I was happily out the door on-time for my 8 a.m class when I slipped hard on concrete. Blood was gushing and my nose, mouth, and knee were in pain. I was taken to the ER, and thankfully did not appear to have any broken bones. On the other hand, my face was going to look as thought it had been mauled by a bear for however long it would take to heal. On top of that, the amount of blood and swelling in my nose and mouth made it difficult to eat and breathe. After my very unfortunate doctor's visit, I promptly took my excused absense note for the day and spent my time at home. Lucky me, right?
Temporary injuries can get the best of any of us, especially with finals week approaching. I decided to compile a list of 5 things that have helped me not go (too) insane during my time of healing.
1. Remember: It is Only Temporary.Â
While scabs and bruising may be an unsightly inconvenience, they aren't the end of the world. Most injuries, such as broken bones, take much more time to heal and make daily tasks that much harder. Even if your situation is inconveniencing and frustrating, I promise you it won't last forever. When in doubt, keep the thought "It will be better next week" as a mantra for recovery.
2. Follow ALL Directions Your Physician Gives You.
I know it's common to skip the last days of an antibiotic, but you won't like the look of your wounds if you don't take all the care that is prescribed. For exposed skin, make sure to keep the area clean and only use ointments and soaps prescribed. For bruising, ice will become your best friend. For anything sprained or broken, do not put weight on the effected area and keep it elevated. You cannot go back to your daily routine if you cannot take care of yourself.
3. Escape Your Pain with Entertainment.Â
The only thing that could get me to finally relax after the trip to the ER and a painful shower was curling up with Hulu. Use this time when you are feeling gross or pained to catch up on your favorite series, or better yet, have a movie marathon. For injuries that require icing, this is a great way to distract yourself while doing so.
4. Remember to Eat.
This is kind of a weird one, but when you have no motivation to move from your bed this becomes pretty crucial. With your body already going through trauma and trying to heal, you must not deprive yourself of the nutrients you so badly need. If anything, eat more and eat healthy. Your body needs extra strength to heal as soon as possible.
5. Get Your Rest.
Much like making sure to eat enough, rest is absolutely needed to help your body heal. In addition to limiting stress, it is essential to make sleep a priority. It can be nearly impossible to get your eight hours with other priorities like work and school, but your health cannot take the back seat when it is already compromised.
