Have You Ever Wondered How To Speed Up Your Post Surgical Recovery? Turning your home into a peaceful retreat will actually help your body heal.
Facing surgery is stressful. You can encourage your body’s healing processes by creating a relaxing home environment. Here are some great tips for turning your home into a peaceful retreat.
Why you need peace. Some scientific studies show that stress slows your healing processes. To complicate matters, US News reports that experts acknowledge surgery itself is a major stressor, as well as pain. This creates a bit of a snowball-effect, and healing from surgery can take as much as 40% longer due to stress. Some health professionals note that the opposite is also true: positive things that make you feel relaxed help you heal. It makes sense that creating a peaceful home environment is in your best interest when you need to recovery from surgery at home.
Find peace in your home. If you aren’t sure where to start, here are some great tips from Good Housekeeping to help create a more relaxing home environment:
- Store necessities within reach. Organize places like insides of cabinets with storage that keeps things convenient and in place, like in trays or on lazy susans.
- Play music. You might enjoy energetic tunes in the morning and quieter, more subdued music later in the day. Whatever suits you and soothes you is the right choice.
- Flower power. Fresh flowers add tranquility to your home. Consider adding a vase in all the rooms where you spend time. If you don’t grow flowers in your garden you can purchase a single bouquet and divide it into smaller handfuls of blooms.
- Give yourself some luxury. Investing in some fine linens can give you better rest at night and make you feel pampered.
- Employ a rolling cart. Some items may be best kept on a rolling cart. You could set up a cart for crafting supplies, complete with trays and bins. Or perhaps you need a cooking cart with bowls and gadgets. By keeping specialized goods together on a cart you can maintain order. You also can wheel them out of the way when not in use.
- Relaxing reminders. Add something to soothing each room that is small but significant. This could be a memento from vacation or a piece of artwork.
- Tidy your entryway. What you see when walking into your home can set the tone for how you feel. Declutter and organize the entryway for a clear and calm perspective.
Reducing clutter. Do you have more decluttering to do? If your home feels out of control you should consider removing more clutter before your surgery. The experts at Becoming Minimalist have some great suggestions:
- Spend five minutes per day removing clutter. You can’t do it all at once, but by working at it a little every day you will make progress and feel increasingly better.
- Donate one item to charity daily.
- Fill a garbage bag. Either donate the contents or pitch them.
- List areas in your home to declutter. Start with the easiest, do it, and stop for the time being.
- Sort closets. Turn all your hangers one way and as you wear items turn hangers around. It won’t take long to see what clothing is worth keeping.
- Evaluate values. If you are struggling with whether to keep something, ask yourself how much you would pay to purchase it now.
Safety first. Depending on the severity of your procedure, you may be in need of assistive devices to keep the calm and ensure your complete recover. Here are a few of the most common pieces to consider:
- A walker is a lightweight device, often built from aluminum, that can keep you steady on your feet. This is especially important if you have previous balance issues. Before purchasing a walker, ensure that it is slim enough to navigate your space and there are no obstructions, such as area rugs or sagging carpet, that could inhibit your movement.
- Shower chair. If it is difficult to get up and down for a bath or you are unable to safely stand on a slippery surface, a shower chair can keep you secure while allowing you to maintain your hygiene routine.
- Crutches allow you to move upright without placing too much pressure on a limb that has been injured. Not all are the same, however, so it is important to choose a set of crutches (or single crutch) that can accommodate your height and weight.
Power lift chair. You need a place to relax but you also need an easy way to get up and down without straining your already-weak legs, feet, back, or torso. A power lift chair can help you here. These cozy pieces of furniture can easily replace your favorite recliner and come in a variety of colors and styles to suite your needs and budget.
Home sweet home. It’s important to have the right environment if you will be recuperating from surgery at home. Reducing stress and creating a relaxing atmosphere will help you heal more quickly. By adding things that are calming and by removing things that add stress you will feel better and speed your body’s recovery.