OT for pets!

How wonderfully awesome is this? This dog is blind and so his owner created a device to stop him bumping into walls and other obstacles. #truelove

Family centred practice

Reading the mission statements of OT practice services for children in Ireland and I frequently come across "family centred care". Of course this is the basis for effective care provision in the area of occupational therapy, and why shouldn't it be? It stands to reason that including families in methods of intervention would surely ensure the continuation of home treatment plans, improve levels of satisfaction amongst families and clients and nourish that all important therapeutic relationship.

But how difficult is it to exercise effective family centred care when all services are dictated by the availability of resources such as time and money?

And what's more important; time and money or the life of a child and his/her family?

Bikram love

I'm making an extra special effort this semester to fit in one bikram yoga class a week - if I could I would do three classes a week but as the class is 90 minutes long (not including the 10 minutes of meditation before and again after) and it's a 45 minute drive from home I don't really have the time. So I've set a realistic goal that's achievable instead of an unrealistic one that I'll feel bad about when I fail every week! 

What I adore about the class is the intense heat and the rush of endorphins that hits me when I leave the hot room. I love it when I achieve improvement in a posture or when I'm able to push through the difficult classes with mental determination. It also helps with my rotten shoulder aches!

Absolutely crying laughing when I saw this photo because it is SOOOO TRUE! 

One week down....

It's been a hectic week. New tutors, new timetable, assignments and presentations, new books, new tasks...I'm wiped! But I'm loving every minute so far and I'm excited to get stuck in to assignments and presentations. This year is going to fly by so fast and I want to soak up as much as I can! 

Madeline Stuart

People like Madeline Stuart are changing the way society perceives "disability".

By changing perceptions, designing an environment that is inclusive for all and providing encouragement to those in need, "disability" will cease to exist.

Life hacks

Maybe it's the OT in me but I just love life hack ideas! 

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2015/04/25-clever-hacks-to-make-life-a-little-easier.html?utm_source=getresponse&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=onegoodthing&utm_content=%5B%5Brssitem_title%5D%5D

Overcoming life challenges

I'm a worrier. I stress. The three top things on my worry list are college (am I doing the right thing?), money (do I have enough to get me through college?) and time (do I have enough time to finish a degree, build a house and have children?).

I admit that these worries are beyond my control but such is the way with worrying. ,ore often than not it's a waste of time. So I'm trying to be more productive in my worrying. I practice mindfulness (though not always very successfully), I eat healthily (healthy body, healthy mind) and I practice Bikram yoga (it does wonders for my self confidence after a good class and it definitely improves my ability to remain focused).

I love the following article - lots of new ideas on building self esteem and reducing anxiety.

http://liveboldandbloom.com/11/self-improvement/20-ways-to-overcome-life-challenges

Any thoughts? Anything to add?