Ten Things to Do While on Dialysis

The hours can seem long in a dialysis center.  Bringing something to do will keep you from being bored and keep your mind busy.  Take these ideas and use them.  Some will fit you and some will not.

Kindle/Laptop/ or other Device: Download, games and books to the Kindle.  Spend your time enlightening your mind or playing games for fun.***

Read.  Bring a book or use your Kindle to download books. When I read time slips by quickly.

Journal.  All you need is a pencil and pen and a notebook; or use your computer. Write your memoirs while you sit in the chair for hours.  Write that book that has been in your head for many years.

Puzzles. Soduko, word searches, thinking puzzles books will help keep your mind sharp.  Buy them at your local 99 cent stores.

Podcasts.  You can download most onto your kindle or find them online. I like:

The Thrilling Adventure Hour– comedy, old fashioned variety show.

Wolf 359- science fiction story.

Do It Scared– uplifting talk and advice. 

Find ones you like or try a random podcast.

Draw.  Drawing equipment is a small clipboard, paper, a pencil, eraser, and colored pencils or crayons.

Color. Buy an adult coloring book.  Get a set of colored pencils.  Take your time coloring a page. 

Crochet or Knit.  The yarn can be in a plastic container with a small hole in the lid with the yarn poked up through to the crochet hook or knitting needles You can knit and crochet with little space. Everything is in the container to and from the center

Picnic. If your center lets you eat while on the machine, bring a picnic lunch with food you like. Pack them in a picnic basket or lunch bag along with a large napkin and a checked tablecloth.  Put the tablecloth over your lap and have a picnic. **

Meditate. Relax your mind. Turn off from your worries.

Sleep.  Let your body rest. A lot of dialysis patients sleep during dialysis.

Notes:

** Clean up after yourself after each dialysis center.  Make sure your materials all are in their containers and trash is picked up before you leave.

***Be courteous to those around you turn the volume down on your devices when using them.

***Remember to bring a power cord or charger and cords for your devices.

*****Actually there are eleven things on the list but sleep does not activate the mind, although it can help it to rest and relax.

I dialyze to live. I don’t live to dialyze.                                   Katherine E. Soto

June 2019