10 Minimally-Painful Activities to Consider
With the recent pandemic, many of us have had the opportunity to experience what chronic pain patients experience regularly – boredom.
Unfortunately, pain at times can breed inactivity and boredom, which can bring its own problems: increased risk of diabetes, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. It can also lead to weight gain, muscle atrophy, and joint pain. On the other hand, if we allow it, it can encourage creativity as well.
Engaging in some type of activity, even if it is less than rigorous, can benefit the mind, body, and spirit. To distract your mind from that pesky pain here are some things ASAP recommends that you consider, to engage your mind and body.
Reading - The book is almost always better than the movie. Put down that remote and pick up a good book. Transport yourself to a time or place that your painful back may not permit your physical body to visit.
Writing - Do you have a novel inside you just waiting to burst out? If not, that’s okay. Perhaps keeping a journal, writing a blog, or maybe writing poetry is more up your alley. Many of us have interesting stories to tell. Let’s preserve and share them with friends and family.
Painting - Art, even if you do not consider yourself artistic, can be therapeutic. Creative expression can foster well-being and healing. Pick up a brush and give it a try.
Take an Online Class - Confucius said that “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.” Coursera offers a host of free or very affordable classes online. Find your inner peace by learning something new.
Walking Outdoors - Walking is a low impact activity and does not require a gym membership to perform. Walking outdoors . . . even better. This can help strengthen your body and joints and helps expose you to nature and sunlight. Sunlight itself can help to stimulate the production of serotonin in the body which regulates your mood and helps you feel happier.
Swim - Swimming is an extremely low impact and helps you exercise your limbs and core muscles while improving endurance and lung capacity. Being buoyant in the water minimizes the impact on joints and spine and the warm water can soothe those aches and pains as well as diminish stress.
Stretch - Stretching can improve range of motion while also helping to reduce pain related to muscle tension. Without it, the muscles shorten and become tight. It can stimulate improved blood flow allowing the body to carry important nutrients to areas of injury. It can also aid in the body’s ability to more fully relax, easing pain.
Scrapbooking - This fun activity not only serves to preserve memories for future generations but can also foster creativity which helps us try out new ways of thinking and problem-solving. It also allows us to celebrate our uniqueness and gives us the opportunity for self-expression.
Listen to a Podcast - Podcasts are talks, interviews, radio shows delivered over the internet. If there is a topic that you would like to know more about there is an excellent chance that there is a podcast about that very topic and most will not cost you a penny to give them a listen. If you are not internet savvy, ask your kids or grandkids to assist you.
Stationary Bike - Although riding a stationary bike is low impact, it puts you on the path to more strenuous activity. If you really want to get crazy, you may want to consider combining the riding of a stationary bike with reading a book or listening to a podcast. This, obviously more adventurous activity, should probably be reserved for the daredevils in the crowd.
There you have it, ten things that you can do today to shake off the doldrums of boredom and inactivity and encourage better mental and physical health. Begin today and show your pain just who is in charge.