Regaining full health after an accident or injury can be a difficult battle. Recovery can be almost immediate for some minor illnesses and injuries, but if you have had a long-term illness, health condition, or serious accident requiring rehabilitation, recovery can be much longer.

But remember that recovery means just that: you are recovering your previous way of life, energy, fitness, and mobility levels, along with recovering your health. And this is when you need to make some allowances, or else you might be doing more harm than good.

Listen to Your Doctor

It would help if you heeded your doctor's advice and care directives. You might feel like you know your body best, but they know what your body needs during this time, which means you will likely need a personalized care plan to move forward.

So whatever they tell you to do, do it, and don't try to think you know better; instead, work with them to allow yourself the best chance of recovery. This could involve using a wound care device they suggested, mobility aids, physical or occupational therapy, or changing your diet, for example. 

Rest

Rest is an integral part of recovery, and you need to allow your body to rest to move through this phase. If you don't, you will likely extend your recovery period and potentially undo all of your hard work thus far. Be patient, as hard as that may be. Rest when your body needs it, get enough good-quality sleep, and try not to push your body too far.

You will know when your body is struggling, and stopping at the right time instead of pushing through can make all the difference.

Talk To Someone

Recovering from an accident, illness, or injury isn't easy, mentally or physically, and you need to talk to someone to help you express how you are feeling about everything that's happening. You can request mental health care from your doctor and arrange an appointment with a therapist (Tip: search online for ‘therapist near me’), talk to family or friends, or find support groups with others experiencing the same.

Bottling up your feelings won't be productive or help your recovery. You are allowed to have feelings about what is happening to you and to express them, be it frustrations, sadness, guilt, or despair. They are all valid and have a place in your recovery, but keeping them hidden away isn't beneficial for anyone.

Eat Well

You need to support your body by fuelling it correctly. Sure, sweet treats and junk food might be appetizing; however, they aren't going to give your body the nutrients it needs. So, as much as possible, eat a healthy, balanced diet, and you will get enough fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, lean meat, or meat substitutes.

• Chicken
• Eggs
• Fish
• Sweet potato
• Brown rice
• Bean
• Lentils
• Leafy green veg

Hydrate

Your body also needs water to function, which includes making the necessary internal repairs to support you. The exact amount of water you need is unique to you, but guidelines suggest that around 8 cups per day is a goal or aim for, more so if you are fairly active or in a hot environment. But staying hydrated allows your body to regulate itself and help you heal. Without proper hydration, you can risk making yourself more ill or prolonging your recovery.

Stay Active

While this might seem contradictory to the get enough rest point above, it goes hand in hand with it. While your body does need additional rest while you're getting back on your feet, it also needs to remain mobile and active to help prevent your muscles from wasting away or your joints from becoming stiff. 

The level of activity you can do will depend on your exact health status and what you are recovering from. But gentle stretches in bed can be beneficial; getting up and walking around a room every few hours is a good idea, or getting out for a short walk can be a simple way to stay active. The less you do, the harder it will be to recover properly and retain your bodily functions.

Recovering from an accident or illness doesn't have a definitive end time or set of requirements, and you will probably need to incorporate all of the above points in the way that works for your body to get the most from them. But eating properly, staying active and hydrated, and giving your body the rest it needs when it needs it can help you move in the right direction.