Any suggestions to fight boredom?

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I stay at home due to health reasons. My husband is working long hours to make ends meet, and afford my health care. We are so thankful for his employment, but it does leave me alone most of the days, several evenings, and usually a full day on the weekend. I’m getting so stir crazy and bored. I’m not used to being sick and not able to do as I please. I never thought my life would turn out like this. But it has, and I have no room to complain. This is God’s will and I must learn to make the best of it. We are doing everything medically, and I have made very little progress. Due to illness and not getting out I no longer have friends. My family lives across the country so I only visit with them by phone or email. I really am just so completely bored. I think I’m going to loose my mind. Any suggestions? Thank God for this place! 🙂
 
Pray! :o

You say that the position you’re in is God’s will. Ever think about why that might be His will? You have hours of un-interrupted, quiet, peaceful solitude so make use of it by reading the Scriptures and praying.

God bless.
 
Can you get out at all? Maybe go to Adoration? Volunteer for a few hours?

Your Parish may need help that you could do from home, making phone calls to other shut ins, doing mailings, computer work for the bulletin?

What about an online class at your community college?

Learn to do something on your own - how about crochet? I crochet baby blankets and donate them. You could find something you can make that will be a blessing to someone else.
 
These are all great. I thank you. 🙂

Kage ar: I do not have access to a car. My husband takes our only vehicle to work. I’ve drive him to work when I need to go to the doctors and once or twice a month to get to the library or Holy Days of Obligation. It’s so much effort for me and it really makes things difficult for him at work to be without transportation. So, yeah, I am basically without transportation unless absolutely necessary.
 
If it does not wipe you out to have company, could you host a prayer group or a book club at your home?
 
kage ar: You are so thoughtful. The preparations for such a thing would wipe me out, but it would be worth it. We live in a small apartment, so space is a major problem. It would be fun though, if I had anyone to invite. I have never felt at home in my current parish. We’ve had three different parishes in three years, due to moving and all. This one is orthodox, and just around the corner, so we’ve stuck with it. But it’s chock full of young families with children, who are full of energy and life. I just don’t fit in anywhere there. Most of the programs are geared towards families with children or single youth. I really stand out at Mass due to my health issues. I am ashamed and embarrassed. I try to smile at people, but they often ignore me or smile back and turn quickly away. I used to be just like them. Healthy, vibrant, strong. I had minor health problems but I went on with life. I volunteered often, and helped those a lot like myself now. Those who were lonely, disabled, or sick. Now I am where they are, and how I long for someone to visit me like I did them. This is one of the most confusing and difficult times I’ve been through. I search for answers and guidance, but I only find more confusion and pain. Sorry this has turned into a vent session. Thank you so much for your replies. :hug1:
 
Can you sew/embroider? I’ve heard of several ministries that involve sewing tiny outfits for babies that are born too young to survive…I think it’s a beautiful way to help those who need something to hold on to.

Or what about rosary making?
 
I’m so sorry you are going through this. I can only offer you :hug1: and prayers. Know you are very close to our Lord. He loves you very much just as you are. 🙂
 
MIL is slowed by age and infirmity more than illness, but she handles all the prayers for her extended family. She is the one who knows who is born, dies, sick, hospitalized, recovering, communions, graduations, weddings etc., and keeps everyone informed via e-mail. She is the one who makes sure no one is forgotten, everyone gets a card (she keeps Hallmark in business) for every occasion you can imagine. In fact our gifts to her are stamps and all occasion boxes of cards. She is the one who emails or drops little notes to the grandkids and greats, not just for birthdays but at odd times during the year.

She is glued to EWTN for all the prayers and devotions, and regards praying for the members of this family, living and dead, as her ministry. She also prays for every priest she ever knew, and corresponds with several retired priests.

please do call the parish and make sure someone brings you communion each week, and do not hesitate to ask the priest to come when you need confession.

there is no reason to feel bad about attending Mass, no one is making comparisons or judgements, but just do what you can, not what is too taxing.

You might call and ask the DRE for a list of first names of children preparing for confirmation and first communion, and pray for one of them each day, and ask that she tell the children they have someone praying for them. In our old parish were several assisted living, nursing homes and alzheimer facilities, and this prayer ministry we asked of those residents who were able, made a huge, discernable difference. would take to long to describe but wonderful things did happen all because of this crucial prayer ministry. It does not even have to be formal prayer, it can be just offering up pain, indignity, or setbacks for the intention of the person.
 
Here is an idea 🙂 Not sure if it will work or not, but here goes. You seem to write well and easily reach out to comfort others. How about contacting your parish for the names and addresses/phone numbers of local Catholics in nursing homes. You could pick one or two and start a pen-pal relationship with them. Maybe your hubby could go with you twice a month or so to drop off the letter(s), so you wouldn’t have to pay postage if that’s a problem. This way you could still bring joy and fellowship to others even though you are homebound most of the time.
 
Write a novel.

I started writing novels after my foot fell apart.

It’s fun! And you won’t be bored. The time flies by. Sometimes I’ll write a whole day, from morning until evening, and I’m amazed that the day is already gone.

Even if you think your novel is dumb, write it anyway. Write about what you know–your family, your illness, your church, your hobbies, etc.

Just make up a story and write it down. Don’t worry about writing a best-seller. Just write for fun.

In a novel, you can escape from your situation and house and illness, and travel all over the world, through time and space, and meet characters that are evil and good, beautiful and ugly. You can have adventures and romances. You can get rich and then lose it all.

Have you ever driven through a neighborhood (perhaps your neighborhood) or town, and wondered who lives in all those houses, the little houses and the mansions, and what they are doing with their lives?

Well, tell us what’s happening in those houses. That’s what a novel is.

There are books on novel-writing that you can get from the library (they might even have a way of delivering them to you, since you’re homebound). These books tell you how to get started.

And there are all kinds of books on style and composition that you can read to improve your writing style.

Even if you never ever publish the novel, it’s still fun to create a story and write it down. Just start writing something. Write about the house next door to yours–make up the people and their lives. It’s so much fun.

But…if you DO write a best-seller and become the next Brown or Rowling–remember Cat!
 
My grandmother was ill for many years before she died. Like you she was used to being active and out and about. She loved letter writing so she became a penpal for people suffering from cancer. (I can’t remember the name of the organisation she did this through.) She also sponsored a child in the Philippines with Children International and wrote monthly to her.
She started creating a family tree and tracked down decendants of many of our family who had moved to the UK, USA and Australia. My mother, who is in her late 70s, is now working on this project.
Finally she asked the parish for the names of anyone who had asked for prayers and said a daily rosary for their intentions. She also prayed the LOTH.
Gearoidin
 
I try to avoid time killers and choose diversion I enjoy more in the long run instead of the biggest unload or chill out factor. Better still would be to do something constructive. Something constructive may still be interesting at the same time. Sometimes one’s bored because diversion has lost flavour and in that case, I suppose work is needed. Such as, say, intellectual work, reading something ambitious or writing an article or doing a course. Something organised, at least.
 
:bighanky:Oh my you have brought tears to my eyes. You have been so very supportive. I can’t thank you enough for these lovely ideas and suggestions as well as the encouragement and prayers. The private messages too! This has been a very difficult time in my life. With my husband’s increase of hours at work, I’ve felt the pinch more than ever. You all have reached out to me and said it’s going to be okay. We’re here for you. You’ll get through this. I can’t thank you enough. God bless you all. :grouphug:
 
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