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When you're stuck at home, low on energy and feeling pretty rough what can you do to stop boredom setting in? There's only so much daytime TV you can watch so here are some boredom-busters to occupy some time and get you doing something different. They've all been suggested by young people with M.E. so they've been fully road-tested. If you've got more good ideas – send 'em in!
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Bird watching, even in built-up areas there are loads of birds to look at. See how many different kinds you can spot in 10 minutes (or longer if you want). You can borrow a book from the library to help you tell what you're looking at! Hang out some bird food and keep an eye out for hungry visitors.
Computer games can be fun and there are so many to choose from, but remember to give yourself regular breaks so that you don't over-do it! Check out the Fun Links under Let a4M.E Entertain you! If you'd rather try something completely different, what about cross-stitch? There are some great kits around with all kinds of designs. Try a really easy one to start with and move on to a something more complex when you're ready.
Going for a drive with your family or your friends gives you a change of scene and all you have to do is look out of the window and enjoy it. (Top tip - take along some pillows and a blanket or duvet for extra comfort). Or what about Distance learning - there are some great courses that you can do without even getting out of bed! There are some fun subjects too, ask at your local library or search out a good one on the net.
E-mail your mates to say Hi and let them know which of these fab ideas you've tried. You could ask them to tell you what they're up to and fill you in on the latest news.
Films, on TV, video, dvd or even at the cinema, depending on how you're feeling.
Gardening - plant some seeds in a small pot and keep them on your window sill, keep 'em watered and watch 'em grow! Or keep it simple and cut the top off a carrot (the fat end), keep it the right way up and put it in a saucer of water by the window. You'll soon see it sprout. If you are able to plant something outside you could try sunflower seeds, they grow really fast and get very tall. How about having a competition with your family and friends to see who's sunflower can grow the tallest?
Greeting cards, you can make all kinds without even getting out of bed! You can try stamping or cutting paper to create your own custom-made cards. Why not draw your own designs or cut pics out of magazines and stick them on. Go on, send one to a friend.
Have a go at drawing, you could try doing cartoons, patterns, sketches of your fave celebs – and when you've completed your masterpiece you could send it in to the a4M.E gallery!
Internet surfing, keeps you up to date with what's going on but make sure you check out our Safe Surfing guide first. Please remember to take regular breaks, you could even set an alarm to remind you - it's easy to forget the time when you're wrapped up in what you're doing.
Jokes - discover the funniest, make up your own or drive everyone crazy with the worst jokes you can find.
Make some jewellery - there are some great kits out there but you don't need much to get started, just some strong thread/cotton, a needle (please be careful!), and some beads.
Keep a diary - make a note of things you've done that day, TV you've watched, friends you've been in touch with or how you feel. You don't have to write much, some days you could just write ‘rest day’.
Listen to story or audio tapes, it saves the effort of reading! You can get them from your local library.
Try listening to music on different radio stations, maybe something you wouldn't normally listen to like classical, jazz or country. You could even make your own tapes with music, jokes, poems or funny stories, then either send them to friends or keep them to cheer yourself when you're not having such a good day.
Listen to sounds of nature – birdsong, waves, gentle rain, the breeze - you can get them on tape and they can be really soothing - just close your eyes and you can be wherever you let the sounds take you.
Organising a fundraising event for your favourite good cause - there are some great low-energy ways to fundraise like having a sponsored silence for a day and getting friends and family to sponsor you.
If you have a pet you'll know how much fun they can be - even something small like a goldfish can be really relaxing to watch and it doesn't take much energy to look after.
Puzzles, like crosswords and word-searches can really get your brain going.
Quizzes - you can find them in magazines and puzzle books, there's even one in Let a4M.E Entertain You! - go on, have a go!
Reading, books, magazines or even comics can take you to different worlds.
Making you own Scrapbook of anything that catches your eye, postcards, poems, cuttings and pix about your favourite sport or celeb. You can look through it afterwards on days when you're not feeling so good.
Texting friends is a great way to keep in touch, and it needn't cost much either.
Unusual hobbies - tell us what you do to pass the time. Just e-mail us with your ideas.
Video your favourite programmes so you can watch them again and again. They'll really cheer you up on days when you're not feeling so great.
Writing stories, letters, poems - whatever you like. You can write for yourself or your friends, you can even send 'em in! at Let a4M.E Entertain you! so that everyone else can enjoy them too!
relaX! just chill - think of the coolest ways to simply be yourself.
Collecting Yo-yos, or anything else for that matter - coins, posters, shells, stamps, postcards - get people to bring things back for you when they go on holiday.
Get some Zzzzzs!
