Are you struggling with boredom during your incenter dialysis treatment? Some dialysis patients may enjoy resting, while others may try to get work done. Discover nine activities to do to pass the time during your treatment.*

1. Listen to Music – Finding some good tunes is a great way to relax. In fact, a study showed that people who listened to music during dialysis had less pain and nausea than people who didn’t. Therefore, consider listening towards the end of treatment when many patients cramp more. 
2. Write about Your Experience – Blog, journal, or tweet about your dialysis experience is a great way to work through your feelings and gives you a chance to share your perspective with others. 
3. Meet Other Dialysis Patients – Take time to meet others around you, as you will be seeing them often. Since you already have dialysis in common, connecting with other patients is a great way to learn from one another and make new friends. 
4. Get things Done – Check things off your to-do list, such as pay bills, write emails or letters, shop online, or post to social media. 
5. Learn Something New – Interested in a topic that you never had time to learn about before. Dialysis is a great time to learn it. Read a book, listen to a podcast, watch a video, or take an online course in something that interests you.
6. Become a Gamer – While you may think video games are not a good use of your time, certain games can enhance memory and mental alertness. Playing online chess or brain teaser games are great examples. 
7. Be a Kidney “Know-It-All” – Keep learning about dialysis treatment options, such as peritoneal dialysis or home hemodialysis, and the transplant process. The more you learn, the more empowered you become.
8. Mentor Other Dialysis Patients – New patients have a lot of questions that may not always be answered by staff. Answering dialysis questions from a patient’s perspective can help other patients learn and feel more comfortable. If interested, ask your social worker if you can volunteer to be the dialysis center advocate or start a mentorship program. 
9. Ask about Social Activities – Talk to the staff about having social activities during dialysis. Some units will play educational bingo, trivia, and more to help pass the time for patients. 

*Making the Most of Your Time During Dialysis. (n.d.). Fresenius Kidney Care. Retrieved June 29, 2021, from https://www.freseniuskidneycare.com/thriving-on-dialysis/staying-active/in-center-activities