a lot going on, there isn’t the sensory bombardment of many of our man-made environments. Think about the supermarkets or a restaurant - even the library can be overstimulating if you don’t like artificial light and bright colours!
An allotment is a great place to explore your sensory profile, and has a range of activities that can stimulate the neural pathways involved in all sensory processing such as:
· Auditory (sound)
· Tactile (touch)
· Visual (seeing)
· Olfactory (smells)
· Gustatory (tastes)
· Proprioceptive (where your limbs are in space)
· Vestibular (orientation/balance)
Cognitive and psychosocial benefits
So many skills can be incorporated into a visit to the allotment. You can challenge your memory, visual processing, and attention skills when planting or identifying what is growing. And if you want to practice skills in more complex cognition, the opportunity is there too.
My allotment is a rolling project, as I must think about what I want to plant and the time of year for planting and harvesting to ensure I make the most of the space and get a good harvest. This type of long-term planning and organising can be hard for me with the executive functioning challenges of ADHD! Over the years, I have found that I have learnt strategies to support me do this efficiently and found that I can find joy in having the patience to plan out a task and wait for the results. I can slow down at the allotment and drop my expectations of instant gratification that the modern world often feeds into.
I spoke in the introduction about the benefits for mental health such as connecting with nature, slowing down, and engaging in mindful activities, but there is also the social connection. Working on an allotment in a group can provide a community connection via the combined efforts on a common goal. However, if you find social situations challenging, I find you can also be ‘alone in company’ in this setting!
If you need help gaining back control of your interests and hobbies with support of an Occupational Therapist, let’s have a chat. I’d love to help you.
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