Best TV Ideas
If you’re new, thanks for visiting! If you’re a long-time subscriber, thanks for your support. This space is where I share what it’s like to live with Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM). Everything here comes from personal experience—please remember, I’m not a doctor, so be sure to consult your medical team for advice and guidance.
Adventures from the Recliner
It’s amazing how far you can go without ever leaving your chair. I used to save for travel, but now I’m taking virtual journeys while keeping that money for medical bills—no airport hassles, no unfamiliar beds, and no worries about accessibility.
YouTube has become one of my favorite windows to the world. It offers far more than entertainment—there’s something for every interest. I’ve found patient education videos from The Myositis Association, including webinars, personal stories, and panel discussions that span several years.
What You’ll Find on YouTube
What surprised me most is the variety of content available—often free, especially with a YouTube Premium subscription (which I gladly pay to avoid ads). Here are just a few types of programs I’ve discovered and enjoyed:
Educational Videos – From chronic illness awareness to alternative therapies like sound healing and nutrition.
Restoration & Cleanup – Lawn mowing, power washing, hoarder house cleanups, and more. These are unexpectedly satisfying to watch!
DIY and Organization – Home decluttering, simple crafts, and room makeovers (even if I can’t do them myself anymore).
Healing Frequencies and Meditation – I often listen to Solfeggio frequency music to relax or boost my energy.
Personal Journeys – People sharing their experiences with illness, recovery, or adapting to new realities.
Documentaries & Travel Logs – Guided city tours, cultural insights, and “walk with me” videos that let you experience faraway places from your screen.
Book Reviews and Author Talks – Especially enjoyable since I’m no longer visiting bookstores and libraries.
Finding Comfort and Purpose in Unexpected Places
I’ve always been someone who loves the feeling of completing a project and admiring the results. These days, I catch myself missing that sense of accomplishment. So, I’ve had to get creative.
One day, YouTube suggested a channel called SB Mowing—a man who offers free lawn care to homes that look abandoned. I clicked out of curiosity and was instantly hooked. Watching him transform an overgrown yard into something beautiful gave me that old, familiar satisfaction. He also does power washing, and I now follow several similar channels.
I know it might sound strange, but there’s something deeply rewarding about watching others bring order out of chaos. My husband even enjoys these—he’s always been a dumpster diver at heart, so he loves the channels where people clean out storage units or salvage forgotten items.
Replacing the Noise with Meaning
With mobility issues, TV becomes a bigger part of daily life—but let’s be honest, not everything on regular television is worth watching. I was spending too much time playing solitaire or watching shows that didn’t interest me—just filling time.
Since discovering these YouTube gems, I’ve shifted how I spend those hours. I disconnected my streaming services and cable. Now I save money and feel better mentally. It took some trial and error to find channels I genuinely enjoy, but it’s been worth the search.
Creating a New Kind of Daily Joy
Living with IBM is like trying to solve a puzzle with constantly shifting pieces. I can't spend all day doing jigsaw puzzles at the kitchen table, and I missed the stimulation of shopping malls, coffee shops, or simply being out and about.
YouTube has helped fill that gap. It brings entertainment, connection, and even a little personal growth—without leaving the house. And while my preferences may shift as my needs change, I take comfort in knowing there’s always something new to explore. My current “learning” is watching the u-tube channels that tell how to use AI. I started with the ones that said “beginner” in the title. Then I spent two days in a seminar that was hands on and learned just enough to become dangerous. We will see how that all turns out. I will keep you posted.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of content. What entertains, inspires, or calms you might surprise you. And remember—you don’t have to give up on joy; you just might have to find it in a different format.
COMING SOON: My book, The Life That’s Still Mine. Watch this site for a link.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
We have a bookshop store HERE where you can find books Linda has read or that look helpful for folks dealing with chronic diseases of various kinds. You may see links to those books in the text of our blog posts. We do get a small financial reward if you purchase a book through the shop, but the price to you is the same. It also helps support independent booksellers. Thanks!
This blog post is based on personal experiences and is not meant to provide medical advice.
Always consult your healthcare professional for personalized guidance on your health journey.
