From the Editor

Overcoming obstacles

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this past year was marked with a global health care emergency, worldwide loss of lives, economic disruptions and psychosocial crises. In March, 2021, we reached the one-year anniversary of the pandemic with a more hopeful future as vaccines become more readily available and the world’s population becomes immunized. As we look to the future and begin to re-engage in the “new” normal, I’m reminded of the quote by Stephanie Lahart:

“Replace the word can’t with can. Know that you can, believe that you can, and know with ALL of your heart that you will. You will succeed in spite of any obstacles that may try to hinder you. There’s so much power in having a positive attitude, positive mindset, and a positive outlook.”

This issue of WORK contains 30 articles on topics such risk factors for stress, sense of coherence and lean leadership, work engagement, sedentary behaviors, self-compassion training, corporate wellness counseling among many other interesting topics. There are three articles on COVID-19: Occupational health practices among dental care professionals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic; Nursing work intention, stress, and professionalism in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Iran: A cross-sectional study; and An assessment of ergonomic issues in the home offices of university employees sent home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As many of us have been working from home during the pandemic, an upcoming special issue, Work from Home may be of interest to you as a reader and to submit a manuscript for consideration. Kermit Davis and Susan Kotowski are the co-guest editors of this special issue; you can find the call for papers on our WORK website at workjournal.org.

I hope you are enjoying the Learn at WORK webinars. Here are some of the upcoming 2021 webinars:

Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 1-2pm EST

The importance of health management and maintenance occupations while homeless

Presenters: Quinn Tyminski and Ariana Gonzalez

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9081127525691332879.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 1-2pm EST

Coping on the inside: Design for therapeutic incarceration interventions

Presenters: Dr. Amy Wagenfeld and Dr. Daniel Winterbottom

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5946523230165220366.

Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 1-2pm EST

The role of office features and psychosocial working conditions

Presenters: Dr. Sarah Lütke Lanfer and Dr. Anja Göritz

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2971930860503787533.

Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at 1-2pm EST

Telehealth in school-based practice: Perceived viability to bridge global occupational therapy practitioner shortages prior to COVID-19 global health emergency

Presenters: Cynthia Abbott-Gaffney and Karen Jacobs

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2425795738833723661.

Wednesday, July 14 at 1-2pm EST

An assessment of ergonomic issues in the home offices of university employees sent home due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Presenter: Kermit Davis

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4042561619417630988.

Wednesday, September 2 at 1-2pm EST

Was a global pandemic needed to adopt the use of telehealth in occupational therapy?

Presenters: Viktoria Hoel, Claudia von Zweck, Viktoria Hoel and Ritchard Ledgerd Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8474382929400856591.

Stay up-to-date on our Learn at WORK webinars, blogs and news by going to our website at workjournal.org

As always, I look forward to hearing from you. Have a “ . . .  positive attitude, positive mindset, and a positive outlook . . .  ” for the future.

Cheers,