Occupational Well-Being
This week I was able to finally drink the first batch of kombucha. It actually tasted really good and I liked it better than store bought kombucha. The carbonation was a bit inconsistent between the different bottles, but I think the reason behind this is I didn’t stir the kombucha before I bottled it. The yeasts are responsible for the carbonation in the second fermentation and if the kombucha is not stirred they may settle to the bottom and different amounts are poured into each bottle (Why isn't my kombucha fizzy?, 2020). I started another batch of the second fermentation, I used green tea this time, and I stirred this batch so I will see if the carbonation is more consistent between bottles.
Brewing kombucha has both facilitated and hindered my well-being, it fluctuates weekly. Making kombucha has added another occupation to my schedule which is already overly full. This has hindered my occupational well-being because of the little spare time I have left from school, it has taken time I could have spent doing other occupations that are vital to my occupational well-being such as exercising, spending time outdoors, and making pottery. In more recent weeks I am getting better at making kombucha, so it is taking less of my time. I also am finally able to drink the kombucha I have been working on making for months.
Of the seven occupational needs associated with occupational well-being, accomplishment, affirmation, and coherence contribute most to my occupational well-being with regard to brewing kombucha. This past week I was finally able to drink the kombucha I have been working on for months, this was a big achievement and a tangible outcome. I also shared the kombucha I made with my partner, and he liked the kombucha I made more than store-bought kombucha, this affirmation from someone else about the kombucha meant a lot to me. Brewing kombucha has provided coherence because it contributes to my health, which is something I value.
References
Why isn't my kombucha fizzy? (2020, September 9). Retrieved from Brew Buch: https://brewbuch.com/kombucha-not-carbonated/
Hi Maddie,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you finally got to try your kombucha. I'm glad it is better than store-bought, also. I have only had kombucha once and was not a fan, but it was a really odd brand. I want to try it again sometime.
I really liked that you talked about how your occupation has actually hindered your well-being at times. I think that sometimes it is hard for others to understand that even when we like doing certain things, sometimes we do not want to be doing them.
Do you think that your environment contributes to the situations in which participating in this occupation hinders your well-being?
Do you feel as though
Hey Makenna,
DeleteI did not like kombucha at first either, I just kept drinking it for the probiotics and found flavors I liked better than others. Now I really enjoy drinking kombucha in almost every flavor so I am not entirely sure when that shift happened. I do think environment contributes a lot to occupational well being. I think a part of this I am currently experiencing is the change in weather to more wintery weather, this shifts not only my occupations, but also my mood and drive to participate in occupations. This happens even with occupations I normally really enjoy.