I have been the most negligent blogger. It’s not that I have forgotten about this virtual space of mine, rather, this semester has taken me by storm. Finding time to sit and write has been dramatically reduced. However, I am here now dear reader. Prepared to fill you with my sweet nothings.
I want to talk about this semester. Not going to lie, first semester feels like a breeze compared to how the past four weeks have been. We jumped from three classes in first semester, to five. First years’ spring semester is all mental health. Our class load consists of occupational psychology, group therapy, neuroanatomy (plus lab), professional development, and research methods in OT. There is a lot of stuff going on, and a lot of our classes overlap. I have to take everything week-by-week or else it just gets insane. I feel like I actually get to do OT related things this semester, whereas first semester was all about setting a foundation. Also, I have my first fieldwork, which I will discuss in a future post.
The theme of it has been straight up busy. I have a bunch of reading, and just when I think I’ve completed everything assigned some new article pops up on my modules. I feel like i’m juggling a million different subjects in OT at one time, it’s chaotic and I love it. I feel like i’m incorporating a lot more OT-based practice in classes. It makes me think of that scene in Legally Blonde when Elle is studying for the LSAT. She is just bogged down studying all the time, and her life has become one large study group.
Everything in my life has become OT related, and I really love it. Yes, I feel a little obsessive, but whatever. Neuroanatomy has easily been the most challenging class this semester. The class is really well constructed and the professors are wonderful. But it’s a lot of work. There is a lot of new material and it feels like there is always something to be learning. But such is life.
My goal for this semester was to input more balance into my life. It’s really important for me to exercise and eat well, when I don’t I notice a huge difference in how I feel. I’ve been doing an early morning TRX class, with studying and that class my typical day is nonstop from 6:30 AM to 10 PM. I’ve become really good at getting in a 20 minute power nap to get through the day, but I’m exhausted. I’m hoping that I acclimate to this routine, but it’s been challenging. This past Friday I had a game plan for studying and reading-- I pretty much crashed on my couch all day.
I’m going to be honest, I feel tired almost all the time. I feel stretched thin and it feels like any moment everything could completely collapse. My brain literally hurts 80% of the time. But, I love this. It’s what I signed up for, and it’s what I want to do. I’ll adjust and find my groove, if not, I’ll just get use to being tired.
It’s only 2.5 more years of this, right?
XOXO
Liza
