Will being homebound during recovery from a medical problem take a toll on your body and mind or make you unmotivated and worred about everything if you were used to being so active?

Answer 1

Being homebound due to a medical reason does not mean it will take a toll on your mind or body, or make you unmotivated or constantly worried. The key is to keep your mind and hands active (if possible). If you know how long you'll be homebound, use the first few days to make a list of goals and things you want to do. Include any exercise you are allowed to do, and any treatments you must do to recover. The rest of the list depends on your personal likes, interests, and well, your motivation.

Here are some examples of how people cope during short term homebound status:

• Begin a daily diary and write in it at least once a day.
• Describe what you want to be doing in 5 years and in 10 years and list 3 goals that will help you get there.
• Every day, write a card or letter to someone else who is ill. If you don't know someone personally, send it to the Administrator of the local nursing home; there are millions of young to old persons living in nursing homes who never get 1 card or 1 visitor.
• Play music at least 1 hour a day. Music soothes the mind, creates energy, and promotes healing (promotes life!).
• If you have a hobby, plan to do at least one small project every week.
• If you find yourself bored, write an inventory of everything you own. For CDs and books, list each one separately with title/author or singer. Inventory your clothes and shoes, describing each one.
• If you can do "housework" kind of things, re-arrange a shelf... clean one closet.
• Ask your friends to help you have something to do. As a humorous activity, ask them to drop off pennies (only pennies) to "Prevent (your name's) Boredom". Ask them to bring penny wrappers from the bank. Your goal: Wrap enough pennies to donate $100.00 (or more) to a local charity on the day you are well.
• Many libraries have "homebound services". They will drop off to you whatever books or DVDs you'd like to borrow. Read the entire series of your favorite author, or watch an entire season of your favorite TV shows (or fav. movies by one actor).
• See how many "Search a Word" books you can finish while homebound.
• Find the "longest words" in a dictionary, and make as many 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6-letter words you can from the letters.
• If you draw, set a goal for so many drawings in 1 week.
• If you write songs or poetry, set a goal to write 1 really good verse.
• If you enjoy history and family, start your family's genealogy. Start with who you know--You--and write down your name, birth date, and where born. Then, do your brothers, sisters, and parents. Then do both sets of grandparents. If you get stuck, call your grandparents or call the oldest aunt or uncle in the family and ask them for information.
• Experiment ! Try a new activity at least once to see if you like it. Watch a TV program you ~never~ would have watched before.

The ideas to keep your brain occupied and your mood positive are endless! With motivation, determination, and creativity, you can survive being at home, even if it turns out to be longer than you thought it would be.