Ways to occupy yourself in hospital *add your ideas*
 

There is probably a thread like this hanging around somewhere, or likely multiple threads of people asking how to occupy themselves in hospital but I can't find a main one so thought I would post this.

How do you occupy yourself in hospital? I put this in GSA rather than MH because people might of course be in hospital for reasons not related to their MH.

These are some ideas, I know that they won't all be possible or appropriate for absolutely everyone. Add your own if you know of any.

Walking in grounds if allowed. (I found that doing an activity for a bit and then going for a short walk then doing another activity and going on another walk...helped me to speed up the time and feel like I wasn't sitting bored all the time).

Catch up TV players.

Lists - goals, things you need help with, positive music list, fun lists like A-Z of something, everything you're grateful for.

Journalling/poetry/creative writing.

Colouring.

Writing cards/letters.

Origami.

Reading. Library apps if you have an account to get ebooks/comics etc. If you have a Kindle or the Kindle app you can find free ebooks on ereaderiq.co.uk

Audiobooks, podcasts.

Mood tracker app.

How many words can you make out of the letters in a long word/phrase?

Ask Fb friends to tell you their favourite song and listen to them.

Sitting in day room observing what's going on or talking to people.

Game apps - some I like are Solitaire, Word Trek, Roll The Ball, Words With Friends, Fight List, Tetris

Relaxation/mindfulness.

Eat something nice/order a takeaway.

Communication with friends - texting, phone calls, messenger apps.

Puzzles/wordsearches/crosswords/sudoku.

Shower/self care.

Nap.

Board games/card games/jigsaws.

Drawing.

Write the points you want to get across when you next see your doctor.

That's all my brain is thinking of at the moment. Please add your own.

Buy/lend a portable dvd player and play dvds.

Play game consoles. Both the wii u and Nintendo switch have built in screens in their controllers so you don't need a tv. Plus there's always handheld devices such as the Nintendo 3ds xl.

Crafts. There's always card making or if you can knit, knitting. If you take part in other crafts and hobbies take them.

Cuddling a teddy bear/other plushie. There's something soothing about cuddling.

Yeah I was allowed my MP3 player for music and watch TV in the TV room only.

Word search and crossword puzzles.

I did attend groups that were alright I guess but no help.

Mostly, I just paced that halls all day and could sleep at all while I was there. Lots of pacing and thinking.

I ate good though while there, very healthy meals.

I think that Lindsay is looking for things to do rather than personal experience Straight 3.

Yeah I guess my post wasn't very helpful.

I especially like Relaxation/mindfulness.

All good tips you listed actually as well as what Dawn listed. Its good you're looking for constructive things to keep busy and positive during a hospital stay.

Mine are listening to music, watching tv, colouring and reading copious amounts of books.

Colouring
Jigsaw puzzles
I always ripped the sudokus out of the papers in the morning and did those or attempted them
Music (Bluetooth headphones if not allowed wired ones)
Tv
Sleep

It was, you gave good ideas.

I'm not exactly sure why Dawn had an issue. If you're giving your own ideas of things to do it's hard not to say they were things you found helpful. In fact it's more helpful to know how they were helpful!

Don't worry.