Time Flies When You Do Nothing

By Barbara Moore

2 min read

Time seems to fly by. We just got over the new year, and before we knew it, here came August.

Another eight months have passed. There seems to be no taming this fleeting of time.

Because I am challenged, I use a sharp tongue when referring to my disabilities. A feeling of extreme sadness envelopes me. This is sadness for the loss of who I was.

I remember the days of feeling like I was productive. Can I have that again? I want something to wake up to and look forward to doing.

Having idle hands

My idle hands allow me to focus on my breathing for far too long. I have nothing to think about, and I have developed an "Oh, Poor Me" attitude about living with a chronic illness like COPD.

As we approach the fall of this year, I’m thinking about the advantages of changing our thought pattern from dread to accomplishment with a hobby.

Having hobbies

Finding a hobby is finding a way to pass the time and be productive. As you learn to stay in the moment, you gain and maintain good mental health while adding structure to your day. This can count as self-care.

Embrace the search and find something that you love to do. Surf your library, Pinterest, YouTube, or other websites for ideas. Pick something you always wanted to try, then take the first step to get started.

Call a craft store or ask for recommendations from friends and family. It might be a good idea to look for low-cost to no-cost services catering to the elderly, COPD persons, and other communities for those with chronic illnesses. It is really your preference. When you ask a question, someone will answer.

Questions you should ask when calling for more information:

What is the cost to get started
How long it should it take to finish
What supplies to you need
Do they offer classes

For me, virtual classes are best. In-person is coming back, but it is not for me.

Maybe instruction or creating videos for YouTube or Instagram is something that you could do. With today’s technology, almost anything is possible, including instruction of classes. Lots of craft stores, YouTube, and Facebook offer both in-person and virtual courses.

Find the time

A hobby helps you to regain structure in your day and helps to keep you mindful of your environment. It is nice because we have the luxury of loving what we spend time on.

Contribute time daily working on your hobby. Set a daily reminder. Stay involved to keep yourself active. You gain a sense of accomplishment for a well-done task in no time. This is how we retain our brains.

When we become aware of the minutes and what we do with them, we tend to think about making them count. Living in the present and staying in the present moment helps us to relieve anxiety and stress and the passage of dreadful thoughts and feelings as it redirects our brain to think healthier thoughts.

Editor’s Note: We are extremely saddened to say that on January 7th, 2024, Barbara Moore passed away. Barbara’s advocacy efforts and writing continue to reach many. She will be deeply missed.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The COPD.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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DianeL Member
I do ceramics. I buy greenware and paint and fire it. I found a ceramic class. When I work on my craft I don't think about my other issues. I'm stage 4 COPD.
1. Melissa.Arnold Community Admin
 That's so neat, Diane! Did you always want to try ceramics, or did you discover it in some other way? Would love to see some of your work if you feel comfortable sharing. -Melissa, <a href='https://copd.net' target='_blank'>copd.net</a> team
Barbara Moore Moderator
Good for you. It keeps your mind thinking good thoughts. I appreciate you saying how this article resonated with you. Barbara Moore (author)
jcupdike Member
Respective of being able to do more: This has been discussed in a previous forum, so I will just add on. The introduction of Dupixent to my world has greatly expanded my ability to function. Now to at least add this -- this is NOT an advocacy for that particular product because I don't know how to do that. This is what was prescribed and what I've agreed to use. I'm in my second month of using this product and it's reduced my chest tightness to the point where I can actually mow the lawn now (slowly, but still ... ) and I've added some steps to my treadmill without straining. So to that end, an asthma medicine that my doctor said conservatively would not necessarily make my life easier -- has indeed done that. It's probably only generally connected to this topic and I am not going to suggest that COPD patients jump right up and ask for this product. But I am going to say that Dupixent has made it easier for me to do the sorts of hobbies that two months ago seemed like a lost cause. I feared a future of sitting in my chair, waiting for whatever came next. Being able to exercise more now has also added benefits. I hasten to add that while I am considered Stage IV by my doctor, I do not require oxygen. I do use daily inhalers and other meds. No idea if this screed matters for people interested in the topic, but for the moment, I have found a useful medication that has shown no side effects. Make of that what you will. Thanks, John C. U.