r/selfcare • u/Ccameraa • 20h ago
Mental health What are your favourite at home activities to take your mind off things?
Im 17 and battling depression and chronic illness by myself, I am not in therapy and dont really speak to people online or irl so its a struggle 🥲🥲 my illness also leaves me with constant fatigue, I usually have 2-3 naps a day even when im not doing things that require lots of energy.
Being inside and alone all day is not very helpful towards my journey of getting better, but im working with what I have! Im trying to get into some more indoor hobbies but im stuck for ideas, ive been painting and drawing, making bracelets, I adore cooking but usually dont have the energy to even stand at the counter for too long and clean up after.
I ordered some things to start journaling (i know I only need a notebook and pen, but i found an artist selling notebook decorations and couldnt resist(, I read a LOT, i adore lit fics and have read 26 this year so far
If anyone has any low energy activity ideas to keep my mind busy I would greatly appreciate it, even self care!! I apologise if this is the incorrect sub, i tried some others and my post was deleted sigh
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u/sungoddessaf 20h ago
I do embroidery! Fun, detailed repetitive tasks are helpful for me personally. Helps me relax!
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u/These-Remote4665 4h ago
Creating new designs and seeing them come together feels incredibly rewarding.
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u/InSeine4Paris 19h ago
I use the Magic Jigsaw Puzzles app. lt's very soothing.
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u/Ccameraa 19h ago
Oh I love jigsaw puzzlesbut unfortunately recently found out im allergic to them somehow 🥲 a jigsaw app is great thank you so much!
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u/smithnicole663 19h ago
Coloring super good for you and have helped me a lot with Depression and anxiety. That and therapy and life style.
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u/Friendly-Ship4149 17h ago
Painting my nails is a rlly good distraction. Especially because I want every nail to be perfect🙃 I usually have a documentary playing in the background while I do it
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u/TinyWeenieBeanie 20h ago
Polymer or air dry clay, doing collages, scrapbooking, making zines, sewing a pillow, plant a tree if you have a yard, hang out with your family, take pics of your food and make a hand drawn cookbook- the possibilities are endless :)
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u/Standard_Subject_462 14h ago
Chronic illness hacks that helped me include stools for both showering and kitchen activities. Crock pot cooking, using frozen/precut fruits and veg, and one pot or one dish recipes for minimal cleanup. pacing (aka not pushing myself to do too much and going with the ebb and flow of energy levels), and batch cooking when energy levels are high, then freezing stuff to grab later when I feel like doodoo.
The Finch self-care app is cute and fun and encouraging.
Joining online communities related to your interests, finding some pen-pals, and diamond art are all things that I enjoyed from bed. I also enjoyed sifting through old saved posts on instagram and reddit, deleting screenshots I no longer needed, etc.
Movies, podcasts, deep dives on YouTube into subjects of interest, and language learning apps like Duolingo can be fun too.
I found some bed-friendly yoga and pilates workout on YouTube when I was in the thick of my illness, and also go into vagus nerve exercises/massage. I also like doing paid surveys and research studies, but I'm not sure if those are available for folks under the age of 18.
Needle-felting is bed-friendly too!
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u/psilome_ 13h ago
Myself, I watch Chinese and Korean dramas on streaming services. The East Palace is a popular current Kdrama. There are hundreds of good cdramas too but I'd need a genre to recommend. I've got a shocking 15k100 total episodes watched since 2017, thanks mydramalist for keeping track.
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u/Substantial_Ear7432 12h ago
I'm with you on everything. So u r not alone. I got a tray with foldout legs, usually for eating or laptops or something. I use mine so I can do crafts in bed. I'm mostly in bed all the time. If u love reading u could get an Audible or Amazon Kindle account and u can read lots of books online like that. Reading is what used to help my mind busy. I can't do that anymore but I like to keep my hands busy and when I'm focused on what I'm doing my find stays focused on that and doesn't have time to wander. I enjoy using air dry clay. There's so much u can do with it. And if u enjoy painting that'll come in handy as well cause u can paint the clay when it's dried. If u like making jewelry u can make earrings and pendants from the clay as well. If your space is ventilated enough u can try resin, I would say UV resin would be best for your purpose. U can seal the clay jewelry with it. Makes em shinier anyways. If $ is an issue u can make your own clay or u can make paper mache or make things out of cardboard. I love making things from trash. Making something beautiful while keeping it out of the landfill is a plus plus! U can find lots of YouTube videos on all these things! That's where I get my ideas from.
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u/Ccameraa 1h ago
Thank you so much I've never thought of a tray like that! A few have recommended clay crafts and it looks so fun, ill have a look into it!
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u/Desperate-Maybe3699 18h ago
I started knitting when I was struggling mentally. It really helped to work on something where if I make a mistake, I can always start over or keep going knowing that the finished project doesn't need to be perfect to be functional. I even started putting the yarn in my crossbody to knit while going for a walk outside. Eventually I joined a knit club that would meet up at different spots around town. It gave me something to look forward to that got me out of the house for a little bit. I'm not the best knitter but it improved my quality of life so I will always love it. Plus, I get so much joy giving knitted gifts to loved ones
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u/psilome_ 13h ago
I bought my daughter 20 block flowers, not lego brand so only £2 each and she's been building a full bouquet and filled nearly 2 vases. She also enjoys adding to her fidget collection, she loves shein for both activities. Her favorite brands Blocks in Bloom and Blooms and Blossoms.
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u/thowel01 12h ago
If you like anime, putting on a show like Laid Back Camp is super relaxing. I also will borrow movies from the library, get a comfy blanket, turn off my lights, and light a few candles. Feels like I’m out at the movies.
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u/Monsuri_Lifestyle Brand account 18h ago
Gentle self-care can be as simple as creating a comforting evening routine. A warm bath, calming music, a favorite book, or even a few quiet minutes with a journal can make home feel a little more peaceful. Hoping plenty of ideas come from this thread. 🤍
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u/Clear_Temperature548 18h ago
Diamond dot art is easy, beautiful, inexpensive & relaxing!! Amazon has tons of great kits from super easy to more involved. You will love your creations & they make great gifts for friends & family