Against a beige background sit a pair of orange and black climbing shoes, a small green plant in a glass jar, a red spool of yarn, a red lacrosse ball, a paint palette with dark red, black, and brown paint, a paintbrush, and a long brown cello bow.

Welcome to The Recreating.

The Recreating is about engaging in recreation and also the freedom to recreate ourselves, our interests, and our connections with others each day.

The site aims to educate everyday people about recreational therapy and how applying its theories and concepts to our lives can be beneficial.

As an ever-changing hub for recreation and recreational therapy, The Recreating invites feedback and suggestions from its audience, as I believe we are our best together. With this added input, I believe The Recreating has the potential to improve our lives.

With various pages and links, The Recreating is a guide to leisure activities, affordable recreation supplies, 5-minute projects, and everyday projects that may take a few hours.

The Recreating is bolstered by research provided on the research page under the resources tab and in each piece of literature. The Recreating breaks down how hobbies and leisure pursuits contribute to the physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and spiritual domains of our health and well-being using evidence-based research.

 The Recreating blog will feature interviews with recreational therapists and other creative arts therapists (music, art, dance/movement, etc.) about the work they do and how their hobbies influence their lives. The blog will also feature thoughts and observations on recreational benefits and interviews with everyday people who are navigating their relationship with recreation.

In a world that is more and more online and on our phones, separating us physically from one another, picking up a hobby can draw us back together. Whether our leisure pursuit leads us to take a class, join a community garden, or collaborate with others, we’re reconnecting. The Recreating invites us to find community.

A woman with brown curly hair, wearing a blue patterned jacket, sitting at a table with a mug in her hands, drinking. Behind her is a mural with abstract black, white, and red shapes.

Hi, I’m Rachael, the founder of The Recreating.

As a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and a Certified Child Life Specialist with six years of experience in the field and five years prior in related fields, I’ve seen the positive impact that recreational therapy has on people. I currently reside in Brooklyn, NY, where I work at a nursing home as a recreational therapist.

I’ve also applied recreational therapy to my own life and have recognized the value of having a robust leisure lifestyle. Many of my coping skills are recreation-based. If I am frustrated or anxious, journaling, taking a walk, or baking helps. When I’m in pain, I often draw out how the pain makes me feel, which aids me in processing it.

Many people already use their hobbies similarly, but understanding the theories and science behind why leisure is beneficial can help improve outcomes. Many other people don’t value recreation, or struggle to find the time in a world that constantly demands more money and resources. Our society is often focused on being productive, hard-working, and hustling, leaving little time for enjoyment. I aim to reframe recreation as a necessity instead of a luxury. Everyone deserves to express themselves through activity and rest in the joy of being themselves.

I hope The Recreating guides you to integrate joy and passion back into your days.

Looking forward to recreating with you,

Rachael DePalma, CTRS, CCLS