Living with chronic pain is an experience that can be both physically and emotionally challenging. The constant discomfort, limitations in daily activities, and the toll it takes on mental well-being can be overwhelming. However, even in the face of chronic pain, there is a powerful tool that can provide relief, improve mood, and bring joy into life.
This powerful tool? Hobbies.
I believe, that you can find joy in hobbies. If only you look for it. Let’s dive a little into how to make this possible.
Disclaimer: The information on this blog is based on personal experiences and should not be considered medical advice. The information on this blog is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please ask your doctor if you have any questions.
I’m Here To Be Your Cheerleader
Hi, my name is Elisha and I have a chronic pain condition called Fibromyalgia. You probably wouldn’t notice though, because I live my life being the biggest cheerleader in the room, and looking for ways to create the life I want, however I want, wherever I want, without chronic pain limitations.
I find that a big part of helping me to have an optimistic view of life and enjoy my day-to-day is in embracing things that bring me joy. In finding hobbies and adapting them to fit my needs.
If you’re looking for a way to bring a little light and joy into your life, I would encourage you to read on and learn about how truly important I believe it is to find joy in hobbies.
Understanding Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is more than just physical discomfort. It encompasses a wide range of conditions, from fibromyalgia to arthritis and so much more. It affects millions of people worldwide. The pain experienced can be constant or intermittent, mild or severe, but it is always present, becoming a constant companion in one’s life.
I often find myself saying that Pain is my best friend…we’re just not really on speaking terms right now.
When you have something that physically and mentally affects you day in and day out, regardless of how little or how much you do each day. Regardless of what you ate that day or how much you slept. When you have this constant ache affecting you not just first thing in the morning, but also throughout the night, let alone the whole day, it is easy to climb into a hole and never come out of the pit.
That’s a hard place to be, nor is it an ideal place to be.
As your self-appointed cheerleader, I want to see you come out of the pit. I want to see you thrive! I want to see you laugh and smile and help you find joy in your life. Helping you create the life you want. Perhaps your dreams aren’t as extravagant as mine, and perhaps they’re even bigger! But helping you find what you want and getting up the courage to not only pursue it but make your dreams come true, that’s my goal.
We could talk more about chronic pain conditions, but we’ll stop here. If you are interested in learning more about fibromyalgia specifically, check out our Beginners Guide To Fibromyalgia which goes into more depth on what it really is to live life with a chronic pain condition.
The Power of Hobbies
Hobbies are activities pursued for pleasure and relaxation. They have an incredible power to provide an escape from pain’s relentless grip. Engaging in hobbies offers a respite from the physical sensations of pain and redirects focus towards something enjoyable and meaningful.
The benefits of hobbies go beyond mere distractions. They can positively impact mental health by reducing stress and anxiety. When you immerse yourself in a hobby, you enter a state where the pain takes a back seat, and your mind is fully absorbed in the activity at hand. This not only provides temporary relief but also contributes to long-term emotional well-being.
Pursuing a hobby gives you a place to put your focus, instead of just on the never-ending pain. Believe me, if all you focus on is your pain all day, that’s just helping dig your hole of mental unwell-being.
Despite the fact that you may have to make some adjustments to how you participate in your favorite things when you find the right thing. The thing that brings you joy, it’s all worth it. You can find joy in hobbies!
The Key To Looking For Joy
One of my favorite things to do is to sew. Even when I am having a horrible pain day, I always try to find ways to take part in this activity. I will happily make adjustments to improve my level of participation because just getting to be creative brings me great joy.
That, and going out on adventures. Being in nature. Traveling. Seeing the world and the beauty therein. That also brings me great joy.
While the physical act of doing these activities may hurt or increase my pain, I have the perspective that this thing, even if it adds just a bit more pain to my day, this is worth it. It is worth it because I know that the joy this activity, this hobby, brings me, can outweigh a bad day and bring me out of my pit.
This is the key to finding joy in your hobbies despite chronic pain. It’s to (actively, daily) choose the perspective on life that fighting for just an extra ounce of joy, is worth it. Choose joy every day. Even when it hurts.
I fight for the activities that bring me joy. Because the pain will always be here, I have accepted that. In this world, I will always experience pain…but who said pain has to stop me (or you) from living the life you want?!
I said Pain is my bestie, remember? Well, she better buckle up, because we’ve got things to do and life to live and love.
Making Adjustments To Your Needs & Finding Hobbies
Discovering the right hobby for you is a personal journey. It involves exploring your interests and passions while being mindful of your physical limitations. Remember to try things out, go at your own speed, and don’t worry if it doesn’t work for you. Not all hobbies work across the board for everyone. Personally, I love plants and always want to break into the gardening world…but sadly I am not great at keeping them alive and healthy.
While hobbies offer a path to joy, they are not without their challenges for those of us with chronic pain. Physical limitations may make it seem impossible to pursue certain activities. However, with determination and creativity, many obstacles can be overcome.
Never be afraid to modify your activity. Look for ways to adapt hobbies to your physical abilities so that you can still find joy in hobbies and participate to your fullest extent.
Some examples could include:
- If you love gardening but bending is painful: Consider raised garden beds, container gardening, or simply bringing a stool or seat with you to this or any other activity that may have a need for it.
- Take Breaks: Listen to your body and take breaks when needed. Pace yourself to avoid overexertion.
- Use Assistive Devices: There are various assistive devices available that can make hobbies more accessible, such as ergonomic tools or adaptive sports equipment.
- Change the shape of the tools you need to hold: If you love crochet or knitting and the needles are uncomfortable to hold for long periods of time, try changing the shape of the instrument. I saw someone on Instagram put a tennis ball on her needle. (I apologize I don’t know who it was. If you happen to know let me know in the comments so I can give her credit!) Or, try using clay and wrapping it around your needles to create a unique shape formed to your hands, that is comfortable to you.
If you’re having a super bad pain day and you absolutely cannot participate in your hobbies, it’s okay to change things up. On days that I cannot physically sew because of the pain, I research, daydream or design ideas for future projects. Dreaming about the next project I want to make and planning it all out still gets my creative brain working and gets my mind off of the pain. Designing things and planning future creative projects is a lot of fun for me.
Some ideas for how you can adapt this to your hobby include:
- If you’re into gardening or painting: Instead try researching the next project. Or do some online shopping to get supplies. Look for ideas on Pinterest to make the next project the most successful.
- If you’re into cooking: Look for recipes and build your shopping list.
- If you love to travel: Research future destinations. Maybe check out our Complete Tour Guide Of Tingo Maria, Perú or the Total Tourist Trap – The Indian Market.
- The last tip could be great if you love photography too! Research locations for your next photoshoot! Or grab your camera and take pictures from your couch. Try to capture the beauty in unexpected things.
- If you love to write: Try talk-to-text or dictation mode on your device instead of typing or writing by hand.
- If exercise is your thing: Search YouTube for a future video and plan your next routine. Check out our blog post where we explore How Yoga Affects Chronic Pain.
- If you love reading but are tired of holding the book, consider audible books or books on tape.
Hobbies aren’t just about escaping pain; they can actively contribute to pain management and overall health. Depending on the activity, engaging in enjoyable activities can help relieve stress, improve flexibility, and promote better sleep.
Doing Activities With A Group
Lastly, don’t underestimate the importance of involving loved ones in your hobby pursuits. Whether it’s a family member helping with a gardening project or a friend joining a book club with you, shared hobbies can strengthen relationships and provide emotional support.
Doing activities in person is great if you can manage it, but if you’re looking for ways to participate from a distance, check out this post where we go over seven great ways To Stay Close While In A Long Distance Relationship all from the comfort of your home.
To encourage maintaining long-distance relationships, we created some trivia that you can play with small or large groups, virtually or in person. You can download a free version here! Or check out our shop for a full version, featuring 80+ of questions!
Chronic pain may be a constant in your day to day, but it doesn’t have to define your life. Hobbies offer a path to joy, relief, and an improved quality of life. Find the hobby/ies that are right for you, modify them to your needs, and do the activities that bring you happiness despite chronic pain. Your journey to rediscovering the joy in life begins with that first step towards pursuing your passion.
Remember to always participate to your best ability. Don’t compare yourself to others. Creating the life you want has to be specific to you and your needs.
Looking for more tips, ideas, or motivation? Let me know in the comments how I can best help you! I’m always here to be your biggest cheerleader! I hope you have taken some inspiration and are able to find your joy in hobbies.
Here are a couple of similar posts you may enjoy:
P.S. If you’re looking for an activity you can do on a bad flare day and from bed or with your long-distance friends, download our free trivia here.
Playing trivia is a great way to still participate in fun activities with your friends and family without ever leaving the comfort of your bed. And it helps you keep your long-distance relationships growing!
Be sure to check out the free Trivia by clicking here!
