[dropcap]I[/dropcap]f you have recently been unwell, either due to infection, disease, injury, or a flare-up of a chronic condition, you might feel as if your recovery is going to take forever. Especially after spending time in hospital, the body takes a while to recover from the physical trauma and this can feel like it’s holding you back from living life. Here are seven ways you can help to speed up the recovery process.
1. Follow Your Doctor’s Advice
One of the best ways to recover sooner is to listen carefully to what your doctor advises and stick to your treatment plan and prescribed medication. Failing to do so can not only lead to a prolonged and uncomfortable recovery but also perhaps even complications of your illness. If you have any issues with what your doctor suggests, you can ask them to explain or adjust their approach or, if necessary, seek a second opinion.
2. Go at Your Own Pace
You might be feeling impatient and wishing to recover much sooner than your body can take. While there may be a temptation to push yourself past your body’s limits, you must take it as slowly as necessary. By rushing yourself, you risk making the situation worse and your recovery longer.
3. Monitor Your Progress
Your doctor may ask you to keep an eye on your symptoms and keep a record of them to make sure you are recovering well. For example, you might use a home blood pressure machine to report back to your doctor the effects of a particular medicine or treatment. The closer you can monitor your progress, the easier it will be to tailor it more accurately to your needs.
4. Sleep and Stay Hydrated
Whether you are getting over a brief cold or returning home from serious surgery, sleeping and drinking enough water are essential. These two basics make such an enormous difference when it comes to a speedy recovery. Sleep is a powerful tool for the body to mend itself and use its energy in restorative ways, while hydration keeps your organs running smoothly and healthily.
5. Listen to Your Body
If, during the process of recovery, you feel that something isn’t right, make sure to alert your medical care team or doctor as soon as you can. There is no harm in being over-cautious, and learning to trust the intuition of your body can help you recover sooner.
6. Stay Mentally Active
If your body is experiencing the exhausting process of recovering from an illness, you may be feeling emotionally drained and intellectually under-stimulated. To combat this, keep yourself mentally active by playing games, reading, talking with loved ones, and finding new ways to interact with the world around you.
7. Accept Change
Sometimes, even after a full recovery, your body may feel different from how it did before the illness. It is important in these cases to accept that life is about change, and you can’t control every aspect of it.
Hopefully, some of these tips will encourage you to find your own way to navigate recovery and feel more like yourself.
