Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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What do I do with myself when I'm supposed to be resting my eyes and brain? (self.Blind)
submitted by spicklesandwich
I started visual therapy a few weeks ago because of eye strain, headaches, brain fog, and the works. I'm nervous, excited to see how my life and even mood issues could improve, frustrated that I'm spending thousands of dollars for the max of 15m of exercises I can handle per day, and waiting for the time when I can work a full 8 hours again.
Apparently my eyes just don't work very well together and it takes a lot out of me.
But the biggest challenge is what to do with myself when I'm exhausted, hurting, and need to rest my eyes. Most everything I do like YouTube or manga or whatnot, or working on a project, or what have you requires my eyes, and if I'm honest the bigger issue is brain power and energy.
I don't really love listening to things that much, and when I do it's in the background, I still need to be doing something. From Google searching "activities for the blind" comes up with a lot of really active activities, like GOING to the movies or the park or whatnot. But I'm looking for rest and leisure, when I'm having sensory issues all around.
I do have an advantage since I've been messing around with braille for a few years now, I have one book and I can slowly read and write with some concentration. I just got my braille labeler in the mail yesterday in fact! Slate and stylus is kind of a pain. Someday I want to afford a braille display. I really don't like text to voice, grates on my soul.
I'm not losing my vision, I'm just having problems and I have an ongoing interest in accessibility and languages on the side.
Does that make sense? What do I do with my time and attention? I guess that's also more of a therapy question if I have trouble sitting in silence or consuming nothing, but that's another discussion I think.
Thoughts? Thanks.
Apparently my eyes just don't work very well together and it takes a lot out of me.
But the biggest challenge is what to do with myself when I'm exhausted, hurting, and need to rest my eyes. Most everything I do like YouTube or manga or whatnot, or working on a project, or what have you requires my eyes, and if I'm honest the bigger issue is brain power and energy.
I don't really love listening to things that much, and when I do it's in the background, I still need to be doing something. From Google searching "activities for the blind" comes up with a lot of really active activities, like GOING to the movies or the park or whatnot. But I'm looking for rest and leisure, when I'm having sensory issues all around.
I do have an advantage since I've been messing around with braille for a few years now, I have one book and I can slowly read and write with some concentration. I just got my braille labeler in the mail yesterday in fact! Slate and stylus is kind of a pain. Someday I want to afford a braille display. I really don't like text to voice, grates on my soul.
I'm not losing my vision, I'm just having problems and I have an ongoing interest in accessibility and languages on the side.
Does that make sense? What do I do with my time and attention? I guess that's also more of a therapy question if I have trouble sitting in silence or consuming nothing, but that's another discussion I think.
Thoughts? Thanks.
codeplaysleep 3 points 1y ago
I guess it depends on h ow long we're talking about here. Eye strain can be exhausting, so sometimes I'll just take a nap, or turn my bathroom light off and stand in a hot shower for 20 mins to relax.
If you can touch type, you can write with your eyes closed pretty easily, especially if you paired it with a screen reader.
For that matter, with a screen reader, you could do all sorts of things on the computer without the need for your vision.
If audio books alone don't hold your attention, I agree that having something in your hands to fidget with can help, like those little metal or wooden puzzles, or clay to sculpt things, etc.
If you can touch type, you can write with your eyes closed pretty easily, especially if you paired it with a screen reader.
For that matter, with a screen reader, you could do all sorts of things on the computer without the need for your vision.
If audio books alone don't hold your attention, I agree that having something in your hands to fidget with can help, like those little metal or wooden puzzles, or clay to sculpt things, etc.
Tarnagona 3 points 1y ago
What I like to do is do something with my hands while I listen. This is especially required if I’m reading non-fiction (which can be dry) and/or reading via text-to-speech instead of listening to a real person. Otherwise, I doze off, despite the best intentions.
When I was reading for grad school, I’d fold modular origami. The individual modules are very simple and can be folded by feel without too much thought. Putting the modules together takes a little more thought, but that’s a relatively small part of the whole build. I also embroider, but the work I do takes some sight. I think you could do the same with knitting or crochet, learn a couple stitches really well, so you can do them repeatedly without too much thought, and keep your hands busy while your brain listens to books or podcasts or YouTube, or whatever.
When I was reading for grad school, I’d fold modular origami. The individual modules are very simple and can be folded by feel without too much thought. Putting the modules together takes a little more thought, but that’s a relatively small part of the whole build. I also embroider, but the work I do takes some sight. I think you could do the same with knitting or crochet, learn a couple stitches really well, so you can do them repeatedly without too much thought, and keep your hands busy while your brain listens to books or podcasts or YouTube, or whatever.
redmarus 2 points 1y ago
I have the same problem (in addition to horrible fine motor issues) and while I recognize that this is the goofus to all the gallant ideas in this comments section, I just get blazingly high and listen to musique concréte, lol.
SoapyRiley 2 points 1y ago
I basically do all the things I would normally do but with my eyes closed. If I’m not feeling up for a walk or household chores or self care then I usually daydream or pull out the blanket I’ve been crocheting for the last several years.
Helenstoybox 1 points 1y ago
I'm not sure what your hands are like, but creating something whether it be knitting, crocheting, something crafty like making hats out of raffia or even threading things onto rope or raffia to make toys for parrots are interesting ways to not only rest your eyes, but to use your hands and to create something that you could gift to friends or even sell. It gives you a sense of accomplishment when you know that you have been able to create a gift for a friend without having to pay exorbitant amounts of money to do this.
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
Listen to audio books and do something mindlesS? Or just relax and rest for a while?
ke7zum 1 points 1y ago
I'm learning how to meditate, and that has helped me when resting. I don't have working eye sight anymore, but that's what I've been learning how to do for years.
valiant8086 1 points 1y ago
Legos! btw I'm 33. Also many online websites have erotic stories of all manner of subjects. If you use a screen reader there's a whole lot of content you can consume, erotic or not.
vip-sizzles 0 points 1y ago
Meditation often helps whenever I experience sensory overload
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