Positive Reflections

We may be full of doom and gloom as we ring in a new year in another lockdown. Last year was not an easy year for anyone, but if we think really hard we may be able to find some positives to take away from 2020

NEW SKILLS

The overnight rise of virtual technology as a means of communication for many saw even the most selfproclaimed dinosaur of tech embrace new ways of connecting. Although many occupational therapists were still performing on the front lines and interacting with patients, many had to adapt the way their services were offered. Zoom calls were the order of the day and Microsoft Teams allowed staff meetings to still take place. Service users of all ages had to adapt to virtual appointments as the comfort of human interaction was lost, but they did it. This year has seen the population take ten steps forward in terms of technology use; grandparents are FaceTiming, GP surgeries are holding virtual consultations, and OTs throughout the country have been honing their own tech skills, as well as supporting their patients to make use of the technology available to help them stay connected with family and live independently.

FAMILY TIME

You may feel like you have had enough of them by now - it is not completely natural to be cooped up with your family 24/7 - but there is no denying that they are the ones who have been there for you throughout this pandemic. As the pace of life slowed when lockdown hit, families had to get creative for recreational activities. Play parks were cordoned off, cinemas closed, bars and restaurants shut; gardens became havens of adventure as imagination flowed and families created team games to fill the days. Board games were looked out, living rooms were filled with dens, and families bonded over cooking and baking in the kitchen.

DOORSTEP DISCOVERIES

How many of us have been so busy in our lives that we haven’t even bothered to explore our local surroundings? During the lockdown, green spaces and local woodlands were discovered on our doorsteps, simply because everyone was encouraged to take their daily exercise each day in their local area. Walks and bike rides were welcomed as a daily moment of freedom, and they allowed everyone to take in their local area with a new perspective and a realisation that the simple things in life can sometimes be the best.

REFLECTION

As OTs, reflection is a very natural process, and particularly this year when there has been so much to reflect on and learn from. The drastic and overnight changes that occurred this year have prompted thoughtprovoking re-evaluation of practice for many OTs. 2020 may have opened your eyes to new challenges that are experienced by your patients as new obstacles and barriers were thrown down throughout the year. Hopefully, this year will allow you to reflect thoughtfully and use what you have learned to positively guide your practice in 2021.