You may be off your feet, but your mind doesn’t have to be. Being off work due to a workplace injury can feel frustrating, slow, and altogether boring. You’re so used to the routines, the movement and the purpose that you feel when you’re at work, so when it suddenly pauses, the days can start to feel long and your brain can get a bit restless.
Rest and physical recovery may absolutely be your top priority so you can get back to work as soon as you can, but keeping your mind active and engaged during this time can do a lot for mental health. It helps you to feel productive and distracted from the discomfort and feel more like yourself. So where should you begin? Here are some of the best ideas that you could take on to keep your mind busy if you’re temporarily out of work.
- Go over what happened. Before you dive into anything else to keep your mind busy, it’s worth taking the time to understand your situation properly. A chat with a workers comp lawyer can give you clarity on your rights after a workplace injury. They’ll also be able to talk you through your entitlements and your next steps after the injuries happened. You may be eligible for some compensation or wage replacement, or you may even be eligible for support services that you didn’t know were available. Once you’ve got the legal stuff sorted out, you have that Peace of Mind that you might have been looking for, and you know where you stand – even if you’re on crutches!
- Start reading a new book. There is never going to be a better time than right now to start diving into the world of somebody else. If you need to be distracted from your own world, then cracking open the spine of a book that you’ve had on your bookshelf for a while or investing in The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros is a good place to begin.If you can’t comfortably hold a book, then you can use audiobooks, and you can use a Kindle with a touchpad instead. You can listen while you’re resting, stretching, or even when you’re taking a gentle walk if you’re able to. It’s a good way to make the hours pass and you still feel engaged.
- Learn something new. If you’re off work for an extended period of time then why not take the time to upskill in your free moments? If your job is in marketing for example, you could start learning how to code and you can do this for free online. There are platforms like YouTube or more structured ones like Skillshare that offer loads of accessible and bite sized content options. There’s no pressure, there’s no deadlines, and there’s just fun and gentle learning on your terms. You could even download Duolingo and learn a language
- Start a new project. You don’t have to be an artist to create something beautiful. Drawing, journaling, colouring books, knitting or even making playlists can give you some structure to your day while letting your imagination run free. While you may love your job, if there’s one thing that’s always missing, it’s enough time to do the fun things in life. Creative tasks are well known to reduce stress, which can increase your focus, which is perfect when you’re trying to stay positive during your recovery. Choosing something that suits your mobility and pain level so it feels enjoyable and not overwhelming is important.
- Catch up on your watch list. Now is the time to stop pretending you don’t have a massive Netflix watch list. Whether you want something light hearted to laugh at or mentally stimulating to follow, a good series can make the time fly. You may even find some comfort in re-watching old favourites, which is super helpful when you’re trying to recover from something bad. If you’re feeling curious, dive into documentaries. You’ll entertain yourself, and you’ll learn a thing or two along the way.
- Stay connected with people. Whether it’s your colleagues or your friends outside of work, staying connected is important. Injuries can bring frustration, anxiety and guilt, and there is a huge sense of loneliness if you’re just shut up at home all the time. Mindfulness and meditation can help, but making sure that you’re surrounding yourself with visitors is also a good idea. If you have a cast for everybody to sign, then make sure you have the pen ready!
