I recently had a major surgery and, while I recovered, I was stuck laying very still on my couch for two weeks straight. We all get laid up every once and awhile, whether it's due to illness, some kind of medical procedure recovery, doctor-mandated bed rest, or voluntary extended phases of immobility. But how do we occupy ourselves during these times when our world is reduced to the size of a bed or couch? Let me tell you, my experience gave me a few ideas, and I thought I'd share them in case you needed some inspiration in your time of stillness.
1. Watch TV
This is the most obvious path to take. That TV show you've been missing out on? This is your chance to binge-watch the. whole. thing. You'll also probably watch a lot of shows you don't particularly like (five episodes of "2 Broke Girls," anyone?), simply because you're not up to finding anything else. Still, you can do better than this. That leads me to option two...
2. Color
Adult coloring books have been all the rage lately, but seriously, who has time for them? Well, guess what. YOU DO. You literally have a lot of time where you're just sitting! Take your eyes off the TV screen and color something! Then hang it on your fridge or give it away to a friend who brought you some snacks. And really put in the time to make it nice since, you know, you have nothing else to do. Except maybe...
3. Explore the Internet
This one got me into a little trouble. With no boss looking over my shoulder and no imminent deadlines to interrupt my surfing, I discovered some really weird stuff out there. I mean, I knew the internet was this deep, vast thing, but until you spend some real quality time with it, clicking those links and going down those rabbit holes, you don't really know. That's why it's good to take a break and try something else, like...
4. That New Hobby
While this isn't the time to take up mountain biking or windsurfing, but maybe there’s a more sedentary thing you’ve always wanted to try and have never had the calm moments to learn. Something like cross stitch or knitting. Now that you’re a captive in a small space, you have the opportunity to give some real focus! If you decide this kind of thing isn’t your thing, then maybe try...
5. Journaling
How did you end you where you are right now (just sitting there)? Did you have a major medical problem? Are you about to give birth? Are you depressed? This is a great opportunity to do some soul-searching, and while you're at it, you might as well write those thoughts and feelings down! Speaking of writing, don't forget to...
6. READ!
Hopefully you read no matter what, but when you’re stuck in stationary mode you will have some extra time to dedicate to reading for pure enjoyment. You will have long, quiet moments that you can use to explore all kinds of new places and scenarios between some pages.When you start talking to the characters in the book, thought, it may be time to...
7. Have a Friend Over
You’ll have plenty of time to explore all these options and more, but no matter what you decide, remember to reach out. Whether you live with your parents, roommates, a spouse, or alone, and no matter how introverted you are, you will benefit from communication and connection with the outside world during this time. For me, it was almost too easy to fall into a pattern of either being alone or with my husband, and boy, what a rude awakening it was when I finally had to go back to work and interact with the public again!
What’s your favorite thing to do when you can’t do much? Let me know in the comments!
