Hi NewLife2
Thanks for starting this thread - it's interesting to read how others spend their time.

Since my 'normal' life disappeared adapting to what I now call my 'relative normal' life has been a challenge. I've found developing routines has been important. I have memory problems so routines help to remember things like taking meds on time, getting chores done, paying bills etc. By nature I've never been a 'routine' person and my old life was completely different.

Energy to do things is limited - everything takes me about 4x as long as it used to. Much of the day is taken up with chores - laundry, cooking, cleaning, getting firewood in etc. I like to garden - growing my own veges is satisfying and a small plot is manageable but have to get help with the heavy stuff.

Volunteering was always a part of my old life but is now scaled back to helping one or two others on an individual basis where I can. TV, reading, (a lifetime habit but sadly much reduced), and way too much Spider Solitaire (purely distraction) are my main forms of relaxation. Recently taking part on here and researching has kept my brain cells firing.

At present most of my routines are out the window as I'm facing additional problems - hopefully soon if I have some improvement I'll get back to physio at the gym. Regular exercise (3x weekly) gave me better balance, strength and allows me to do more. I never thought I'd say I'd miss the gym but I realize, for me, it's essential.

I hope you find some things to do that are rewarding and keep you going. Maybe picking one thing from each area of physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual to focus on, that you find beneficial, might help.
All the best.
bluesfan

Today has been a busy day feeding the birds. All winter I was providing food because of our severe weather. I often take photos thru the 2 windows in this computer room, and today hubby helped me too. (I will use some of them as reference for some drawings and watercolors, later on.

Today we have Geese again... and Mrs. Quack Quack showed up and all 3 of them shared for a while... hubby got a good photo of them on his phone.

The second photo is my seedling tray from last week, just before I starting moving them up to larger quarters. I have only the Coreopsis to do --but I can't today...as my back is killing me.

Those of you who are online alot... may find this red tailed hawk
nest interesting to watch live-- a live cam:

http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channe...-tailed_Hawks/

The first chick just hatched today. Two more eggs remain.

I missed the hatching last spring, but watched it alot later on.
It became rather addicting.

Thank you, new life, for starting this thread! Everyone seems to really step up when someone introduces a topic like this where we can share how PN affects our activities, relationships, etc.
I am one of the ones who has found walking reduces the pain and just makes me happier, so I try to do as much of that as I can. I have had problems with my ankle and a wound on my toe that won't heal so have been off the hiking trails for a while but got permission today to go back to walking- the wound isn't healing and isn't likely to until I get leg braces in a few weeks. Two professionals telling me I am severely knock-kneed in one week was a real ego killer no more skinny jeans!
I was a serious and accomplished needlewoman, but this has affected my hands, I can do most things but much more slowly and I drop my tools more than I used to. I still knit quite a bit and quilt a little, crochet is very hard on my hands and they cramp up quickly. I used to spend a lot of time looking at supplies but I have learned that I will never use half of what I already have on hand. I miss buying yarn a lot. I have also found that making items to donate to charity makes me feel less useless when I am really down on myself.
I am back to reading 18th and 19th century literature and poetry, most of which is free on the kindle. I have a large vintage needlework pattern and magazine collection which I enjoy going through.
I enjoy watching Hoarders and similar reality schadenfreude, as well as old movies and the BBC mysteries and classics. I love the Ninja Warrior stuff - just imagine having that kind of control over your body!
When I feel really ambitious, not often enough, I order photos printed and make up pages for the albums. I am never caught up but a few days here and there make a big difference.
I am unable to do the heavy housework, I have a friend help me every few weeks with the kitchen and bathrooms, but I do most of the cooking and baking for the five of us.

I, like MrsD, love my animals, the birds and growing/planting. However, I do veggies, vs flowers.

My husband has taken over the manual labor for the gardening as I'm not able to it any more, but I do help some to plant and sow, along with weeding and harvesting. We built some table planters (large ones) for growing lettuce, carrots, onions, etc. It's easier to work at table level vs getting on the ground to tend to the plants...so I'm in charge of maintaining these. We grow potatoes (got 180 pounds last year), onions, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, lettuce, broccoli, cucumbers, green beans, zucchini and a few herbs. We have a root cellar for storage and processed over 200 jars of canned products last year (beans, spag sauce, pickles, peppers...the list goes on).

I LOVE bird and wildlife watching and have a couple feeders in view from our screened porch. We have several bears that frequent our property. I've had some close encounters, but we have learned to respect each other's space.

When not gardening or watching the various birds and critters, I'm spending time with my German Shepherd, Dakota and my cat, Mac. Nothing like quality time with the animals to help take your mind off pain and/or other symptoms.

I have help come in for work around the property, but I maintain the inside myself...although sometimes it's really tough and not much gets done. But I do try to accomplish 'something' everyday...even if it's just a few small tasks. It makes me feel productive.

I don't know how I forgot the dogs! Thank you for reminding me en bloc! I have a two year old female german shepherd who is the dearest thing. She is afraid of everything and consequently terrorizes everyone except the family with her "stay away from me " bark, but she is absurdly affectionate and gentle with the grand babies, an 80lb. lap dog. The intention was for me to walk her but my husband has to accompany us as I am not stable enough to manage her leash, clean up bags, and hiking poles. She is my constant companion and will lie in bed with me all day if need be.
We have a 12 year old pug, whose only interests in life have been food and warmth. He was just what we needed when we had a crippled 4 year old just out of a body cast who wanted a dog and needed something sturdy enough to roughhouse but small enough not to knock down a tiny child just learning to walk. He is much loved by our sons but has only begun to act like a dog under the influence of the shepherd who bullies him but seeks his company. The pug has become quite capable of defending his rights to food and comfy spots and they have a fascinating dynamic.

We all know that time is a limited resource so the best use of it is important. I used to dream of filling my days with golf,motorcycle riding and fishing. I guess we all settle into routines that match our capabilities. My bike and golf clubs are rusting in the garage but I have managed to find some places where I can wet a fishing line. Notice I didn't say anything about catching anything,haha. At the worst of my pain binge watching on Netflix was decent escape. Learning the "essentials" of diet and excersise was another. Posting here and learning from the magnates and trying to pass on to others takes up another small slice of the day. Yesterday I found myself bored and alone so I went to Wal-Mart and purposely left my walker in the truck and focusing on every step I went in and picked up some 81mg Aspirin. Checked on availability of 7.62x54 ammunition. Then checked out plumbing supplies that were all plated instead of solid brass. So Newlife 2, as long as you don't take up bad habits, the human capability of adaptation will guide you to seek the best utilization of your time. Good Luck, Ken in Texas.

Thank goodness I'm able to find .308 pretty easy.

Thank you to everyone that has responded to my thread!! I really do appreciate every one of you, this will help me out and hopefully help anyone else on this site!!!

The problem for me is it is so much pain in my hands and fingers. my hands and fingers get so bad that if I just pick up a fork to try to eat or use a pen to write my fingers and hands go totally numb and that I get all that pressure buld up and then it starts to throb, even if I don't use them it is a constant numbness and pain... With my feet I am seeing that when I do walk my toes get so numb that they feel like there going to pop and the more I do walk the worse it gets, then it shoots up my leg with sharp stinging pain. I am so frustrated with this pain that goes on all day long every day and I know all of you understand what I am talking about... most of the time I just want to cry..