When you get injured, you have a lot of time on your hands all of a sudden.  Ask me how I know!  

Well, when you get injured and have all that spare time, it is the perfect time to tackle all those tasks that you have been putting aside.  You know, those things like “Hey, I’ll do that when I get a minute” or the “Yeah, I know that needs to get done. I’ll do it when I have a few spare hours”.  

I am well aware of those phrases and I used them all the time way back when.  However, when I got injured, I decided to use the abundance of spare time that I found myself with to start my own business.  Now, I get it if you are nowhere near wanting to start a business! But I am sure that you have a long list of things that you have been wanting to do  

I have created a list of 15 ideas that you can tackle right now, not only to use up some of your time to prevent being bored but also to cross a few things off your to-do list.  

• Write an Old-Fashioned Letter

When was the last time you wrote or received a good ol’ fashioned letter?  I guarantee it has been a while! However, these letters have such a personal touch that I know whomever you choose to send it to will be thrilled when they receive it.  Choose an old friend or a relative that you do not talk to often and start writing.  

• Plan an Upcoming Vacation

You know that you will not be sitting around forever, right?  Well, use this time to decide where you want to go for an upcoming vacation and get all the planning finished.  Nothing relieves stress better than thinking of something that we enjoy doing, so visualize your vacation and find yourself well on the way to being completely recovered.  

• Start Writing a Blog

Writing a blog can be an easy way for you to help others that may be in the same situation that you are in.  When I first started mine, I had no idea that people from all over the world would want to hear about my accident.  Wow was I wrong! I managed to help so many people, and at the same time, they were helping me by simply reading what I was writing and sharing.  

• Start Playing an Instrument

Did you ever play the recorder in grade school?  It was fun, wasn’t it? Well, you may want to upgrade your musical instrument at this time, but the good news is that you can choose whatever sounds interesting!  Grab a guitar, sit down at a keyboard, or blow into a flute. There are so many instruments for you to choose from, so you can even give a few of them a try. While you can hire a teacher to come to you, there are also plenty of YouTube videos and apps to get you started.  

• Take an Online Course to Expand Your Knowledge

I have always wanted to keep learning about so many things, but I never seemed to be able to find the time to take any courses that I wanted to.  Well, when I was injured, I had so much time that it was either take a few online courses or binge-watch my favorite shows. Don’t worry, I did a little of both!   😉   Choose a class about something you have always wanted to learn about and pair it with one that will help you with your recovery for the best of both worlds.  

• Finally, Write That Book You Have Been Dreaming About

Everyone seems to have a dream of becoming an author, but very few people turn that dream into a reality.  I agree, writing a book takes lots of time, but you seem to have plenty of that available at the moment! So, take advantage of that free time, grab a notebook or your laptop, and start writing.  You may end up with a jumble of words at first, but if you keep plugging along, you’ll quickly have a book that you can be proud of.  

• Seek Out a Support Group

Being injured or in recovery can take a lot out of you, especially if you feel that no one else understands what you are going through.  A support group can help you through it all because the people who attend those groups are supportive and non-judgmental. They will listen to your story and you can listen to all of theirs, so you know that you are not in this alone.  

• Start Meditating

If you have always struggled with the thought of meditating, because you couldn’t possibly sit still for more than a few seconds, now is the perfect time to learn.  Start with short sessions and extend them as you get better at focusing on your breathing. I highly recommend this, because your stress levels will decrease, which in turn will allow your body to heal faster.  

• Learn a Second, or Third, Language

As you are planning your vacation for idea number two, do not discount foreign countries.  Yes, you may struggle during your visit, if you do not speak the language, but you can learn some of that language right now!  There are plenty of apps available for learning foreign languages and they will teach you everything from basic phrases to everything that you need to be fluent.  The best news is that many of these apps make learning a game, which makes the process even more fun. 

• Declutter Your Home

As you sit down and stare at your house, you are going to see things that you haven’t seen in a very long time!  Yes, I am referring to that doll on the dresser that is still sitting in Christmas attire even though it is now April.  We all seem to think of most of the items in our house as being there, so while we know that they are there, we never really look at them.  This is the time to start to declutter some of those items that you no longer use, want, or need. Give them away to a friend who needs them, or donates them to charity, so they have a new home.  You’ll love the newfound space that you have and someone else will be much happier too.  

• Volunteer

Volunteering at the beginning of recovery is not always possible, especially if you are stuck in bed or on the couch.  However, it is still possible if someone needs phone calls made or things typed up. Once you are a little more mobile, immerse yourself into the world of volunteering, whether it is taking a neighbor shopping, serving food to the homeless, or walking dogs at the animal shelter.  This idea will help make you happier, which will lower your stress and help you heal.  

• Start a Business of Your Own

A lot of people never think of becoming their own boss, but there has been an increase in this option over the last few years.  Now that you are in the recovery stage, you may want to consider hanging up your nine to five hat and branching out on your own.  If you have been dreaming about this option for years, or simply have a hobby or skill that can bring in some extra cash, capitalize on it now.  Find what you are really good at and see if you can make your dreams come true before you return to work. 

• Start a New Hobby

Have you ever wanted to learn how to knit or sew your own clothes?  YouTube now has a ton of videos where you can learn a new craft or hobby online for free.  Maybe you can create some holiday or birthday gifts with your new-found art or sell them for a little side cash. 

• Try Using Your Non-Dominant Hand

If you are a righty, you may want to try to use your left hand to write or cut or do something else that it never does.  This new skill will help exercise a new area of your brain, and while it will be frustrating at first, this skill could come in handy in the future.  

• Create a List of Inspiring Books and Read them All

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of inspirational books available in libraries and bookstores around the world.  Do a little research and make a list of the ones that pique your attention the most. Then start by reading one and working your way down the list until you have each one crossed off.  

These are the fifteen ideas that I came up with, but I would love to hear if you have any favorite things to do while you are recovering.  

If you would like to discuss this further please feel free to contact me for a free consultation.

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