Health Education 101: What is Occupational Health?
Welcome to the next installment in the Health and Wellness Basics series, where we chat about the basics of wellness, well-being, and learning how to thrive! This week's topic is Occupational Health.
It's not quite what you think.
When I asked my students what the most important thing to consider when choosing a career, too many of them said money. Well, kids, here's the hard truth - having a thriving career isn't all about the benjamins.
Ya see, here's the definition of Occupational Health...
Occupational Health reaches beyond physical safety in the workplace and simply having a career. It refers to having a career you love that connects to your purpose and passion. Having the ability to balance work and leisure time, to handle workplace stress, and to build relationships with co-workers.
And just like each of the other dimensions of health, Occupational Health powerfully connects to every aspect of well-being. It can be the source of great stress and joy, financial security or insecurity, meaning and purpose, and so much more.
Healthy Habits for Occupational Health
So, how exactly can we nurture Occupational Health and thrive? Here are a few habits to ponder...
Create a balance between work and home. Learn to set boundaries, create a schedule, and how to say no.
Expose yourself to many different career opportunities and possibilities! Don't get stuck in the mindset set of only one possible future.
Choose a career based on your passions and purpose. And continually evaluate your career choice to ensure that it connects accordingly.
Develop social skills and learn how to foster positive relationships with the people you work with.
So What Does This Mean for My Classroom?
I know thinking about fostering Occupational Health in your classroom can feel incredibly overwhelming. I mean, besides academically preparing students for a real-life job, we also have to help them define their passion and purpose (here's a lesson on that), teach them how to balance life, handle stress, and nurture social skills! #AintNobodyGotTimeforThat
Don't worry, it's easier than it looks.
Because you're such a rockstar teacher, I'm sure you're already promoting Occupational Well-Being! All you have to do now is connect the dots and make sure kids understand the connection. Here are some much-needed job skills I'm 100% sure you're teaching your students:
Social skills and learning how to work with people
Setting goals and creating a plan of action
Teaching kids how to identify and process emotions and stress
Creating a balance between school and play
And of course, you're exposing them to the many different careers they could have
But just in case...
...you need help with that last one, I have a career exploration freebie just for you!
Help your students understand the complexity of choosing the right career! Students will brainstorm what questions they should ask when picking a career path. This simple exercise helps them look beyond the salary to the many elements of a job that impact our ability to thrive!
I'd love to hear about what you do to promote Occupational Health in your classroom??? I am always looking for creative ways to help kids connect what they're doing now to their futures.