Typing is a great time management tool

This is an article aimed at recreational therapists (and college students) who aren’t good at typing.

 

A quick story/ personal experiences:

I took typing as a high school student in 1996. At the time, I scoffed at the class thinking, I’m not going to work in an office typing all day. I stubbed my finger playing basketball in 1996 (because I wasn’t good at playing basketball). I wasn’t able to type for about a week.

Fast FWD to today, 2019. A patient had attempted to hit me in the head with a shower rod. I was able to put up my hand and block myself. However, the rod hit directly on my left ring finger. I thought it was broke at first. It sent shock waves up my arm. My finger went numb. It was stubbed really bad and it has decreased my typing.

 

Here is today’s big lesson:

 

Time management also consists of being efficient with the time that you’re allotted for an activity.

Learning how to become an efficient typist can improve your time efficiency.

A person who doesn’t know how to type will have a much longer and more difficult time getting their documentation.

 

Documentation is a major parts of recreational therapy and services in general. In most cases, if it wasn’t documented then it wasn’t done.

 

Here is a list of things that recreational therapists often document:

• Assessment and summary of assessment
• Treatment Plan: goals, objectives, interventions, facilitation approaches
• Document individual patient notes for each individual who participated in recreational therapy intervention
• Evaluation: document a summary of the outcomes and befits gained from recreational therapy (or the lack of outcomes)
• Recommendations: document what is recommended

Recreational therapists can definitely improve the efficiency on the above items by being proficient typists.

Recreational therapists use typing for many other things:

• Sending emails
• Documenting a budget
• Writing for grants
• Writing special requests
• Writing articles for the facility/ company newsletter
• Creating a monthly calendar of activities
• Writing part of the program’s handbook about recreational therapy.

 

There are many more things we, recreational therapists write about. That isn’t an all-encompassing list.

 

Let’s look at the pros and cons for taking a typing class.

• Pros for avoiding a typing class: it is easier in the short-run. It is one less responsibility and hassle to deal with.
• Cons for staying the same: productivity is slow. It takes a lot of time to get documentation notes.
• Cons for taking a typing class: it is going to take some effort to improve
• Pros for taking a typing class: increased proficiency and efficiency, saves more time.

 

I believe you know my advice by now: Take a typing class and improve your typing efficiency.