4 Must-Try Activities for Teens to Do on Low-Energy Days

By E. Zoe Angelo

With chronic illnesses such as Lyme disease, it can sometimes be difficult to find engaging activities that feel productive yet don’t expend too much energy or cause further discomfort. Whether you’re more interested in virtual or in-person activities, here are some options (other than homework) that may help keep you busy.

1. Try Learning Something New.

There are a lot of fun ways to learn something that excites you without having to pay for a course or head out of the house, especially if you’re not feeling well. You could add to your understanding of a topic you’re already familiar with or go for something totally new. Here are some great choices:

Duolingo

Learn a language for free with Duolingo. With practice and real-life stories built into the experience to help you remember what you learn, you can immerse yourself in whichever language you desire. Unique characters and a game-style interface combined with cooperative quests and streaks help you concentrate on your learning.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy teaches several different subjects, ranging from introductory courses to advanced practice. Free videos, practice problems, and readings explain each part of the course, and choices include math, science, economics, arts, humanities, and more. Short, engaging lesson segments allow you to learn when you feel up to it.

FreeCodeCamp

FreeCodeCamp is a non-profit organization that intends to make web development and coding accessible to anyone. As stated in the name, their whole curriculum is free, and resources include online forums, interactive “learning” webs, online lessons, and consultations with experts. FreeCodeCamp also provides verified certification in different coding subjects, allowing a path to future web development jobs for those interested in pursuing careers in this field. 

2. Create Something Unique.

There are all kinds of ways to express yourself creatively, and many of these mediums can be practiced for a low cost, with digital materials or beginner setups. Art is unique to everyone who creates it and can be enjoyed in any format. Here are some ways you could start creating in your own style:

Traditional Art

Most people are probably familiar with what is often referred to as “traditional” art. This includes watercolor, acrylic or oil painting, markers, colored pencils, or other similar utensils. You don’t need fancy materials to make something cool — start by creating a character of your own or draw something next to you. Developing your own style is a fun part of the process, too — just because an artist doesn’t make hyper-realistic art doesn’t make them any less talented. Think cartoons like Calvin and Hobbes.

Digital Art

Essentially, this is the same as traditional art, except it’s done on a screen. Using drawing apps or software on computers, tablets, and mobile phones doesn’t have to be expensive and  doesn’t need to be super fancy. There are lots of free and cheap programs that allow you to use many different virtual materials and play around with color, scale, and design to make digital paintings, drawings, or even sculptures on platforms like Blender 3D.

Physical Art

If you have a bit more energy or access to specific materials, there are other forms of art you could try as well: sculpting, sewing, knitting or crocheting, model building, and other physical art forms that aren’t only on paper. These tend to take a bit more energy and time, so take breaks if you need to. At the end, you’ll wind up with something cool! 

Other Art Forms

This is a catch-all, miscellaneous category for other art forms that aren’t necessarily canvas art or physical art. This could include language arts (such as writing about your day or keeping track of how you feel), music arts, or something else. If it’s something you enjoy doing creatively, it counts. Using programs like SoundCloud or Garageband allows you to use different instruments or types of sounds, as well as recording yourself or your own instruments, to create new music. 

3. Discover a New Hobby.

It seems that in the last few years, everyone has been under pressure to find a new hobby to keep themselves occupied. However, regardless of whether you got around to your hobby or not, the choices are endless, and it doesn’t have to be something that takes up too much energy, money, or makes a big mess.

Caring for Plants or Animals

If you already have pets, you could try teaching them new tricks or rules, or you could try new games or activities with them, depending on what kind of pet you have. Growing indoor plants can also be a good way to develop a productive routine and can be fun to observe. Caring for a plant or other critter on a routine schedule can help you take care of yourself, too.

Cooking or Baking

If you have access to a kitchen and you’ve got ingredients on hand, try out new recipes you think you might like. If there are certain things you eat or drink each day, find new ways that you could add flavor or changes to them to keep things interesting — different types of coffee or tea, for example. Finding food that helps you feel better or you enjoy can sometimes help with mood, especially if you’re getting all the right nutrients.

4. Volunteer in Your Community

There are a lot of great ways to get involved with your community, many of which include volunteering. Some volunteer positions require you to be within a certain age range or need you to be able to do certain physically demanding tasks. Others, like volunteering at a local library or afterschool program, just ask that you are willing to engage with those around you and help keep the environment enjoyable for everyone. There are also virtual volunteer opportunities that may be available, such as administrating for an online support group. Spending time with others in your situation can remind you that you're not alone, and that there are many people who can support you. 

No matter what your energy levels, location, or budget are, there are always a good variety of options to choose from when looking for engaging activities on which to spend your time. Discovering new things to do can help you connect to your community or those around you and can help you feel a little better when you need a boost.