Low Energy Hobbies
My main goal (in having a hobby or hobbies) is to create, rather than to merely absorb or process information. Filling my head with information, predominantly useless information, is taxing on my brain and body. So, if I'm investing my time on some activity I'd prefer it be a productive use of time.. or something that elicits an emotional reaction.
As I am bed bound, these activities may not seem all that active:
Writing -
Utilizing the voice-to-text feature on my phone, I write out (at least) 1,000 words per day. As I do not have a great deal of human contact, my writing is often in direct response to others posting, or in matters regarding my personal life observations. Probably, my style is most akin to letter writing.
Music Making -
As a musician who no longer has the ability to play any instruments, I've found a few workarounds.
There are a number of free downloadable apps that allow you to play virtual music instruments. For instance, on my tablet, I have a virtual piano, keyboards, percussion instruments, and a number of sound generating apps, as a means to make new music compositions. And mostly, playing these virtual instruments only requires that I move my fingers, and sometimes my wrists, while utilizing my forearm muscles.
Using this less taxing method, I've been able to create and complete a few dozen songs, some rather involved/evolved.
There are other free music apps that allow you to make your own songs (start to finish) based upon pre-existing sound samples. The method is similar to "clicking and dragging" on a PC. Some (virtual) assembly required.
Practicing Mindfulness gives me better overall energy to do more mentally and physically difficult things throughout the day. And it's a constant trade-off. Existing for too long a period in my mind zaps my strength in no time. So I work on making my thoughts productive, goal oriented. But much of the time, my thoughts are not. Meandering ruminations have few benefits.
Investigation -
This hobby is more of an addiction. And it's difficult for me to resist fuel for thought.
I often choose one or two random subjects to learn about or investigate each day. Sometimes it's in regards to a posting on here (medical), or sometimes it's a matter of being a newfound passing interest.
In the midst of doing so, however, I have to be aware of how the investigation is affecting me physically. If I am enjoying the investigation, the look inside without becoming mentally obsessed, then the process shouldn't affect my energy levels, shouldn't tire me out to a greater extent. But if I'm becoming irritated or cranky, if there is an active and discernible buzz in my brain, I know I've pushed it too far, and I'm asking my brain to do too much. I feel it physically, on a physical level. And by then it's too late.
Nap time. Gaze out the window at nature. Listen to the sounds all around me. Close my eyes and meditate. Breathe deeply.
Sometimes it's utilizing just one of those recovery techniques, while other times I go through the whole darned list.
Other than that, I'll watch an occasional television show, something easy on the mind, or I'll voice-to-text someone (my older sister or my bed bound friend 1,874 miles away).
H
P.S. I suppose I should have made this a low-energy read.
Oh, nice garden! Visually pleasing.
