Chronic Illness and Boredom - any tips please?

GlasweJen

It is awful, i do non consecutive days and you miss out on so much because you're just not there. We have a girl who comes in on a Thursday from another site and everyone says "oh L is having that at her wedding too", sounds like we would get on great but chances are we will never meet!

Mojisola

If you can manage a bit of knitting/crochet/sewing, try doing so for a charity - when you're stuck at home sick, it's nice to know you can be helping other people.

There's some ideas here - http://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/home-garden/craft-hobbies/crafting/sewing-and-knitting-for-charity# - but there's loads of other opportunities.

Anoneemoose

Mojisola wrote: »

If you can manage a bit of knitting/crochet/sewing, try doing so for a charity - when you're stuck at home sick, it's nice to know you can be helping other people.

There's some ideas here - http://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/home-garden/craft-hobbies/crafting/sewing-and-knitting-for-charity# - but there's loads of other opportunities.

I like this idea, but sadly my knitting, sewing and crocheting skills are limited to the wonky scarf I made when I was about 8!!:D

Nicki

I've got something similar and work alternate days too which takes most of my energy and effort.

In my off days I have the lightest kindle possible and read thrillers on it. I watch box sets which I download via Apple TV or on Netflix. If my energy is a little better than usual I do some gentle yoga (again following something downloaded off Internet.

I can't stand to cook and don't have the strength in my arms to stir a cake mix or family meal usually or to lift things in and out of the oven.

I do online crosswords sometimes - easier than holding a pen - mine are from The Guardian and The Times though these are behind a paywall.

And I spend ages seeing various doctors but you may be past that stage now. I'm still only in the first year of being ill and they aren't positive of the diagnosis yet though coming up to that anniversary.

Mojisola

Nicki wrote: »

In my off days I have the lightest kindle possible

I find a Kindle easier than a book because I can increase the font size on days when my eyes go blurry.

It's also easier to hold than a biggish book.

WeAreGhosts

I also have the same condition, among others. Some days I don't make it out of bed (like today!).

I have just walked up Snowdon, though ... via Google Street View! I love Google Street View. I wandered around Tokyo last night, and some Pacific islands.

I also spend a lot of time on YouTube. There's a YouTube video for (almost) everything.

I do courses with https://www.alison.com, for fun.

Quite a bit of my time can be taken up with watching snooker

Ooh, there's the Comps forum, of course!

KxMx

I spend alot of time watching TV. This is not vegging out in front of daytime telly, but following shows and documentaries that interest me. I watch near 100% on catch up through Now TV.

Cyclamen

Have a look for illness specific forums on the web. (try foggy friends and the charity pages)

Books.. what about childrens books they have bigger fonts, spacing between lines and easier to follow stories so I find them easier with brain fog. I am reading paddington at the moment, but have read Roald dahl, Enid blyton, CS lewis as well.

Growing seeds can be fun and planting bulbs.. low energy if someone fills the trays.

Old fashioned in the post letter writing.. i type mine (or use dictation software) and then print on patterned paper. It can brighten someones day.

Television is incredibly draining for me, so I limit exposure and tend to use dvd's so i can pause and take a rest. I like nature documentaries with the sound off I can just enjoy the pictures. Watching on a smaller tely screen or laptop was easier for me.

Simple craft activities.. it depends what inspires you but some of the childrens craft kits in pound shops/amazon can be fun.

Rest.. proper rest.. it is important.

Talking books.. I can't manage these others do.

Meditation.. you tube have guided meditations

Bird feeders and watching the neighbourhood. I can probably identify the time of day from which dog is being walked past.

Cooking with a slow cooker if able.. you can empty one tin at a time, chop one veggie, add one seasoning etc.. it may take all morning to get it set but it is an achievement to have yummy hot food for tea.

Pace your energy, swap types of activity and rest lots. I'm sure you knwo this but its worth a remention.

Choose interesting photos and pictures for the wall so you can daydream yourself into tem.

But yep Chronic illness and being trapped at home can be dull, very dull, it can be hard to find meaningful activities that don't feel like busy work. I try to do one thing a day for someone else even if its just a short facebook message, one thing for myself and try to make myself pace.

Hang in there

meritaten

I have a similar problem in that due to a physical disability I am reliant on people to 'ferry me about', so end up housebound for most of the time. I am still useful though in that I CAN childmind my grandkids and am almost always available!
I admit to watching daytime tv - but its mostly in the background as I do a lot of crafting - it keeps me sane!
over the last few years I have learned a lot of crafts - I love learning new crafts.
I knit, I can make cards, I can do kumihimo (Japanese braiding), make jewellery, recently got into bookfolding - which also helps to minimise my stash of books. make plaques for the home using mdf shapes and decorating them with buttons or paper flowers which I also make. all these crafts can be done 'as and when' I am up to doing them. I also love the internet and can spend - or as OH puts it 'waste' hours looking up stuff that interests me.
The Open University also runs courses online. perhaps one of those may interest you? I did my degree through the Open and it was a very enjoyable experience. although expensive to do a degree, I understand their short courses are more affordable.

SaveSomeMore_2

Anoneemoose wrote: »

Does anyone have any ideas of what I can do?? I appreciate I am a bit of an awkward customer..:D

i'm in a similar position (although work full time which does offer some distraction).

My recommendation is to have as big a list of possible activities ready as possible. You don't have to even be committed and regularly do them, but the knowledge that you have a choice, a huge array of things waiting, is very powerful.

Depending on how you are affected you could learn an instrument (piano/keyboard is probably the least joint intensive), learn a language (Duolingo has dozens to choose from), play videogames (online, tablet, or console), read books, watch films/TV (Amazon Prime is good for film and Netflix for TV - better than daytime TV!), meditate, do gentle exercise (swimming or pilates/yoga), have a nice bath, cook/bake, invite some friends over for a coffee, do crosswords/Sudoku/puzzles.

Lots of possibilities, and again you don't have to do everything, but choice is good.