Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
My role as a mum and my role as an OT working with children means I give a lot of myself to others – physically and emotionally – so balance requires me to be extremely self-aware and in tune with what I need to stay calm, connected and in thriving mode. For me, this means no working nights or weekends, strictly disconnecting from work once I pick up the kids and grounding myself in daily nature time – sometimes this might be 20 minutes of sitting still in nature, other times it’s a surf, paddle or hike.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about incredible change for my family and business. In order to protect the health of the families I work with, my own family, my colleagues and the broader community, I made the decision to transition to Telehealth to deliver Occupational Therapy services. As each child is unique, and each family unit is unique, the challenge has been to continue to provide a quality, evidence-based service that aligns my values with each family’s individual needs. So I’ve needed to be flexible and adaptable in my approach to therapy to ensure the essence of what I do is not lost by transitioning to an online platform.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The best thing about running my own business is the flexibility that has allowed me to experience a rewarding career whilst still being available to, and present with, my own children. It also means that I am able to provide a service that truly reflects my values and my commitment to continuous growth and education – as I evolve my practice evolves with me.
The downside is that I am also responsible for the behind-the-scenes work too, so from book keeping to attending professional development seminars, there is always something to be doing.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
I’m always dreaming up new ideas but in the immediate future I am working on a few different projects. I have two new workshops for parents being released this year and am teaming up with a dear friend who is also an OT to work on an exciting new group program for young people so plenty to look forward to.
To find out more, visit the Lee Maitz OT website and join her supportive communities on Facebook and Instagram.
