Busy doing nothing – A guide to keeping busy on rest days

I have never heard or used the word ‘rest’ so much as I have in the last three months since my diagnosis. At first I had no choice, I simply couldn’t do anything but lie in bed or sleep on the sofa. My medical team said it would take weeks of rest to recover from this flare. Energy would come with time, but only with plenty of rest. And it’s true, rest is such an important part of recovering from anything.

But what I’m learning is that rest is not just part of recovering from a flare, it also becomes an essential part of life when you have a chronic illness. Before I was diagnosed with Lupus I could physically do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted to do it. Now, if I want to make plans I have to plan resting for them too. I also have to say no a lot, and be selective and realistic about what I can do. This is all to be expected – I am, after all, still only three months into life with Lupus – but by all accounts it’s also a big part of chronic illness.

I’m at a stage now where my mind is more active but my body just can’t keep up. This means that although I know resting is really important, I now find it quite hard to do nothing all day. So here is my ‘to do’ list for rest days, meaning that even when resting you can be busy doing nothing!

1. Catch up on some TV – Netflix, NowTV, iPlayer, All4 – meet your new best friends. To keep costs down and mix it up a bit I alternate between subscription services. I never had much time to watch loads of TV, and when I came out of hospital I couldn’t really concentrate on watching anything. Now though, I’m embracing having the time to get into new series. I love the Walter Presents section in All4 and am completely addicted to anything Nordic Noir. I love documentaries about things I know nothing about; I love cooking shows; I love dramas; I love the Bake Off!
2. Journaling – For me, writing about my experience has helped so much. It helps me process and understand what’s happened and how I feel about it. It helps me communicate better with others. But really importantly, it helps me document my progress. Looking back at what I’ve written, knowing what I know now that I didn’t then, seeing how far I’ve come, it really spurs me on to think ‘wow, if that’s what I’ve achieved in three months, just imagine where I can be in six’. Instead of being frustrated about the symptoms I still suffer from, it reminds me of those I don’t. Even though I love journaling, I struggled to journal about Lupus. Instead, I find blogging easier for some reason. I think any way of writing about or documenting your experiences, feelings, progress, ups and downs really helps. And when better to do it than on a rest day?
3. Cooking or baking healthy comfort food – This is one of my favourite things to do! I get such joy from cooking (and eating!) so it’s a great ‘to-do’ for a rest day. Remember though, you are supposed to be resting so only easy recipes will fly – don’t try to go Delia on me! Go for things that don’t require a lot of ingredients, preparation, mess or watching over. Homemade hummus is a personal favourite as it’s so quick, requires minimal effort and can be done in stages. I also love flapjacks or energy balls as they just require all the ingredients to be mixed in one bowl and then are chucked into the oven. One thing I love doing on a rest day is prepping food to go in the freezer for the days I’m too tired to cook. I always feel much less anxious knowing I have things to fall back on and I feel like I’ve ticked something off the list for future-me. Soups, Bolognese sauces, stews and curries are good options as you pretty much just throw the ingredients into the pan and let them simmer. There is definitely a smugness you can take pride in if you’ve managed to do this on a rest day!
4. Have a soak in the bath – Whenever I feel anxious, stressed, cold or just want some me time the bath is my go-to. Some nice bubble bath is such a treat and I usually also do a face mask and hair mask. I would also recommend some aromatherapy oils (especially if, like me, you suffer from joint pain), candles, and a nice cup of tea (or glass of wine!). This ‘to-do’ can also be combined with tasks 1, 5, 7 or 8 – see you’re even multi-tasking!
5. Pick up a good book – Again, totally addicted to reading and love nothing more than getting my head into a novel. When I was first out of hospital I couldn’t concentrate on books and reading hurt my eyes but now that my mind if more active I’m loving reading again. To complete this task most effectively, it’s best if you are horizontal on your bed or sofa.
6. Yoga or stretching or go for a short walk – Really listen to your body on this because you really might not be up to it and if you’re not, you shouldn’t push it. But, having said that, a little movement can go a long way. It helps mentally as well as physically. Anything that makes you hurt or raises your heart rate too much is a no-no on a rest day (or ever?!) but I do love rolling out my yoga mat, putting on some calming music and doing a few stretches. Nothing too strenuous – we’re not talking a full hour of Ashtanga primary series! – but 15 minutes of stretching out makes all the difference for your body without making you feel like you’ve run a marathon. If it’s a nice day, pop out for a quick walk. If you can tie it in with a small errand, even better. Being outside feels so good for mind and body and just five or ten minutes can make you feel fab!
7. Catch up with friends and family – resting can feel lonely, especially if it seems like everyone else is getting on with life. Take the opportunity to properly catch up with people. Some might not be free to talk in the middle of the day but arrange a time to chat to a friend on their lunch break, or catch up with your sister on her way home from work, or record voice notes. Sometimes you might not feel like talking, and that’s ok, but it is important to stay connected to those you love so why not try an email or a letter?
8. Listen to podcasts – I love podcasts and listen to them about pretty much anything. I listen to them in the bath, when cooking, when driving, when walking, in bed, on the train, in Tesco. Whatever your interests there’s a podcast on it!
9. Plan a day out, holiday or date with a loved one – Making plans feels nice. Only you know how big or small your plans can be, but it’s important to have something to look forward to. Try not to be too ambitious – your loved ones just want to spend time with you – and try to make it as flexible as possible in case you’re really not up to it on the day. Some ideas could be a road trip, the cinema, a picnic, a meal out, an afternoon tea, a movie night, a home-cooked meal. It doesn’t really matter what you do, so don’t push yourself too hard. And you know what, there’s nothing more special for your loved ones than saying ‘look, I may not have the energy I once did, but whatever I do have I want to spend doing something fun with you.’
10. Colouring – One of my fantastic friends bought me a great colouring book and set of crayons a few weeks ago and I totally love it. It’s very easy to while away an hour or so without thinking about anything other than colouring and you have something to show for it at the end!

A special thanks to friends also experiencing chronic illness for their tips on keeping busy on a rest day, which have also been included in the above. And remember, rest is for everyone! Do you have any tips for resting? Let me know and I’ll add them to the guide!