Ill enough to rest/not always sleepy
April 12, 2011 6:01 AM Subscribe
What can you do if you're ill enough to want to rest in bed, but not so ill you can just lie there?...I'm getting frustrated.
I'm a bit fluey, and it feels good to lie there in bed, but I'm getting bored and frustrated. Sitting up and reading is slightly uncomfortable for my head.
So when I'm not napping I'm just stuck thinking, wishing I could be doing something else.
I'm a bit fluey, and it feels good to lie there in bed, but I'm getting bored and frustrated. Sitting up and reading is slightly uncomfortable for my head.
So when I'm not napping I'm just stuck thinking, wishing I could be doing something else.
Can you lie on the couch and watch a movie? Lie in bed and dictate something to yourself using a laptop and mike or a recording device? Listen to your ipod?
posted by LN at 6:09 AM on April 12, 2011
posted by LN at 6:09 AM on April 12, 2011
It's good time to catch up on audio-books or podcasts. If you're a music junkie it's also a nice time to do some active listening where you're free to concentrate on the music itself, undistracted by office work, the internet, paying attention to traffic, etc.
posted by usonian at 6:09 AM on April 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by usonian at 6:09 AM on April 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Lie down flat on your back, and stick one arm straight up in the air to hold your book with. After a while, this will become so comfortable that you might end actually up sleeping with one arm up in the air.
posted by Grither at 6:10 AM on April 12, 2011
posted by Grither at 6:10 AM on April 12, 2011
These are the times when I find interesting lectures to listen to on my iPhone.
posted by DWRoelands at 6:18 AM on April 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by DWRoelands at 6:18 AM on April 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks. I'm going to go the audiobook/podcast route for now.
Has anyone got any leads on any interesting lectures?
Other suggestions still welcome.
Will check back later.
posted by Not Supplied at 6:35 AM on April 12, 2011
Has anyone got any leads on any interesting lectures?
Other suggestions still welcome.
Will check back later.
posted by Not Supplied at 6:35 AM on April 12, 2011
Agree that movies or TV shows are my go to solution when I feel too crappy to read or play video games. Do you have Netflix streaming? Rewatch TV episodes from West Wing, Dexter or other shows you might have missed. Watch some foreign films or movies that might make your cry...this is a fantastic time for a good cathartic cry.
posted by victoriab at 6:35 AM on April 12, 2011
posted by victoriab at 6:35 AM on April 12, 2011
I just found out the BBC World Service has a lot of interesting podcasts. Here's a link to one of them: Discovery
And here's a link to the main page. Hope you feel better soon.
posted by FormerMermaid at 6:57 AM on April 12, 2011
And here's a link to the main page. Hope you feel better soon.
posted by FormerMermaid at 6:57 AM on April 12, 2011
My husband's been listening to the Freakonomics podcast lately and they're pretty cool.
posted by like_neon at 7:11 AM on April 12, 2011
posted by like_neon at 7:11 AM on April 12, 2011
Games on your phone/Nintendo DS/whatever
posted by desjardins at 7:19 AM on April 12, 2011
posted by desjardins at 7:19 AM on April 12, 2011
I thought that was what TV was for!
posted by northernlightgardener at 7:55 AM on April 12, 2011
posted by northernlightgardener at 7:55 AM on April 12, 2011
Agree, TV. But also, this might be strange: coloring/doodling.
posted by dpx.mfx at 8:46 AM on April 12, 2011
posted by dpx.mfx at 8:46 AM on April 12, 2011
A lot of TED Talks do not require constant/frequent watching, and are good for your mind.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:56 AM on April 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Lyn Never at 8:56 AM on April 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
small instuments (ukelele, small play keyboard, Korg Kaossilator, etc)
posted by WeekendJen at 9:07 AM on April 12, 2011
posted by WeekendJen at 9:07 AM on April 12, 2011
You could also try instruments.
posted by WeekendJen at 9:07 AM on April 12, 2011
posted by WeekendJen at 9:07 AM on April 12, 2011
Check out the Stuff You Should Know Podcast Josh and Chuck will certainly help you pass your time while under the weather.
posted by jmsta at 10:34 AM on April 12, 2011
posted by jmsta at 10:34 AM on April 12, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for the answers and people wishing me better. I've been listening to ted talks and will check some of the other links.
posted by Not Supplied at 10:51 AM on April 12, 2011
posted by Not Supplied at 10:51 AM on April 12, 2011
If you're willing to drop some money on them, the audio and lectures at The Teaching Company/The Great Courses are usually fantastic, and most available via download. They all go on sale at least once a year, often for significant discounts, so it's worth signing up on their mailing list for notifications and buying to hold in reserve for the next time you're feeling sick-ish.
As far as podcasts go, I like The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe and Skeptoid, and because I am nothing if not inconsistent, Anything Ghost. hey, background in anthropology! I love stories people tell! The BBC History Magazine is quite often interesting, and Hardcore History did the unthinkable: make me not bored by the history of the Cold War.
posted by telophase at 1:37 PM on April 12, 2011
As far as podcasts go, I like The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe and Skeptoid, and because I am nothing if not inconsistent, Anything Ghost. hey, background in anthropology! I love stories people tell! The BBC History Magazine is quite often interesting, and Hardcore History did the unthinkable: make me not bored by the history of the Cold War.
posted by telophase at 1:37 PM on April 12, 2011
I find that if I can't sit up enough to read, it's usually best for me to just take some NyQuil and go to sleep. After a couple times through that cycle, I'm usually either well enough to sit up and read or in bad enough shape to head to the doctor.
posted by DaveP at 6:29 PM on April 12, 2011
posted by DaveP at 6:29 PM on April 12, 2011
If you have a tv and/or dvd player there, watch movies or tv shows. Otherwise, I usually spend sick times doing crossword puzzles (or, if you like some other variety of puzzle).
posted by Mael Oui at 9:13 PM on April 12, 2011
posted by Mael Oui at 9:13 PM on April 12, 2011
I've been sick a *lot* in the past three years, and have these non-reading activities to do:
-Sewing: mending or very basic embroidery. Mending is particularly pleasing in this hazy state.
-Sorting through boxes in storage, e.g. old photo albums, sorting out stationary drawers etc. Decluttering things is slow but satisfying.
-Reading and writing out poems. My attention span is shot when I'm sick so short poems are lovely. One cycle, I wrote out poems and things I particularly liked in a notebook which was pleasant to have in my bag when I was better.
-Sorting out your harddrive, all those files and bookmarks.
-Knitting and crochet if you know how to do it. I have a mindless blanket to work on when I'm sick.
-Postcards and birthday cards to people, except then I forget to actually send them until I'm sick again and then I can't leave the house to do it. You may manage better!
-I have kids so we make snacks and hang out on my bed watching movies or reading books together. They in return have to make the snacks and lots of tea for me. If you're not contagious, hanging out with someone low-key is very pleasant when you're sick.
Basically: household tasks that are soothing and repetitive, and simple handwork. That way when you get better, you have something to show for it!
posted by viggorlijah at 7:02 AM on April 13, 2011 [2 favorites]
-Sewing: mending or very basic embroidery. Mending is particularly pleasing in this hazy state.
-Sorting through boxes in storage, e.g. old photo albums, sorting out stationary drawers etc. Decluttering things is slow but satisfying.
-Reading and writing out poems. My attention span is shot when I'm sick so short poems are lovely. One cycle, I wrote out poems and things I particularly liked in a notebook which was pleasant to have in my bag when I was better.
-Sorting out your harddrive, all those files and bookmarks.
-Knitting and crochet if you know how to do it. I have a mindless blanket to work on when I'm sick.
-Postcards and birthday cards to people, except then I forget to actually send them until I'm sick again and then I can't leave the house to do it. You may manage better!
-I have kids so we make snacks and hang out on my bed watching movies or reading books together. They in return have to make the snacks and lots of tea for me. If you're not contagious, hanging out with someone low-key is very pleasant when you're sick.
Basically: household tasks that are soothing and repetitive, and simple handwork. That way when you get better, you have something to show for it!
posted by viggorlijah at 7:02 AM on April 13, 2011 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Hope you feel better soon!
posted by you're a kitty! at 6:08 AM on April 12, 2011 [1 favorite]