Rediscover Your Why as an Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapy attracts people who want to help others live better lives. Yet many OTs find themselves drained by heavy caseloads, paperwork and systems that do not allow them to work in alignment with their values. Burnout becomes a question of when, not if.

If you feel exhausted, uninspired or stuck in a cycle of overwork, you are not alone. Meaningful occupation — the very concept we champion for our clients — is often the first thing we neglect in our own lives.

When Life Forces a Pause

A few years ago I reached breaking point. On paper, everything looked perfect: a big house, a busy family life, a thriving career. In reality I was running on empty. Then my partner suffered a major heart attack and my world collapsed.

I sold the house, quit my NHS job and moved my family into a camper van. We planned to travel Europe, but the pandemic hit. Suddenly we were homeless, jobless and ill. All the occupations that had structured my days — work, social life, even simple routines — were gone.

It was frightening and yet, over time, transformative. With nothing but rest and quiet, I began to see what really mattered.

The Power of Meaningful Occupation

Occupational therapy teaches that occupation is more than paid work. It is anything that gives life structure, purpose and meaning. When those activities disappear, so does our sense of self.

During that enforced pause I rediscovered creativity through small projects like restoring furniture and exploring history with my children. Gradually my energy returned and I felt a powerful urge to create and contribute again.

I realised I did not hate work. I hated work that did not align with my core values of freedom and fulfilment. The solution was not to stop working. It was to work differently.

Why Alignment Prevents Burnout

When the work you do fails to match your deepest values, burnout is inevitable. As occupational therapists we know the science: meaningful activity boosts mood, releases oxytocin and counteracts stress hormones. Yet we often ignore this truth for ourselves.

Finding alignment means asking hard questions:

• Which daily occupations energise me and which drain me?
• Do my current activities reflect my core values?
• What would my ideal balance of work, rest, creativity and connection look like?

Brené Brown suggests focusing on just two key values. Mine are freedom and fulfilment. Knowing these has shaped every decision since, from family routines to business strategy.

Practical Steps to OT Your Own Life

1. Audit your day: List everything you do, note how each activity makes you feel and whether it aligns with your values.
2. Identify core values: Choose the two that resonate most and use them as your guide for decisions.
3. Make changes, big or small: Some shifts are simple tweaks; others may require bold moves such as changing jobs or starting a business.

This reflective process can feel uncomfortable but it is essential to restoring energy and purpose.

Building a Freedom-Based OT Business

For me, alignment meant creating an online business that supports occupational therapists to design their own freedom-based careers. I now coach OTs worldwide to package their skills into unique offers that sell with ease, without burning out.

Clients have achieved three, five and even fifteen thousand pounds in monthly revenue while working in ways that truly inspire them. The key is to combine professional expertise with personal values so that business growth feels natural and not forced.

Whether you have a few spare hours a week or want to scale quickly, there is a model to suit you. What matters is that your work feels meaningful and supports the life you want.

Your Next Step

If you are an occupational therapist longing for more freedom, start by reclaiming your own meaningful occupation. Reflect, realign and design a life that lights you up.

When you work from overflow rather than exhaustion, you serve clients more effectively and live with genuine fulfilment. The world needs the real you — energised, inspired and ready to make a difference.

Book a Personal Strategy Call

Ready to explore your own freedom-based business and create work that aligns with your values? Book a 1:1 call with Beki Eakins today. Together we will:

• Clarify your vision and core values
• Identify meaningful occupations that fuel energy and purpose
• Map out the first steps toward a profitable, soul-aligned OT business

Click here to schedule your private session and start building the career and lifestyle you truly deserve.