One Hundred Dollars a Month reader Jeri asked for some suggestions about activities to do while on bed rest yesterday, and I think if we all pitch in, together, we can come up with some pretty good suggestions.
Here’s what Jeri wrote:
I have a friend who is having her third surgery to remove a melanoma that keeps returning on her lower shin. She will need 3-6 months bed rest. I’m trying to put together some things to keep her occupied while she’s in bed.
I’m wondering if you think doing a paint by numbers could be done in bed. She will be unable to sit on the edge of the bed and put her leg down while on bed rest. It must stay out stretched to make sure the grafts take and for circulation in the artery that will be grafted.
Or, do you have any other ideas for her? She’s a knitter and is well stocked with yarn.
Well Jeri,
Yes, I do think your friend could work on a paint by numbers kit while in bed. In fact I tested out my theory last night for you and it all worked out fine. I placed a small cup of water and a paper towel on the nightstand and then placed the paint by numbers canvas on a piece of cardboard and started painting away. 🙂
As someone who’s never been on bed rest before {knock on wood} I too would love to know what other suggestions people might have as to keep your friend busy. I came up with a few ideas, but I’m sure there are many, many more I didn’t think of.
Activities To Do While On Bed Rest
- Binge watch your favorite tv programs
- On-line classes
- Watch Ted Talks
- Listen to Podcasts or audiobooks
- Meal planning {and then have someone else make the meals for you}
- Online Grocery shopping
- Do your Christmas shopping online
- Update your contact list
- Learn a new language
- Write and address Christmas / Birthday cards
- Organize a photo album
- Plan your next trip
- Read
- Crossword puzzles
- Sudoku
- Write letters
- Play board games
- Call or facetime friends
So if anyone reading this has been on bed rest before, or even if they haven’t, we’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.
Thanks in advance, Jeri and Mavis. 🙂
Tracy says
If she is going to be on bed rest that long, it would be a good idea to look into getting one of the tables that slide over the bed like they have in the hospital. That would make it easier to do things like paint by numbers. It would also be nice for a Tablet or laptop, books, her knitting items, etc.
Cindy R says
How about some stretchy rubber exercise bands or light hand weights that she can use while sitting up in bed. Or she can check out YouTube for gentle exercise or bed ridden exercise.
Rosemary says
I would suggest coloring books – there are a lot of adult type (meaning that they are not cartoonish) coloring books. I have one that has scenery & flowers with Scriptures. If you want to learn a new language and color at the same time, amazon has a lot of coloring books in another language. I bought some in Italian for my grandchildren as they were going to Italy on vacation. The books are not “childish” – they had scenery and words in Italian, etc.
If she gets tired of knitting, maybe watch videos on crocheting or cross stitching, etc. to mix things up.
Paula says
Work on next year’s goals.
Paula says
Start a blog.
Linda says
And, we can write her.
Holley says
Card making! There are actual small kits that you can buy that have everything in them to make X number of cards. That way she wouldn’t have to put out a lot of money and/or get up and down to fetch different pieces/parts for each card! I just saw some of these kits yesterday online at Joann Fabrics and they are on sale! If she didn’t want to send out the cards herself, she can send them to any number of charity organizations that then send them to soldiers, nursing homes, children’s hospitals, etc. She would be helping others!
I do the online puzzles in the NYT everyday! Good exercise for the brain!
I had to stay on full bed rest in 1989! I didn’t even have a remote controlled television! It was not pretty! But, in the end, it produced my twin daughters! Well worth it!
Good luck to your friend! Prayers!
Jennifer says
Does she like to write? It may be a good time to jot down some memories. It can be fun for her and priceless to her kids or grandkids, if she has any. If I was on bed rest, I would read, play games on my tablet and look into online classes to learn something. Also, i would check out YouTube videos. One of my sons is using it to learn about networking and computer programming to get certified in that. The other is a sports nut and watches to keep up with different teams and players. I’ve watched videos on everything from cooking to glass blowing to crafting to home decorating.
Nancy H says
When the dog broke my ankle I was non weight bearing for 12 long weeks. I had to keep my leg elevated for most of that time. Audio books were my friend. I also decided to work on the family tree so signed up for ancestry. When I was able to ‘return’ to work. I worked from my bed on my work laptop. I can tell you – be prepared to buy a new mattress at the end of your time of bed rest. After sitting up against pillows with my leg elevated I had caused a dip. I did flip the mattress but it really didn’t help all that much. The only one who enjoyed my time of bed rest was the cat who stayed on my legs pinning me down the majority of my 12 weeks. Also be prepared for a great deal of physical therapy as you relearn how to walk. Have one of those three tier little carts close by to hold all your assorted stuff. It can be pulled close to the bed or pushed away as needed. I was not crocheting at the time as it was summer and I had no air conditioning but crochet would have been something I could have done.
Also friends will offer help – let them. Have ideas for things they can do for you. Anything that bugs you as you lay there. Let someone come stay with you while your primary caregiver gets out to do some thing for themselves. You don’t wanting them to get compassion fatigue.
Ashley Bananas says
I’ll be the most boring person in the world, but reduce computer clutter. Go through your email and also your photos and get rid of things you dont want anymore to free up space and make it easier to get to the things you do want to keep – digitally. I always want to do this but never set aside time as I want to do more when I’m active. I recently traveled and did a lot of deleting old and duplicate photos on my phone and free’d up a ton of space. Of course I could afford to do it again.
J in OH-IO says
I actually thought about saying this, too – glad you mentioned it!
SueD says
That is what I was going to suggest. We tend to save, save, save, and not re-evaluate what we’ve saved. I do it a couple times a year.
Pat says
If she sews/crafts and has daughters or granddaughters with 18″ dolls, there are tons of patterns for doll clothes and shoes/accessories. It might be a good time to cut fabrics for sewing when she’s back on her feet. I set up a small table while watching TV and cut out patterns, then put the fabric and the pattern envelope for each outfit in a plastic bag to keep it all together for when I have time to sew. And when it is time to sew, things move faster because everything’s together and ready to go. I probably have 20+ outfits ready to go when I can sit down to sew.
Marlena says
Take an online class! Most colleges, counties and clubs have many 100% online options.
Good luck and prayers to your friend, Jeri.
Denise says
While on bedrest after abdominal, I worked on a diamond dot kit while listening to audiobooks. I used a large lap desk with my tabletop easel, which worked perfectly. Something else that kept me busy was having my daughter cut fabric squares so I could hand-sew a small throw-sized quilt.
I wish your friend a speedy and uneventful recovery!
Brianna says
I spent last summer on limited activity/bed rest and was so bored because the weather was so nice outside, it drove me bonkers. I was itching to be outside the house. I did read a lot of library books and read genre outside my norm, I reread the ‘banned’ books I had to read back in the day, I read some of my bible, followed meditation apps, played the original Tetris/dr. Mario and a few video games I grew up with, planned my landscaping and did research on plants, planned and researched my next hobby and researched a few I decided I wasn’t interested in after all, I did some of the Great Courses, sent Correspondence and talked and caught up with people. I watched movies and some old series again. I read way too much news. It forced me to slow down and realize what matters. I learned how to grocery shop online too. I planned Christmas gift giving. I looked at houses for sale from around the world and dreamed. I had a lot of wonderful talks with those who visited, my kids, and my hubby. I did puzzles, but no crafts. It was relaxing and frustrating at the same time. I would suggest hiring a house cleaner for the time, I did not and it drove me crazy how the kids/hubby cleaned.
Sandy says
I was non-weight bearing on one leg for 12 weeks…semi mobile but not really. I spent a lot of time resting:
1. I played Wordle and did crosswords on my laptop
2. I learned how to quilt using English Paper Piecing. You can make a throw or a bag or something small. Search youtube for Kate at the Last Homely House or Snapdragon Life. Tula Pink also has great tutorials.
3. Get a kindle (or nook) for easily downloadable books from Libby or Overdrive. Have your librarian set it up for you now, while you are mobile!
4. Podcasts!
5. I had a rotation of friends and one would come every day for a few minutes to help me out with things that needed to be done, and to visit. They kept me sane. Some also brought me food, which was super helpful! Let your friends help you, and organize them so you aren’t overwhelmed with everyone on one day and nobody for the next 3 days.
6. I read a lot of blogs.
7. I subscribed to the digital copy of our local newspaper so I would be able to keep up on events and actually for the first time be able to read a paper cover to cover!
8. Caught up on writing old fashioned letters and cards – I had plenty of thank yous to hand out!
I hope that helps.
Sarah says
Order some of the fun Woobles kits and learn to crochet.
I learned to knit socks when I was recovering from major surgery.
Lisa says
Jigsaw puzzles!
Linda Sand says
If she has a tablet I suggest playing The Sims FreePlay. As implied it is free to play and there are lots of different ways to play it. I’m not into home decorating so I focus on leveling up. I check in multiple time a day to keep my sims doing what will get me where I want to go. Hint: cooking earns money and yellow diamonds; just start a new collection every time you finish one.
Elizabeth says
My husband has been mostly in his recliner for a few years, since his last bout with covid. He cannot read a lot, but of course, if one can, there are lots of great books out there. I would suggest watching movies and comedians as laughter is the best thing to help healing. We watch many youtubers who share their lives…living in ways we never did, or never would have, or never could have. In the midst, learning so much, seeing so much of the world we never got to see, or probably ever will. In ways, some of them feel like kin and we very much enjoy watching. Learning too. Keeping one’s mind active is important in all parts of life I feel. I am a crocheter when I can find the time. I have heard that knitting will help heal trauma in one’s life…sure seems like cancer would be a trauma. And of course, praying and listening to fine music is very good. I once met a lady who took her little harp all sorts of places and often people would be healed while she played. Always thought that would be quite something too!! So listening to harp music (Hubby found some twins from Norway I think it is, who play their harps all over the world…they are quite fun to watch, as well as some amazing scenery surrounding them). Wishing this lady all the best and much healing!!
Molly says
I was on bed rest with both of my pregnancies back in the 90’s. I wasn’t allowed to sit up and had to stay on my left side so that made it much harder. No painting for me! I read a lot of books, listened to books on tape and needle pointed. It would be great to have a mini frig next to the bed for food and drinks. I always made sure I had everything I needed right next to my bed. I’ve also had spinal cord surgery and have had to be in bed a lot. I have found I love researching my family’s genealogy and connecting with long lost family members. This is something where the research never ends so it’s great for bed rest. I also love to listen to Podcasts and music when my brain needs a break.
sandy says
If you could supply an address-I have some great books I could ship her.
1. Watch Apple: Palm Royale
2. PBS: To Call a midwife, All creatures great and small
3. Hacks on MAX
4. Virgin River -Netflix
Of course-knit. “Knitting the national parks” by Nancy Bates
Lucy says
Download a crossword puzzle app. I do several puzzles every day as I don’t watch TV.
Lindsey says
When on bedrest for many months, I made a list of people who had helped me in my life, career, schooling, and wrote them short notes thanking them and giving specifics of how they are still influencing my life today. Tracking them down and then writing the notes (much more impactful than emails, BTW), took a lot of time. I had one person, a nun who was very impactful then and now, wrote that she could remember me but she had Alzheimer’s so was not sure if she would remember me for much longer. She thanked me because as she is on her way out of life, she wondered if she had ever really been important to any of her pupils and my note was an answer to her prayers. I was so very glad I had written that note to her.
J in OH-IO says
I LOVE this Gratitude idea of telling people NOW how they made a difference in your life and fun memories you have shared before it is too late! Wonderful idea and it’s spreading kindness that everyone really needs to know they make this world a better place because they are in it.
Jamie Weaver says
I planned out how I was going to relandscape my yard, made a seed/plant purchasing list, made a planting calendar and tool purchase schedule, and I watched lots of Gardeners World when I was on bed rest for 8 weeks last year. Oh, and I made a bucket list of trips for the next five years.
Patti says
I broke my leg and ankle and used my time to clean out my phone files – texts, emails, photos, etc. I had my husband bring me a drawer to clean out each day. I volunteered to cut out items needed for Vacation Bible School at my church. I started reading all the Pulitzer Prize winners in fiction. I read aloud to my son each afternoon. I organized physical photos and recipes. I also marked each day off on my calendar with a big red marker ( not knowing how long my healing would take, it made me feel progress!).
Emily says
It sounds like a lap desk might be a great gift so she can more easily eat, craft, or paint in bed. This could be a great time to take up old school letter writing to get some outside contact and a break from screens.
Delma says
My non-crafty daughter spent 5 months on bedrest and taught herself macrame.
She did lots of other things to keep sane, but I mention it because it was apparently a bedrest friendly craft.
Nicole says
Research your family history/geneology. Check out http://www.family search.org. There is a volunteer opportunity to do Indexing….watch the introductory video here. Easy to do while stuck in bed and will make you feel like you’re contributing and making a difference.
https://www.familysearch.org/indexing/about
Lori says
The first thing that popped into my head was rug hooking. Come on Mavis, that didn’t pop into your head at all? Why not learn a new language. That have several that you listen to and repeat. Might be kinda fun, plus make a vacation plan to visit somewhere that speaks that language. Planning a vacation is almost as fun as the vacation itself.
Rj says
Sign up for surveys and games on Swagbucks, Inboxdollars, MyPoints, etc.! You can earn some spare dollars for a rainy day!
Wanda says
Sort through old paper records and keepsakes. One bin on floor for keep and one for shred. Make sure you have at least two pens and a notepad at your bedside. Two pens because invariably one pen will run out of ink. See if someone can have your phone and computer/iPad charger plugged into the outlet and on bedside table so you can recharge things as needed. Upper body exercises will feel good and help you be strong for transfers and if you need crutches or walker as you get off bed rest.
Do mending. Maybe get a needlework kit to do. Update your phone book and recipes.
Neighbor kids! If you don’t have kids at home, ask the neighbor kids to visit and maybe help you a bit. My neighbor kids were very helpful and their visits cheered me up immensely.
Cecile says
You can get plastic lap trays on amazon that have built in pockets on either side that could hold a jar of water, paint brushes etc. I had them for my kids for TV night where they got to sit in front of the tv on the floor and watch one of their movies. I can attest to the fact that the pockets hold soup, milk, various juice box contents! lol
Linda says
How about finding older people or someone to call once a week or write to make their day a little brighter. She can crochet small items like hates and scarves for dolls for children. Now would be the perfect time to crochet a few pieces for tiny snowmen for Christmas. Then, all a person would need would be a crafted snowman. There are all sorts of bunnies and things to crochet for holidays.
I find a large cookie sheet with sides helps keep things on my lap. Otherwise, I have pens, pencils, scissors and other things sliding off frustrating me because I have to find them. Even if she has a lap desk or hospital table to slide over her lap, things still manage to escape.
Even if she wants to done of the things everyone suggests forever, a variety of little chores can help her pass the time. Making baby bead bracelets for little girls or newborn babies can be fun.
Brush up on a school subject like algebra or grammar. I would love this, but maybe not everyone would. Or explore a vacation place online or with books, someplace that she will never go like Egypt or China.
Color rocks. There are facebook sites for coloring rocks…easter rocks, patriotic rocks. Buy vibrant pens to do this.
Judy says
Hi, from Canada. I broke my neck, ribs and my rt wrist in a car accident last summer. My 1st accident after 40+ yrs of driving. The deer was fine though! After 3 mths in hospital, I’m still limited in movement. I do arm excercies. Strength building with small weights, bands and yoga. I watch cooking shows online from around the world. Then save recipes, make grocery lists and have hubby make them. I listen to meditation apps, Calm and Box Breathing. I also have a counseling session by phone once a week that has been so very helpful. I write and journal. I knit with large needles now. I pray. Buy online. Clothes and shoes for me, hubby and gifts, tupperware etc. Reconnect with friends, by phone and online. Tape and watch cooking shows. I plan on taking a refresher course for French and Ukrainian languages that I’ve let slip over the years because I didn’t have time to use them. Lastly, I organize years of saved paperwork that I never had the time to do. Hope this helps. Wishing her a speedy recovery.
lisa in Maine says
Two words: candy crush
I had retina surgery and had to lay face down for 10 days. I had one of those massage chairs to sit in. So my face could remain down. I got to level 290 something in 10 days. As soon as I could get up for good, I deleted the app. It was a giant time waster.
Anywho, I watched a ton of trash tv on Bravo- all the real housewives, summer house, below deck, etc. I also listened to books on tape. Long books so I got bang for my buck.
I also had my hubby bring me every drawer in the house and reorganized them. Reorganized the 3 ring binder I used as a recipe book. I went through all the photos in my phone.
Good luck! May time move swiftly and with complete baby forming and body healing.
Michelle Morrell says
I just did a whole cross stitch pattern from start to finish while recuperating from hip replacement surgery. I also watched a whole lot of house hunting shows … dream homes by the sea, log cabins in the woods, let’s live in Alaska!
Jeri says
Dear Mavis and Friends,
Wowza!!! I’m absolutely blown away by the suggestions you all have given for my friend, Jody.. I’m so happy to be able to share this list with her and will be shopping Amazon to have supplies sent to her home. You’ve shared so many great ideas that I would never have thought of! Mavis, thank you for personally testing your ability to paint by numbers from your bed!
I appreciate you all so very much! Thank you!
Jeri
Mavis Butterfield says
So glad we could all help!! 🙂
GK says
I once broke my arm badly and couldn’t even lift an empty Walmart bag with that arm but I could do a few things like kneading bread with one arm, folding clothes with one arm, etc. I just had to make some modifications. I tended to enjoy doing housework things that made me feel useful since I was needing everyone in my family so much and couldn’t go to work.
Here are some things I thought of:
* Fold laundry, match socks, or place clothes on hangers (if someone brings their baskets of clean laundry).
* Plan out next year’s garden, organize seeds, make newspaper seed pots.
* Meal plan, prep for tax time, organize all of their home files (using a label maker and some colored file folders. There are some great systems (Pinterest) for color coding a home filing systems.)
* If there are kids in the family, do their teachers need any volunteer help? We had volunteers in our schools who would cut out (paper) things and assemble baggie projects, cut around laminated bulletin board items, check library books for tears and fix with tape, stuff like that. I would think teachers might be interested in sending projects like that home for cutting out, etc. if they have a connection to the person.
* Does a local church need help folding /stuffing newsletters/mail?
* Painting ceramics/pottery; making bead jewelry, making Christmas ornaments.
* There’s a site called “Acorns & Twigs” that sells jumbo potholder looms and loops or the regular sized looms are still for sale at Walmart and Hobby Lobby. Pinterest has cool ideas for color patterns for loom potholders.
* Since the person knits, there are charities that collect baby hats for hospitals Similarly, maybe schools need knitted or crocheted mittens for young students and nursing homes might need lap blankets?
* Maybe having a goal or goals for the day (like folding laundry or making one baby hat) might help to feel productive and like they are making good use of the time even if stuck in bed.
KC says
I’d note that having a soapy wet washcloth in a tupperware (or baby wipes) plus a dry washcloth on hand can be *really* helpful if doing any crafts that are potentially messy. A flour-sack dishtowel spread out over your lap can also catch bits of things. But generally messy+bed is not ideal, so I’d endorse non-paint crafts more strongly than crafts that can make a big mess if you tip something over.
Also, when thinking about bed setup, consider vertical storage; when (rich) people traveled by boat between the US and Europe in the early 1900s, they had these vertical pocket sets to hold most of things they needed daily, so they didn’t have to be digging around in luggage all the time and so things didn’t slide around as the ship moved. If there’s a wall near the bed, consider adding one of those flat shoe pocket holders or making something custom with pockets to hold:
– craft supplies
– personal hygiene/body annoyance stuff (hairbrush, lotion, chapstick, etc.)
– snacks
– drinks
– books
– phone
– pens/pencils
– notecards
– exercise bands
– scissors
(a water bottle would probably be too heavy, but do have somewhere set up so that water/coffee/whatever is within your reach but not easily knocked over! metal straws are great for bed)
I get a lot of mileage out of binder clips and safety pins and magnets for attaching things to each other, to my clothes, or to the sheets, so they can’t escape. You can clip a scarf or socks to the edge of the shoe-holder for a little bit of heat regulation that’s within reach. I also have a trash bin by the bed.
Having some scheduled things in the day can be really helpful to add structure and give something to look forward to, even if it’s just “I’ll watch [next episode of favorite show] at 3pm and not earlier.” Phone alarms work for “it is time to do a set of exercises and stretches” or other things that are necessary but easy to put off (trust me: do as much exercise as you can, even if it feels stupid and pointless; turn on some music and get some exercise band work in! It’ll mean that once you *can* get out of bed again you’ll have kept more of your muscles).
A window nearby is good; having a plant or plants in the room can also be really helpful (if you can reach to water them or if someone else can water them; dead plants are not so cheerful…), and a remote-controlled LED candle after dark can be fun to have with you in the room; it’s nice to have as much autonomy over your surroundings as you can manage, and it’s good to have things look nice-ish to you.
There are a lot of not-obvious solutions out there; if there is something you want to figure out how to do or have accessible in your situation, think sideways and up and down (not *everything* is feasible in bed, but more is feasible than people would think!). Sew a pocket onto the sides of your fitted sheets; hang things from the ceiling; have lamps on arms that can bend over or be bent back out of the way; parcel projects into bags or shoeboxes so that someone can get you the purple shoebox or the green bag and you’ll have everything for a project in it. (and if you have an annoyance and are having trouble solving it, email me at k ate cru fi (at) gmail (dot) com and I am happy to try to think sideways for anyone in this boring, sticky spot!)
I hope the bed rest goes well!