15 activities for when you are not in good shape

Like everyone else, I don’t like days when I’m not well and bedridden by fatigue and the symptoms of my chronic disease. I know that it is inherent to a chronic illness to have phases when I am not feeling well. But it doesn’t make it any less painful. Because it’s not very pleasant to feel so weak and exhausted. But also because each activity costs more energy and fatigue… These are days when I remember too much that I am sick. On top of that, there is the frustration of doing too little, too little for my taste at least. If my only activity of the day was watching a series on Netflix and sleeping, I really feel like I’ve lost my day. It was necessary because I was able to get some rest, but I have this feeling that I haven’t done anything useful…

To go against this impression, I have developed a list of alternative activities, which are not very tiring and can be done while lying, but which also do some good. Here is a list of 15 ideas, if you too don’t like to spend a day when you do not feel so fit just watching a series :

1. Read a good novel

What could be better than a good novel to escape and live a story alongside the hero? But of course, a good comic book or any other book that interests you might just as well do the trick. Why not take the opportunity to read that book you’ve been wanting to read for some time, but haven’t done read yet? 

2. Look at old pictures

It’s another way to escape the situation, which has its charms. When things are going well, I rarely take the time to sit down and look at pictures of my childhood, when it allows me to remember the past times, the joys and the significant events of those years. Smiles almost guaranteed!

3. Reread old letters or messages

The tradition of writing letters is getting a bit lost, but it is quite possible to go back over old messages that have been exchanged in previous years. Of course, this involves choosing conversations or letters whose content is a priori rather joyful. There is no need to get your spirits down by reading sad letters or messages…

4. Write

If you are physically fit enough to do so, writing can also do good and give the impression of producing something tangible. It can be writing in a journal, a notebook, a letter, a postcard, etc. Having a visible result, your written production, is probably more important than what you write.

5. Call family or friends

If you have the voice and the strength to do it, it’s a very nice activity to pass the time.

6. Meditate/pray

These are activities that always help me to refocus and not only focus on the pain or symptoms I am feeling.

7. Breath deeply

Breathing seems simple. And yet, I find it very effective to be more in tune with your body, at a time when you would like to escape from it. It helps me to focus on the present moment and my physical body.

8. Listen to music

Depending on the type of music, it can be another form of meditation or relaxation. It is also an opportunity to listen to music without doing anything else. Just like that.

9. Sleep

Yes, sleeping is useful, even if fatigue persists afterwards. If you manage to sleep, it remains one of the best ways to rest.

10. Watch series or films in a foreign language

If you really want to watch TV or a film, you can do so in a foreign language that you are learning or want to maintain. That way you can still watch the series of your choice, just in another language.

11. Watch documentaries

Nor is there anything to stop you from watching a documentary on a subject that interests you or that you don’t know about instead of watching a film or series. This way, you will have learned new things and will probably feel less like you have lost your day.

12. Research a new topic

It is a more proactive way to learn new things. If there’s something you want to learn more about, why not take advantage of a day in bed to do so?

13. Write/review your bucket list

The bucket list is this list of all the things you would like to do or experience in your life. It can include things as varied as seeing all the Star Wars movies (it’s not on my bucket list), doing a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle (it was on my list) or travelling to a number of countries. A day in bed can be the perfect opportunity to write down all those things you dream of doing, without being limited by the symptoms of the disease. If you already have such a list, why not use this opportunity to review it?

14. Complete your to-do list for the next three months

Based on the bucket list, you can list what you want to do in terms of activities, experiences, etc. in the next three months. Even without a bucket list, you can take advantage of this forced rest time to write down what you want to do in the next three months.

15. Plan your next excursion or trip

When I’m not doing so well, it helps me to remember my past trips and visits, but also to think about the next trip I’m going to take and to start dreaming about more or less faraway destinations. Planning a day trip is quite enough to make me fantasize when I’m resting in my bed!

And you, what do you do on the days when you are not feeling well? Feel free to share your activities as a comment!