Obviously, when you first come down with someone, you are unlikely to want to do very much apart from veg out and wait to get better essentially; however, as you do start to feel better, it can get a little boring. Your body is likely to be too weak to handle very much, but your brain still craves stimulation. Catching up on all the good shows cluttering up your Netflix queue is fun at first, but even that gets tedious at times. This is why you need to find some things that are within your capabilities that are going to help you to pass the time.
Read
A lot of us are guilty of it, we have that stack of books on the bedside table that we have been meaning to read when we get the chance, but the stack seems to grow bigger, not smaller. If you are recovering from an illness, this could be the perfect opportunity to get to those books. Reading requires very little physical strength, and it can be better for your brain health than watching the TV too. Even if you don’t feel like reading anything new, why not re-read some of your old favourites?
Arts & Crafts
If you have the energy, why not channel your mental and physical effort into something more rewarding, like an arts and crafts project? There are so many different arts and crafts projects for you to try, and thanks to online shopping and next-day delivery, you don’t even need to have all the supplies to hand already. Think about your skills; what do you think you would be good at, or is there something that you have always wanted to try? This could be the perfect opportunity.
Films
If your body is weak, but your mind is willing, you could pass the time by watching films. This doesn’t necessarily sound like the most enriching or stimulating way to spend your time, but it does depend on your approach. Maybe this is the perfect time to watch the classics. There are so many lists and debates online over what the greatest film(s) ever made are; why not give them a go and see what you think? Do they deserve the accolades and renown or not?
Games
You could also give gaming a go, or if you already have a console and an interest in gaming, then this recovery time could be just the thing to help you to beat that previously unwinnable level. Otherwise, there are a lot of different genres of games that you might want to try. They also are not particularly physically taxing either, although they are really mentally stimulating.
Gambling
If your illness has meant that you have needed to take time off from work, then you will have either found yourself lucky enough to qualify for sick pay or decidedly unlucky and not be entitled to anything. Staying home can help you to save money, but it might also be worth thinking about how to boost your income while you are laid up ill; this could be as easy as playing a few games on a site like Jackpot Casino.
Puzzles
If you want to keep your mind sharp while you are ill, then why not think about giving puzzles a go? You don’t necessarily have to try an actual puzzle of however many pieces. You could also try crossword puzzles or word searches, or any of the sort of brain-training puzzle games that are meant to be good for your brain.
Stretch
If you have been bed bound for a few days, then your body is likely to feel a little stiff and sore. If you are starting to feel better, then why not get yourself out of bed and try to work out some of the muscle tension, stiffness and aches by doing some stretches or gentle yoga? This can really make you feel more like yourself.
Catch Up with Friends
Everyone is guilty of reading a message or seeing a missed call and meaning to get back to the person but getting busy and forgetting. While you are sick, why not go back through your messages and call logs to see if there is anyone that you have accidentally left on read and get back to them? They might also be a little busy, but they might have some time, and you could find yourself catching up with some old friends that you haven’t spoken to in a while.
The Bottom Line
Oftentimes you get sick because your body is a little rundown and unable to fight off infections. In essence, it is the body’s way of slowing you down for a while. Some people do get sick more than others or experience chronic conditions which take them out of commission for longer periods of time. Finding things to do to break through the tedious monotony of sickness and illness is a challenge; you need to think about how much mental and physical energy you have. Luckily, there is a lot that you can do while you are resting up at home without even leaving your house, although, if you can, you should try to get some fresh air too – it can be incredibly restorative.
