Chill, Dan, your recovery may take some time

Accept help

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After being wheeled out of hospital in an attractive neck brace, with an equally attractive smashed up cheekbone (I still have a tiny bit of road in my face!) I stayed with my parents as I needed help with most things.

While drinking through a straw and needing help putting on my shoes was a bummer, it was intensely amusing watching the look of panicked concentration on my dad’s face as he held my head steady whenever my mum had to change my neck brace.

It was also heartening to have friends and family visit, bring cakes and presents and generally show they care. So while it can feel confronting to have to depend on others, accept that this is necessary right now.

Get your binge on

Find a show to immerse yourself in to take your mind off the frustrations of a slow recovery. My accident took place in the BN era (Before Netflix) but DVD boxsets were certainly my drug of choice.

Light comedy is good – I devoured all of Arrested Development – but you might want to steer clear of anything too funny until your ribs heal.

The pandemic has probably also put you behind on some of the latest shows, so I’d recommend Bridgerton for a scandalising period romp, Lupin for a thrilling Sherlock Holmes-style drama in Paris, and Big Mouth for a side-splittingly hilarious look at puberty (if your ribs can handle it).

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And sleep. Did I mention sleep? It’s really good. Eat well, and allow yourself treats. This is a difficult time, but if you look after yourself you will come out of it on top.

Emily Day is deputy opinion editor at The Age.