McClatchy-Tribune

So, you're sick at home ... again. The DVDs are all boring, you've paged through People magazine at least three times this hour and you're just going crazy trying to figure out what to do with yourself. Don't fret, there's plenty to do without risking overexertion or, worse yet, contaminating your workplace, the grocery store or your favorite coffee shop with your germs.

If you're feelin' fine (most of the time)

You're too germy to head back to work, but your energy is on the rise and you can't stand the thought of lying in bed one more second. Be careful to choose activities that are pretty low-key. Even if you feel better, chances are you're still recovering.

Try these low-energy, high-brainpower activities until you're back at full strength.

DVD scavenger hunt: Find out what you have and get them organized. Then, make a list of all the movies you want to rent and another for the ones you want to buy -- then find the best places to get them.

Clean out the closets: Go through all the closets, cabinets and desk drawers you can handle and make four piles -- things to keep, things to store away, things to trash and things to donate.

Research soup recipes: Dig out your favorite cookbook or use Web sites such as www.epicurious.com or www.cooks.com to find the perfect recipe for dinner. When you start cooking, be careful to wash your hands a lot and keep the sneezing to a minimum -- especially if you're sharing your soup with the family.

Quality time with the pets: Take advantage of the time at home to spend some cuddle time with Fluffy and Spot. They love you even with your nose dripping.

Get a head start on taxes: Start sifting through those folders of documents (or piles of receipts) and gather everything you'll need to file for 2008 -- April 15 will be here before you know it.

Don't want to get outta bed

You're too sickly to move, but your brain waves aren't quite at a standstill. It's important to look after yourself, but just because you want to keep movement to a minimum and your brain's a little fuzzy doesn't mean you're required to watch reruns of "The Golden Girls."

Try these super low-energy activities that require only as much mental effort as you're willing to expend until you want to get up and stretch those legs.

Organize photo albums: Sit in bed, surround yourself with old pictures and finally get them in some kind of order. Whether it be sorting them into shoe boxes, creating albums or converting them to digital, you'll be glad you did it.

Learn something new (or work on a hobby you've been putting off): Try knitting, cross-stitching or getting familiar with a new computer program. There are plenty of books and Web sites to help you get started.

Catch up on thank-you notes/letters/e-mails: Sick days are perfect for getting in touch with those friends you've been meaning to contact. You can finally find out who got married, the names of your college roommates' kids and if your grandparents really do know how to use e-mail.

Get into a new TV show: Nothing's more therapeutic than 38 consecutive episodes of "24." Just be careful -- it's addictive, and you might have to keep watching once you're healthy.

Start a blog: Use a site such as www.blogger.com (run by Google) to get started, then you can write about whatever you want. It's like a book you never have to finish!

Don't even feel like cracking the eyelids

Sometimes you're just too ill to move. Even so, it's no fun being alone and bored.

Try these extremely low-energy activities that won't require a whole lot of thinking until you're up to crossword puzzles and the Discovery Channel.

Audio book: Reading's no fun when you've got a headache, and you're too old to be read to -- or are you? Listening to an audio book is the perfect compromise. If you don't have one lying around, you can download one from iTunes or www.audible.com.

Imaginate a movie: Even if you can't watch anymore, leave the movie on, listen to the dialogue and visualize what might be happening on-screen. But no one will care if you doze off, honest.

Get pampered/spa day: It may not seem like it, but being sick is the perfect time to just sit back and take it easy. Find a loved one to bring you ginger ale and crackers. If everyone's working, put on some Vicks VapoRub and take a soothing hot bath while you listen to some tunes.

Get into some new music: If you're tired of the same old, same old, check out Web sites such as www.pandora.com and www.last.fm. Those sites and others will create playlists of new music to listen to based on the stuff you already like.

Think about the future: Make a mental list of dreams or goals -- you never know what crazy ideas that cold medicine will put into your head.

For the little ones

It's tough being home sick, but it's even tougher when the kids aren't well, either.

Try some of these kid-friendly ideas to entertain the ankle biters so you can get some rest, too.

Sticker books: When they're too sick to write or even color, stickers are perfect. Minimal energy is required, but the creativity can flow at will. All you need is a roll of stickers and some construction paper.

Play with the computer: Older tykes will have a ball sitting down with Mom or Dad and learning how to use the computer and some kid-friendly sites. Try www.disney.com, www.nickelodeon.com or www.kid-sites.com. Just be sure to disinfect the mouse and keyboard when you're done.

Write a book: They've read "Hop on Pop" and "Goodnight Moon" about a dozen times, and those books have outlived their usefulness, at least for today. Rebut the kids' complaints by suggesting they write (and illustrate!) their own books and take turns reading them aloud. Then you get your much-needed rest, too.

Discover what they want to be when they grow up: Talk about possible jobs and careers, and draw pictures or write stories about why that's the perfect job.

Find it, make it, do it: Go through closets and finally do some of those crafts, play some of those games or test some of those recipes that have been gathering dust since Jimmy's or Sally's last birthday.

Mini spa day: Sometimes all it takes to get better is a little TLC from Mom and Dad. Help the little ones take a bath, paint their nails, brush and style their hair, or apply Vaseline to those red, rough noses.

Invent the next best thing: Flying cars? Brussels sprouts that taste good? Get everyone who's at home (including yourself) to draw a picture or write about the inventions of the future. Then look into patents.