Keeping busy whilst you're self-isolating

Being stuck at home can get a bit dull once the novelty has warn off and it can be difficult for those that aren't used to being stuck at home but there's plenty of things that you can do to keep occupied during this period of isolation due to this coronavirus.

Here is a list of things you can do to keep yourself occupied at home...

• Do some online or distance learning such as through your local college or places like Skill Share or the free courses the the Open University offer on a wide variety of topics.
• Do some long awaited organisation and decluttering of your home - I've been going through my craft supplies finding things to donate and making bette use of my storage spaces.
• Skype or FaceTime family and friends, maybe have a virtual coffee catch-up.
• Get creative like drawing, origami, macrame, painting, crocheting, jewellery making etc, or learning something new. For example a new craft you've always wanted to master or a project you've been waiting to have the time to do. I always say that we all have a creative streak in us. There are also colouring apps you can do. 
• Activity books. I like Criss-Cross, word searches, sticker-by-numbers and colouring books. You can do some online puzzles here.
• Get into mindfulness or meditation - there's some good apps out there or there's plenty of choice on YouTube from guided visualisation to breathing exercises or a personal favourite which is a colour meditation. If you don't get along with one thing try something different like for me I'm not too keen on guided visualisation.
• Do some exercise buy joining an online class or watching a YouTube tutorial.
• Start learning a new language. British Sign has a time limited offer where you can pay what yo can to learn BSL. BBC Languages is also a great website with free learning to a wide variety of languages.
• Watch films or TV programs. There are plenty of boxsets to watch for free on some of the main channel's apps like BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, 4 OD and My5
• Read books, or find new blogs to read.
• Listen to music to an audiobook or podcast. BBC Sounds have a great selection of podcasts on a variety of topics and genres. 
• Join virtual groups - someone sent me a link to an online card making class today.
• Join online support groups, some you can just post freely and some are organised chat forums on set date and times.
• Take a virtual tour around art galleries - Google Arts & Culture have a great list here.
• If you're into it, organise you're Pinterest account and find new pins to inspire you.
• Play app games; some you can link up with friends and play virtually. Some app games I like are 1010, 2048, Sneezies and Sneezies Match, Angry Birds and card games.
• Do a jigsaw puzzle. If you don't have any at home you can download some jigsaw puzzle apps.

To those housebound due to chronic illness/disability

This list may also be helpful if you are housebound due to illness and you can adapt to your limits for example I've found that my local college have given me extended deadlines to give me extra time to complete work. 

The RNIB Reading Service also have a talking book library that people who struggle to read due to a physical impairment can access for free. 

Some of the suggestions are more basic too such as app games which can help ease the boredom on a bad day. 

An extra suggestion that is more of a long-term activity is to start a blog or YouTube channel.

Raising Awareness of FND and M.E

So I could do this for pretty much any illness and if you want me to give me a shout but the reason why I've done these particularly for FND (Functional Neurological Disorder) and M.E (Myalgic Encephalopathy) I because these are two illnesses that have affected me personally.

I've shared the picture on my Instagram but I thought I'd share the images here as it would give you a bigger image to download and use.

If you do participate in the challenge, either as a daily post on social media please use the hashtag #agirlcallednaomiblog and either #LetsTalkFND or #MEandMe as well as a link to my blog www.agirlcallednaomi.com. Thank you.

NICPM Update // 16th March 2020

Thursday

As my discharge looms (end of next week) my anxiety grows more and more, but I've had a good MDT (Multi-Disciplinary Team) meeting this morning with my Dad and step-mum present and I'm starting to feel that once I'm home I will [hopefully] be getting the support I need to continue progressing as opposed to the little support I had before.

I will undoubtably miss the wrap-around support here which I've had 24/7 and people around the staff and other patients for 5 months now but the team feels I'm ready to continue my rehabilitation at home.

Things aren't prefect; I wanted to leave here feeling like I'd accomplished tasks perfectly but I still have a way to go with my rehab and I still struggle with tasks. I still have dips and bad days or high pain/fatigue days or non-functioning migraine days etc and I still have a lot of symptoms that I'm slowly learning to manage through grading and pacing but I've come a long way compared to when I first arrived here.

Since my last update we did get a second extension for 3 more weeks and that has been used to (a) find continuing support at home and (b) work on more rehab tasks like leaving the ward, cooking, being responsible for my medication by setting an alarm for my medication and asking staff to bring it to me etc and that will continue next week in my final week.

As Dad and my step-mum have come today for my MDT I'm going home with them for some home leave coming back Sunday. I'm feeling less anxious about home leave now and I look forward to the quiet and seeing Flop and I plan to do some crafting. (Hopefully I'll do better with my medication taking this time.)

Yesterday someone I know who lives in Leeds came to visit which was lovely of her and we had a nice time talking and playing Bananagrams - I epically lost.

I probably won't do another update but I might do a reflection on my time here and once I'm settled let you know how I'm doing. Equally I want to do less health related content on my blog and YouTube channel and focus on all aspects of my life.

Monday

I had a nice home leave. Lots of cuddles with Flop and perfecting my omelette making. I mostly spent my activity periods sorting through m craft things finding things that I can donate to the ward. I kinda over did it ( keep forgetting to set 30 minute alarms on activities). On the way back to the ward I sat and crocheted (is that even a word?!) everyone on the ward a coaster. Then this morning I was counting ensuring I'd made everyone a coaster but I could only could 7 and couldn't think at all who I was missing until I realised that the 8th person was myself!

I'm quite tired today but as usual it will just be a case of 'see how I go' and just try my hardest with my daily plan.

To say I'm anxious about discharge is a massive understatement but I'm going to make the most of this last week and just take each day day-by-day; hour-by-hour.

Photos

(my bedroom at the NICPM)

(my noticeboard in my bedroom)