Sunny Day Therapy's Blog- Helping Children & Caregivers Shine, Do, and Thrive

The occupation (or “meaningful activity” of sleep) includes the process of preparing to sleep, the act of staying asleep, waking during the night, and activities that promote rest and wind-down.  As occupational therapy practitioners, we help set up and modify environments to promote relaxation, educate on the use of routines and priming the brain to get ready for sleep, and utilize tools like mindfulness, gratitude, and constructive problem-solving to give people tools to enhance occupational balance and boundary-setting which leads to more productive and restful sleep. 

Children (and adults) may have night terrors and benefit from sensory assessment and education to help know which senses to tap into to help them calm and which environments/tools are the best fit for promoting wind-down activities. 

An OT can help set up a “sensory diet” of activities/exercises to do at certain times of the day to promote optimal self regulation (arousal and calming).  Positive habits like mindful, nutritious eating, exercise, and socialization can release positive chemicals called endorphins which can lead to better sleep. Stressors can lead to sleep deprivation. Stress management prevents the build up of cortisol facilitating rest. 

Certain seasons of our life or environments may lead to a situation called occupational deprivation in which lack of enriching, nourishing stimulation and balanced activities leads to dys-regulation of neurotransmitter activity in the brain. OTP’s understand thoroughly the neuroanatomy to help give you the tools to calm your limbic system’s fight-or flight-response. An OT can help you understand your own body signs and set up a customized wellness plan tailored to your own needs, strengths, and triggers. 

Many populations are at risk for poor sleep including those with mental health issues like anxiety or depression, physical disabilities or injuries, & neuro-divergent populations.  Populations with increased physical demands such as parents or those in a new career at likely to experience periods of fatigue, hyperactivity, or dys-regulation that can to exhaustion and eventually burnout without the proper intervention. 

Thankfully, OTP’s are trained to share internal and external tools to help your whole family. From self-talk to cognitive behavioral therapy to organizational tools, we can help you set up the patterns and systems to feel confident that you are on your way to getting your sleep (and life) back on track.  

Someone once told me that sleep is like a cat; if you pursue it too hard, it will run away.  When you set up the mental habits of self-care, you invite sleep to set in and find you. It’s like realizing that all you have to do is take your foot off of the accelerating when you have been slamming on the breaks all of your life.  

Tired mamas, I am excited to share my lifestyle renovation strategies with you and support you as we seek sleep together!  Life isn’t perfect and it’s totally ok to have a rough night; your rest will come.  Let me help. 

Rest comes not only from sleep but from setting up calming routines and structure during the day.  We have choices about how we plan and structure our activities to promote occupational balance.  Let me show you the tools to help.