Catherine Kelly

TU Dublin

Catherine Kelly is an associate lecturer in the Humanities Department at TU Dublin and a PhD student in the Department of Applied Social Sciences at Maynooth University

'Our inspiration for happiness may come from our creative pastimes, engaging with nature or quite simply listening to our favourite music'. Photo: Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash

Is the pursuit of happiness futile?

Our constant obsession with happiness can be a recipe for disappointment and disaster

Psychology • 14 Feb

'It is important that the perfectionist adopts effective strategies that can help manage the symptoms and lessen the burden of perfectionism'. Photo: Getty Images

Why the pursuit of perfectionism can be a deadly trap

Perfection is an illusion, but perfectionists still waste time and energy chasing a fantasy that can never be caught

Psychology • 19 Oct 22

'A culture of meeting deadlines and being stretched beyond capacity within our work and personal lives has left many people suffering from time poverty.'

How to say no to overwork, burnout and too many meetings

Some tips on how to establish a healthy, balanced and sustainable lifestyle in a society driven by to-do lists

Psychology • 30 Aug 22

A man gestures to his family outside a train to Poland at Lviv railway station Photo: Getty Images

3 ways Irish communities can support Ukrainian refugees

Starting life anew in another country can be extremely daunting, but local communities can provide help and support

Ukraine • 05 May 22

Best in class: Ralph, the Customs' sniffer dog prepares to clock in

Dogs with jobs: why dogs make great employees

Sniffer dogs, service dogs and canine actors are examples of doggie employment opportunities available to highly trained pooches

Dogs • 16 Feb 22

3 ways to create a successful self-fulfilling prophecy

A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when we adopt a belief that affects our behaviour in such a way that this belief becomes a reality

Psychology • 19 Nov 21

In simplistic terms, cognitive dissonance is an uncomfortable feeling that we experience when we identify a gap between what we believe is right and an act we have committed.

Why you should never dig a bigger hole to defend your mistakes

Fundamentally, it is how we respond to cognitive dissonance that determines whether we evolve and grow emotionally or whether we remain static and reactionary.

Psychology • 08 Sep 21