I stared out the window, feeling like I’d been doing that for hours. I was so incredibly bored.
Many of us living with chronic illness face chronic boredom. Our medical practitioners advise us to pace ourselves, not to do too much too fast. Our bodies tell us to rest, lie down, and stop. While our bodies need downtime to be their best, our brains often crave more stimulation.
There have been countless times when I’ve laid, staring out the same window next to my bed, watching trees sway and crows fly between them, frustrated to the point of tears because I couldn’t do more. Boredom would then impact my mental health, darkening my depression and making me feel stuck in bed. My depression symptoms made it even harder to get ‘unstuck,’ often keeping me under the covers even after my body could have handled getting up.
Scrolling TikTok aimlessly during one of these periods, I stumbled across a creator who had made a box of activities to do next to her bed for exactly those times. It was such a great idea. While I didn’t want a physical box of things, I did want to spend some time thinking about activities I could do or other ways to engage my mind while resting my body.
Of course, there are the classics that everyone suggests when you’re stuck in bed or recovering from surgery: watching TV (or cute animal videos on YouTube), reading a book, or doing crossword puzzles or sudoku on your phone, tablet, or in a book.
But eventually, you run out of engaging TV shows to watch, and I can only read so much before the words start jumbling together. So what can you do then?
A common suggestion is to find an art project you can do in bed. I began an embroidery journal and stitched a few wall hangings for my house. Finding snarky sayings to sew onto fabric made me laugh, and now, when I look at them hanging next to my bed, I smile.
Others might crochet or knit (I tried, but my hands were too arthritic for those motions; you may need to try several things to find a craft that works for you). I created zines full of poetry, art, and information, including about my journey with chronic illness, which I then gave to friends. Watercolor pens were another great way to get artistic in bed with limited supplies and minimal mess. When I wasn’t feeling well enough to do the actual activity (maybe my hands were cramping), I could spend time looking for ideas on Pinterest or YouTube, getting excited about what I’d make later.
As I did art in bed, I realized I could turn these into cards and postcards, which I could then send to people. I posted on social media, asking who might want some ‘snail mail,’ and got an overwhelming response of people to start sending little notes and cards to. I also signed up for a pen pal program. There are many available, including those where you write to incarcerated individuals, people learning English, or folks struggling with mental health issues.
Another fulfilling activity was doing community service or activism from bed. Many organizations need help with phone calls or clerical work, much of which can be done while resting. If you’re interested in politics or social justice work, you can call representatives or make social media posts to raise awareness from bed.
Embracing Boredom and Changing Perspective
In addition to all these activities, I realized I needed to come to terms with the boredom and reframe the situation. Many people are so busy rushing around that they don’t get the opportunity to just be and observe. Research shows that boredom can be good for us, helping to restore and rejuvenate the brain and increase creativity by allowing our minds to wander and daydream.
Now, instead of seeing time stuck in bed as being trapped, I try to view it as an opportunity. I watch the crows fly between trees and pull out my phone to learn more about corvid behavior. I name the squirrels running along the fenceline and make up stories about their lives. I wait with anticipation for the school next door to let out for recess and watch with joy as children burst from the doors, throwing balls and chasing each other. I try (with varying success depending on the day) to switch my perspective on resting my body to something more positive. And when that fails, I turn to my list of activities I can do from bed and start creating, writing, reading, or something else to keep my mind busy while I do the important work of letting my body rest.
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