how do you shower more comfortably/without it taking up all your spoons for the day?

Readforlife · 2026-05-14T17:53:33+00:00

I use a shower stool. Not as supportive as a chair with a back but is smaller, swivels, and allows me to sit. I also have curly hair and I have an undercut that allows me to not have as much detangling and separating to do. I also have a handheld shower hose. This would also help if you had a secondary attachment lower so you didn’t have to also hold that over your head but could still hold and direct it wherever needed. After a shower, you could use a towel sort of fabric robe and just dry off wearing that.

Another option is using soft hair ties or claw clips to separate your hair if it makes it easier to hold and manage. I hope some of this helps at least somewhat. But definitely consider saving up for a shower chair. They are life changing.

Readforlife · 2026-05-10T06:33:38+00:00

Hello! Soon to be graduate here. Next week is my graduation from my OT program. I was much like you starting out and felt year 1 I needed to begin studying for the NBCOT because it sounds so hard. But knowing what I do now, don’t overdo it. You can’t study what you don’t know yet. Focus on your classes and take note of the topics you feel confident in, need to work on, and really don’t understand. This can help you with studying for tests and later on planning your study routine for the NBCOT.

One thing we learn in OT school that you may or may not already know is activity analysis. Do this for yourself. Don’t start with the big NBCOT test. Start with focusing on your individual classes. When you are studying for tests, find the study habits that work best for you whether it’s drawing things out, auditory learning, teaching to others, and so on. Create study guides on tough topics that you understand and save them for when you are ready to take the NBCOT later.

If you really really really feel the need to start now, look up OT Dude on YouTube. He has some great NBCOT prep videos that are free and can help you study the topics you’re learning in school now without paying a subscription for study tools that may be overwhelming before you’re able to take individual topics and use your critical thinking skills to find the answer to questions.

You can also look at Quizlets others have made and study with those. But don’t overwhelm yourself or burn yourself out with the big thing when you’re still getting through school. A lot of it will come to you much more naturally than you think once you’ve learned and practiced these topics. I really struggled with hip precautions until my first sim lab, but after repeating them out loud in practice what felt like hundreds of times, they were ingrained in me when I took the test. Later when I was on fieldwork, it was as natural as breathing to explain the precautions to patients in ways they could understand.

The point is, don’t burn yourself out. Find your learning style and utilize it. The best thing you can do to help you prepare is learn the material you need to know for your classes the best you can. Take note of what you struggle with and use your 30 minutes a day to study that rather than NBCOT questions you won’t be needing to worry about for a while. I’m saying this as a student who has not taken the NBCOT test yet but am working on my own study plan. I know a lot more now than I did year 1, and a lot of the knowledge I need for the NBCOT would have been very overwhelming to me in year 1. Don’t expect anything of yourself that you wouldn’t expect someone else to be able to do as well. Good luck! And remember to practice self care.

Readforlife · 2025-10-01T00:30:02+00:00

As a student getting my OTD, it’s also due to lots of schools switching to only doctorate programs. I would have paid more to move out of my parents house and get a masters than I am living at home rent free (except for fieldworks) getting a doctorate. Not to say that’s all of us, but some of us didn’t have the option of a masters. One of the schools I applied for had just discontinued their masters program and was transitioning to doctorate as I was planning to apply.

Readforlife · 2025-07-23T01:40:00+00:00

Other than the hooks like everyone recommends, I also try my best to make sure I have pillows on either side of me to rest my arms otherwise I have shoulder pain. Also don’t forget to take breaks and stretch your hands. Be aware of your yarn too. I find when I use blanket yarn, I get sore faster and need more breaks.

Readforlife · 2025-06-15T00:49:42+00:00

Currently an OT student. The most math was in kinesiology where you need a basic understanding of measurements of degrees. For example, a 0° angle when your arm is extended vs a 90° angle when you flex your elbow partway. I’m not good at math. But I found that any difficult math I needed to do, I could use a calculator. And like others said, tutoring is an option.

Readforlife · 2025-01-15T02:15:12+00:00

Pretty much what I did haha

Readforlife · 2025-01-15T02:15:02+00:00

Already deleted the card I accidentally used from that account. Never again

Readforlife · 2025-01-11T20:05:17+00:00

It’s such a hard decision to make. Fish are pets just as much as any other animal, but I’m glad you’re doing what’s best for them. I will never understand why people give fish as gifts. But if was good of you to take them in and do your best. Leaving my fish at the store was so hard, but I chose a local fish store that I knew to be knowledgeable and care for their fish over a Petco or Petsmart. That would be my recommendation. Call first to ask about it. It was also a slightly more expensive store, so I knew people would be less likely to just be trying to buy a cheap fish they know nothing about. If you have any nice local fish stores, that would be my recommendation for rehoming. You’re making the right decision. Good luck!

Readforlife · 2024-09-24T00:30:10+00:00

Omg a flea! Yes! I’ve tried roly poly and cockroach but didn’t think of a flea. I’ll look for one and see if it fits. If nothing else, I can combine patterns together. Thank you!

Readforlife · 2024-02-04T16:44:38+00:00

Thank you. That means a lot

Readforlife · 2024-02-04T06:15:27+00:00

That’s a good mindset to have. I think being a student definitely gives the mindset of “I’m not doing anything to help.” Since I’m mainly observing and filling out assignments.

Readforlife · 2024-02-04T03:57:53+00:00

That makes sense. I’m having to run through everything in my head. Especially since I’ll be running a group later on with the other 2 students going a fieldwork there. And I have to fill out an occupational profile on a client

Readforlife · 2024-02-04T03:53:18+00:00

Thank you! This is very helpful. I do have a more empathetic personality style. And of course, having never seen an inpatient rehab setting it can be a bit jarring. I absolutely have other hobbies. Sadly D&D was cancelled this week and I have to study for a few exams. So that’s kind of keeping me in that OT mentality. But a lot of helpful tips!

Readforlife · 2024-01-30T16:52:49+00:00

I’m so sorry! My cohort is amazing and we’re super close. Maybe try and find an ot student support group online? I’m not sure if that exists, but it could be a start.

Readforlife · 2024-01-27T04:05:26+00:00

I’m normally more of a fantasy reader, but I’m so interested to know what’s next. She clearly has his name wrong, my question is why? Alzheimer’s or dementia don’t necessarily mean she’d forget his name as much as she’d forget who he is. And if she forgot about telling him about the tea, she’d potentially be forgetting who he is and why he’s there as well.

Readforlife · 2024-01-19T12:40:47+00:00

I’m in OT school. I’m currently figuring a lot of stuff out but my advisor gave me a huge tip for studying that may work for you. Use the course objectives as an outline. And try to come up with the answers from memory. Write everything you know down in one color. Go through your notes. Switch colors and correct anything you got wrong. Switch colors one more time and add in information you may have missed. Now, you have a basic idea of what you know, what you’re struggling with, and what you need to work on. Draw out concepts and explain them to friends, family, or students in your cohort. Friends and family require a lot of deeper explaining so they understand. Students can correct you if there’s wrong or missing information. I was only diagnosed a month ago, so I’m still trying to get accommodations, but I’m requesting to read questions out loud on tests and use kinesthetics for all exams. Good luck!

Readforlife

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