Whether life has taken an unforeseen, ghastly turn or the age has caught up, we humans sometimes have no other option but to restrict ourselves to beds and chairs. There is no doubt when you can’t move at will is nothing seems right. Time slows down, and everything looks and feels revolting. So, what’s the way forward from there? Do you cuss at your fate and spill your bitterness on others or start to try adapting to the new normal and look to make it less excruciating? One of the reasons why such a stock-still existence bothers so terribly is because you have nothing to do all day. So, in any such instance, where age is not the reason behind a person’s confinement to the wheelchair and bed, one should start looking for work that can be carried out from that space.

You can’t get yourself lost in a meaningless internet surfing all day. So, try to engage yourself in work that pays both at extrinsic and intrinsic levels. This means you need to do something that satisfies your mind/intellect and also pays off in material. By having such a routine, you won’t consider yourself a burden on others. Moreover, try to make yourself as independent in your daily chores as possible. A person bound to bed/chair eternally feel the guilt of disturbing others for the most trivial personal tasks. For instance, get a motorized wheelchair that allows you to move in, around, and out of the house without any external help. Moreover, set up the surroundings of your bed with all your items of daily use. Having frequently-needed items within arm’s reach will significantly cut down your reliance on others.

Also, get urinary bags. For some, asking others to help them with answering the call of nature is the most embarrassing thing. There are now urinal bags available that actually entail a urinary drainage system. They make sure you can relieve yourself just as if you are on a regular urinal. These reusable urinal bags will make you more independent of others. Lastly, don’t cut off from society altogether. Even if you are not extrovert type, just don’t get into complete seclusion. It will only mess up with your mind and will eventually take a toll on the quality of your life. Newspapers, magazines, books, movies, music, Television— stick to the medium that suits your taste. Having art in life in one form or the other will help you in keeping yourself saner.