I was on Week 32 of my Pregnancy Journey # 2 when I found out my cervix is short. After several tests and a 3-day hospital confinement, I was required to stay in bed until the day I give birth.

Being on bed rest is never easy for a mom, especially when you’re used to doing so many things in a day—from taking care of a child and doing household chores to accomplishing tasks at work, inserting “me time” and attending to other responsibilities. The first day of my Bed Rest story was overwhelming. Imagine, from doing an awful lot of things to doing nothing!

But of course, moms will do anything for their little one. That’s why no matter how difficult it might be, we moms will surely find ways to rock this chapter of our pregnancy story.

So how do you keep yourself busy and happy while staying in bed all day? Here are some of the things I’m doing and planning to do to make time quickly fly while I’m in bed:

Do your favorite hobby

Mustering enough optimism, I try to look at this bed rest mandate as a sabbatical leave from my mommy duties and business. It’s a chance to finally have time for things I really want to do (not out of obligation). For me, that’s blogging. I’m planning to tick off so many items on my long overdue blog post list. All I need is my laptop, Quilly, and a good net connection! I’ll be happy to spend the day blogging. 👩‍💻

There are so many hobbies you can do without leaving bed. Some of these are painting, coloring, reading books, singing, composing songs, playing a musical instrument, scrapbooking, and crocheting. Just make sure to ask for help from loved ones in assembling the materials you need for your favorite hobby.

Play free online games

If we’re of the same generation, you probably recall those days when you play Snake or Space Impact just to kill time. 😆 We’re lucky that today, there are so many HD online games that can entertain us while on bed rest. There’s no need to pay for expensive game apps because there are many totally free games online.

Two of my favorite online games are Grocery Cashier and Cooking Fever. What’s great about these games is you don’t need to think much while playing, but they give you the adrenaline rush while in bed.

Grocery Cashier is a free online simulation game that can help enhance mental concentration and focus even while on bed rest. Try the game here.

Cooking Fever reminds me a lot of Diner Dash, one of my favorite PC games when I was still single. This nostalgic game keeps me entertained while on bed rest. Click here to try the game.

Do the movie/series marathon

Of course, this one’s a favorite! Lucky that there are now many video streaming services to choose from like Netflix and Disney+. Being on bed rest is a valid excuse to finish that series. 😉 Right now, Jung Kyung-ho is keeping me company. Time flies whenever I watch a new episode of the Korean rom-com Crash Course in Romance. 🥰

Keep your mind sharp

Instead of wallowing in self-pity or counting the days before “bed rest” mandate gets lifted, I try my best to keep my mind working. Apolinario Mabini became the “brains of the Philippine revolution” despite having paralyzed legs. That only means our minds can still work even if we are restrained physically. So as long as my stress levels are managed, I try to still write, study, research, learn new words, read current events while I’m on bed rest.

Even if you’re on the bed all day, you can flex those mind muscles by learning a new language, playing strategy games with your loved one, playing online word games, watching documentaries, writing a journal, and attending a webinar on a subject you are passionate about.

Learn a new skill

Being on bed rest can also be an opportunity to beef up your skillset. There are so many digital skills you can learn even while sitting down—graphic design, video editing, podcasting, blogging, virtual assistance, digital marketing, etc. Who knows? Your new skill might come in handy in the near future.

Nest and rest at the same time

Pregnant mamas who are on bed rest need not feel useless. Our hands still surely work just fine. With the assistance of loved ones, we can still do some preps for the arrival of the baby. For me, nesting started when I added to cart different baby products. Online shopping is such a lifesaver for pregnant moms on bed rest.

Of course, I relied on hubby for the setting up of the baby bassinet, washing of baby clothes, and other stuff that require standing or walking. That’s why parenting is teamwork! 😉

Prepare for motherhood

Use this period to learn about motherhood basics, especially if you’re a first-time mom. Read about topics like newborn care, breastfeeding, and baby milestones. Check out parenting blogs and websites and learn from other parents’ experiences.

Keep in touch

While on bed rest, reach out to friends and family members. Keep those group chats active. Call a friend. Chat a relative. For our mental wellness, we need to get in touch with people we trust during this challenging period. A strong support system is important to stay physically and mentally healthy during bed rest.

Do breathing exercises

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire advises its patients on bed rest to do deep breathing exercises to minimize the risk of chest infection. Additionally, breathing exercises can help relieve anxiety and stress during bed rest. Click here to see a video of breathing exercise demonstration.

Spend quiet time to lift your spirit

During bed rest, it’s not only our physical body that we need to protect. We also have to do everything to keep our spirits healthy. You can set a time in the day for praying, being quiet, reading spiritual books, reading reflections, and meditating. You can attend online mass if you are a Catholic. You can listen to worship songs that soothe the spirit.

Being on bed rest may not be the best part of pregnancy, but it surely is for our own good. All we need to do is endure and try to make the most out of our time in bed. Hang in there, mommy! We can do this!