Ideas to help keep my sanity!

Everyday living
1

Hello All

I am after a few ideas to know what to do to keep myself a bit sane.

Im going crazy with not knowing what to and need a bit of help/ideas in how to occupy my time. My mind is just such a blank at the moment.

I really want something I can look forward to in 2013! All I can see at the moment is how hard life is going to get, thanks to the government, but I dont want to dwell on that. I need a positive.

I have thought about my likes and interests ect, but most of what I used to do I find hard because of my ms.

My fine motor skills ares shot, so cant to needlework. I like drawing, but find my hand seizes up holding the pencil.

One of my other passions was gardening, growing my own veg, but can no longer do all the work involved in that. I did think about making it a bit easier for myself by getting waist height planters ect, but I cant afford the money and I cant make them myself.

So, any ideas on cheap things to do to occupy my time would be gratefully welcome.

Oh, I am doing an online course as that helps to keep my brain active, but I need a few other things to do too.

Thanks for reading

Teri x

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Hi Teri, yeh I know what you mean! I retired on ill health back in 2000. Then I occupied myself more than i can now, due to physical limitations…as you say! I still drove and took myself swimming, shopping and visiting friends and family.

Nowadays I cant go out alone. I go to a slimming club with my sister/carer, shopping with her too. I spend some time on here, and have just found another site with people with disabilities in the search for some who may have ISP, like me. I dont have MS anymore!!! I do a bit of sewing. But see that can be too hard for you now.

What is the on line course you are doing? That is a good way to pass your time. is that expensive?

Why not look at the day time courses from your local Adult Ed programme. I did lip reading a while back. it helped as i am deaf in one ear. The course was free then, but then some bright spark decided deafness was a choice and lip reading was a hobby.not a chuffin` necessity, as it really is! Now it is charged at £60 a term. No freebies for us.

I am going to a daycentre, for a taster on Friday. I cant get funding so have to pay for it myself and it is on the dear side, but I need some other distraction.

Hope you find something you like.

luv Pollx

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PS. the daycentre provides transport, so that`s a real boon.

Why not google day centres with transport?

luv Pollx

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hi teri

you say that you enjoy drawing but havent got the fine motor skills any more. why not try painting.

watercolours are easy and fairly forgiving. a palette set should cost no more than £25

i got really into painting when first diagnosed. i don’t do much of it these days other than a birthday card when someones birthday is due. i’ll try to get back into it after new year.

i try to go to the gym 3 times a week because my physio has told me to build strength in my legs.

so tomorrow i’ll be thinking yippee its gym today (not).

@poll have a good time at the day centre

love carole x

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Teri,

I bought some half barrels and got my son to put in new compost. Grew potatoes, strawberries (dont forget to net them to stop the slugs and birds eating them). Also you can grow onions, carrots and lots of things in barrels. The compost only needs changing once per year and you can recycle it, by offering it to friends or getting them to dig it into your garden.

I wouldnt give up gardening, there are small things you can do and potting bulbs for next year is a good idea, they can go on your windowsill until next year.

What about writing on the computer, voice activated packages are available. You could write short stories or poetry.

Sometimes it takes disability for us to realise we can learn new skills and alter things so we can continue our loves, like gardening. Dont give up, youll find new things to put your mind to and keep occupied.

Take care and happy hunting for new avenues, its like discovering all over again.

bren

x

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I totally understand what is happening and how you feel.You said you can’t sew now,but could you knit?Might be stupid of me,but by working out what you might like to do is by ‘off the wall ideas’ ideas and follow where they go.

Good luck, Wb

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Hi Teri,

You sound just like me… I was at my wit’s end too. I did do the raised garden bed gardening though. It doesn’t need to be expensive. It is amazing what will grow in those polystyrene boxes from the green grocers and some good potting mix. If you put them on a sturdy outdoor table they will be at the right height. And with a handy bench right there for your tools etc.

You can grow strawberries, tomatoes, lettuces, herbs, all sorts in these boxes.

Give it a go and enjoy the results

All the best,

B

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Thankyou all for your replies. They have been a great help.

Oh, there is so much I want to say, but brain is a bit muddled up today in trying to get it out and make sense!

@ Poll - I use a website called Alison. It’s free, but got to pay for the certificates. I dont do that as they are not recognised by employers. It is also all online based, so have to take notes, if your brain gets forgetfull like mine!

I’m doing biology at the moment. Although I cant remember half of what I have learned already! but it is interesting.

Hope you have a nice time at the daycentre on Friday and will look forward to reading all about on the forum x

@Carole - I hated painting when I was younger, but that was a while ago now, and Ive realised, just because I didnt like something back then, doesnt mean it the same now and things are always worth trying again.

Same thing @Wb - I never liked knitting, never had the patience to learn. Now, things are different and again, worth trying.

So, thankyou both x

@ Bren and Brog64 - I must admit I love my gardening and dont want to give that up, so I wont.

I just need to realise there are diff ways to do things and not be stuck in my old ways!

Im going to be sad when I turf over my veg plot, but when that is done, I think I will be able to see how to move on and forward.

You have both given me hope and opened up my mind. (its not about giving up, just downsizing!)

I have loads of large containers and an old table going to waste.

Must admit, it puts a smile on my face more and more thinking about what I can do x

Teri x

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Thanks Teri, for the tip-off about the “Alison” site. I’ve bookmarked it, as it looks really interesting.

I lost my job back in July, and haven’t been actively looking for another. I’ve just done a short Open University course in astronomy, but it was relatively expensive, and they’ve gone up even more from this term, so the cost is a bit offputting, for something that’s only a hobby.

Although it’s nice to have the certificates, I don’t really need them if it’s not for future career plans, so I might try some of the “Alison” ones.

Tina

x

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buy an ipad soooooooooooo much fun im on mine now!