What shall I do for 6-12 months sitting on the settee?

[nextdoorneighbours]

I have already decided to learn Spanish, but what else shall I do? All suggestions considered!

Enter free to enter online competitions. There are various sites that list them, such as Money Saving Expert or Loquax. You might not win anything, but if you do, it is a nice boost.

Do puzzles, word games etc. online. It helps to keep your brain active.

I’d definitely go for audiobooks and podcasts. I have an Audible subscription, but it’s worth looking on YouTube and internet archive for free ones.

I love Duolingo, podcasts, puzzles (especially Wordle-style puzzles and PuzzGrid.

Maybe you could sort through your digital photos and have them made up into albums.

Have a look on FB for the Literary Isolationists Book Club. Every Tuesday night they have a nice chat about books.

Online courses and lectures. The British Library, National Archives and National Gallery do nice ones. Also places like York University and Cheltenham Science Festival have on-line ones,
and old stuff published on YouTube.

It may help to prepare a list of them ready to go when you are feeling well so that you don’t need to think to hard to find them when you are feeling poorly.

Jigsaw puzzles.

With chemo and major operations?

You have had plenty of worthy recommendations op.

I have actually been in your position though with a different illness and was inside for months. I watched a lot of Netflix, read poetry, did crafting and also gamed. When gaming I spoke to others online. You do have to be careful. It’s a bit like MN whilst I’m sure many people are fine there are bound to be people that range across the entire spectrum of lovely to downright awful. There are so many sorts of games. There are shooting games but there are ones like animal crossing and co operative ones, single player story ones, all sorts. I played one where you hunted monsters but also built your know home. It was the isolation I didn’t like, being alone for many hours so chatting online was really useful.

Well, I guess it would take OP's mind off the pain ...

I had a birdwatching app and we bought a really comfy sun-lounger which we had in the conservatory so I could lay in there and put a bird feeder in the closest tree.

I will say many of the ideas here are enjoyable but require some brainpower and energy. There were days I did fuck all except watch netflix and some days where I could only listen to music even the tv felt too busy as felt knackered. Good luck op. My intense time of illness was a few years ago now and I’m just left with a chronic though manageable condition.

I can recommend Bella Coco YouTube for learning to crochet.

I did it years ago for Woolly Hugs charity, if you take a look at their website they've various projects that need 6" squares. And an active Facebook group if you want support and company too.

Hope your treatment goes well x

It might be worth seeing whether your library offers the service of delivering books to you. I arranged this for my mother when she could no longer get out - we gave them a list of the sort of books and authors she liked and, though obviously they ended up delivering some books she'd already read or didn't really want to read, they did pretty well. And she enjoyed having a chat with the lovely volunteer who delivered them.

Knitting with a hoop loom. If you buy a small one it is quite easy and quick to make small knitted caps for the local baby unit.

My nan also has jigsaws delivered from her home library service.....and has a great chat with the delivery guy!

Volunteer on Zooniverse.org - assisting on research projects. Could be transcribing medieval property deeds, counting woodpeckers in photos, identifying star types from satellite images - all sorts of weird and wonderful projects!
all online, do as much or as little as you feel up to and you'll be doing good too.

Hence why I said posts. OP gave more detail before that poster replied

Quite often people just read the original post though and comment without reading further ahead.

If you can knit or crochet local NICUs will welcome tiny baby blankets and hats. Check with the hospital regarding washing/drying of them before sending, maybe someone else could do this bit for you?
Line up some good box sets on All4, iplayer etc.
Hope all your treatment goes well.

Make photo albums.

I have just spent the summer lying on the sofa, while I was allowed to stand and walk I wasn't allowed to sit. To be honest a lot of time I wasn't up to much more than Netflix. I couldn't knit or crochet because it was too hard lying down. I send you hugs and best wishes because it's miserable. Try concentrating on doing whatever makes you feel a bit better, and hope that it's not eating....

I am now back to normal kind of, still can't sit much but am slowly trying to build up my strength again, while still forbidden lifting more than 2 coffee cups. Don't underestimate the struggle once you are better, I am constantly worn out and achy like I have done a hard gym session, but I didn't I just cleaned the bathroom!

Sending healing vibes

• Join a virtual book group
• Make a patchwork quilt
• Learn sign language
• Start a blog
• Write a book
• Paint

Or my favourite go to for couch time - get really judgy on the lives and opinions of others on mumsnet from the safety of the sofa! 😂

Sending you strength and support through this difficult time OP. Xxx

YouGov surveys

Volunteer for some kind of phone helpline.

OP I wouldn't sign up for anything or commit my time to anything this is time for you to recuperate and be a bit selfish . Lots of books and box sets and podcasts and snooze away on the couch. You don't know how you will feel so take it as it comes. Best of luck with it all OP.

Sign up to Nefflix if you haven't already (just for those months, then cancel) and binge watch all the foreign dramas. This might inspire you to start learning a language. Also learn to knit or crochet if this is something you've always wanted to do.

Apologies if it's already been suggested, what about a games console? Even if you're not usually a gamer there are so many different sorts of games out there, there would be something that took your fancy. They are great for passing days on the sofa. You could pick up a slightly older generation one (PS4 for example) for a reasonable price.

I like the bird feeder suggestion, upthread. Lovely for those days when everything is too much. Birds are beautiful and entertaining to watch.

Calligraphy - modern with brush pen or traditional Roman one. You can do online courses, a light pad helps.

Learn the guitar.

Research your house/locality.

Learn sign language from YouTube.

Learn fondant modelling - handy for cake decorating.

Martin Lewis all your outgoings.

I agree with @SparkyBlue don't commit your time to anything.

Anything you do has to be stuff that you can pick up and put down when you feel like it don't be pressured into stuff.

Things like bird watching and audio books are probably excellent for the days your feeling lethargic, awake but little energy to do much.

Crafts, learn instrument, for days you have a bit more energy, or when you can do half hour here and there.

Adult dot to dot or colouring book if that is something you used to enjoy.