Looking for fun things to do while in a cast? From audiobooks and game nights to creative projects and visits with friends, these ten ideas can help you beat boredom while following your care team’s instructions.
Of course, knowing you need to slow down doesn’t make sitting still any more fun. Whether you’re wearing an arm cast or a leg cast, here are ten ways to give yourself something to look forward to.
Before you start: Follow your care team’s restrictions on movement and weight-bearing. Keep your cast dry, and choose activities that don’t require using your injured limb against medical advice. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ cast-care guide explains the basics.
1. Give Movie Night a Theme
Turn “watching something” into an occasion. Pick a favorite actor, revisit childhood classics, or let each person choose a comedy. Friends can join from their own couches and compare favorite scenes afterward.
Set up your remote, phone, and snacks within easy reach before pressing play.
Rough cast surfaces catching on your blanket? Sleeperz! soft arm cast covers and Sleeperz! soft leg cast covers are options to explore for lounging and bedtime. Follow your care team’s instructions about covering your cast.
Settle in for movie night with a soft Sleeperz! arm cast cover, designed to help protect against cast scratches and snags. AI-generated model and scene; product design based on a real CastCoverz! photo.
2. Find Your Next Favorite Audiobook or Podcast
An audiobook is especially handy when an arm or wrist cast makes holding a book awkward. Try a mystery, a funny memoir, or a story you’ve always meant to read.
Podcasts can keep you company, too. Choose an interview, a history series, or a topic you know absolutely nothing about. Your local library may offer digital borrowing options.
3. Bring Game Night to Your Favorite Chair
Invite a few people over for trivia, word games, or a round of “Would You Rather?”
Wearing an arm cast? Pick a game where you can answer aloud, or team up with someone who can handle cards and pieces.
Wearing a leg cast? Ask someone to arrange the game around your seated setup, with room to position your leg as instructed.
4. Try a Creative Project You Can Pause
Make a digital photo collage, dictate a short story, or design a birthday invitation. If your restrictions allow it, drawing or coloring can be another way to pass an afternoon.
Choose something that fits your current abilities. A project you can enjoy for fifteen minutes and return to tomorrow is plenty.
For children, let them choose the theme while an adult handles any tricky setup.
5. Learn Something Just for Fun
You don’t need to master a new skill during recovery. Following your curiosity is enough.
Take a virtual museum tour, learn a few phrases in another language, or watch a short lesson about astronomy, photography, or movie special effects.
If an arm cast limits hands-on hobbies, look for activities you can enjoy by listening or watching.
6. Schedule a Little Company
“Let me know if you need anything” can be hard to answer. Try making a specific invitation instead: “Would you come over for lunch on Thursday?”
A short visit, video coffee date, or regular phone call gives you something to anticipate. Let friends know what would help, whether that’s bringing food, setting up a game, or keeping the visit brief.
7. Plan a Short Outing, If Your Care Team Approves
Want to get out of the house? A quiet café, movie theater, or library event might work, depending on your restrictions.
Before leaving, check parking, step-free access, seating, and restrooms. Arrange transportation or help if needed, and give yourself permission to head home early.
An outing doesn’t have to fill the afternoon to feel worthwhile.
8. Make a Playlist With Your Friends
Ask everyone to send a song that makes them smile. Build a playlist from their suggestions, then challenge them to guess who chose each track.
You could also create a relaxing evening mix, revisit the music you loved growing up, or listen to an entire album without doing anything else.
Sometimes the simplest plans are the best ones.
9. Give Your Cast a Look That Feels Like You
A little company can brighten your day. Enjoy coffee and conversation while showing your style in a red-and-white polka-dot Legz! cast cover. AI-generated models and scene; product design based on a real CastCoverz! photo.
Your cast may be part of your outfit for a while. A favorite color or playful print can make it feel a little more personal.
Armz! arm cast covers and Legz! leg cast covers combine style with everyday function: they help keep casts clean and protect clothing and furniture from snags and scratches.
Choose a print together, coordinate it with an outfit, or pick a subtle solid. Check each product’s sizing instructions before ordering.
Important: Legz! covers are for non-weight-bearing use and must not be walked on. Everyday fabric covers do not provide waterproof protection.
10. Make Two Lists: “Now” and “Later”
On your “now” list, add small pleasures you can enjoy within your restrictions: a new audiobook, a visit from a friend, or a favorite takeout meal.
On your “later” list, collect things you’d like to do once your care team clears you.
There’s no deadline and no pressure to be productive. These are possibilities to look forward to, one day at a time.
Common Questions About Keeping Busy in a Cast
What can you do for fun with a broken arm?
Try activities that don’t depend on your injured arm, such as audiobooks, podcasts, spoken trivia, movies, and conversations with friends. Follow your care team’s instructions about using your hand, wrist, and arm.
How do you stay entertained with a leg cast?
Bring activities to a comfortable seated setup: games, virtual tours, photo projects, and video calls are good starting points. Keep your leg positioned as instructed, and get medical clearance before planning outings.
Can you decorate a cast without painting it?
A removable fabric cast cover is one way to change its appearance without applying paint or glue directly to it. Ask your care team when covering your cast is appropriate, then choose a cover designed for your cast type and intended use.
Thinking about a beach outing? Before you go, read our tips for keeping sand out of your cast or walking boot, and check with your care team about whether the trip fits your activity restrictions.
Find a Cast Cover for Your Everyday Routine
From movie nights to visits with friends, the right cover can add personality while helping protect the things your cast rubs against.
Explore Armz! arm cast covers or Legz! leg cast covers to find your style. Looking for a softer option for downtime? Browse Sleeperz! for arms or Sleeperz! for legs.
Not sure which to choose? Call 1-800-227-8268 for help selecting a CastCoverz! product and size.
What helped you beat boredom while wearing a cast? Share your favorite family-friendly idea in the comments!
This was a great experience from the very start. Nice to call a business and have someone actually answer the phone, instead of an automated system. Customer service was especially nice. We were guided with perfect directions on how to submit our order, which made our experience easier.
Having foot surgery, stuck in a surgical shoe for 5 weeks, the CastCovers really lifted my wife’s spirit. In the end, they fit like a glove……….Ok actually like a sock 🙂 Thank you for this product
Thank you and you’re clever, too! 🙂 We’re glad our products and our service helped your wife feel better, so she could heal better.
What are these cast coverz? I just had ankle surgery on Feb. 4th and right now I’m in a splint and in a week or 2 I will be in a cast. So what are these Cast coverz and how much?
Hello, Sarah!
So sorry you had ankle surgery but I’m glad you found us! CastCoverz! products cover braces, splints, casts and boots. Our collections also include designer colored crutches, crutch accessories and slings! We have daily wear, WEATHERproof, WATERproof and comfort products, too! Here is our website to help you http://www.castcoverz.com You’ll want to look at the “Legs, Knees, Ankle” tab at the top part of the site. https://www.castcoverz.com/fashion-covers-leg-casts/ Real friendly people answer our phones (in California), too! 1(800)CASTCOVER 1-800-227-8268.
I hope I was helpful! Keep that leg elevated!
I broke my groth plate in my ankle im in a cast 6 weeks walking with cruchers 6 weeks and no activity until july 1
Breaks on or near growth plates need extra special attention. Be a GOOD patient and rest while you’re healing. That way you’ll minimize long-term damage. July 1st may seem like a long ways away, but it WILL make a good story one day! We promise! 🙂
What about if you want to get out of the house.
Hi, Sophie! You are luckier than housebound patients, that’s for sure! Not knowing if you’re in a boot, cast, crutches or scooter, I can’t help you specifically, but we have lots of helpful blog posts. Keep that leg elevated!
Go Kayaking
Amy, we wouldn’t recommend kayaking. 🙂
Hey I’m on crutches and I want to get out of the house with out tiring my self out. Any suggestions?
Hey, Chloe! We’re sorry you’re on crutches, but we’re glad you asked the question! We have 2 suggestions for you:
1. plan only short trips! Being on crutches is exhausting and your body is trying to heal.
2. surrender to the fact that you will be tired. That’s because your body is healing and that takes a lot of energy.
Big Hugz!
Hi yesterday 4/1/17 I was playing softball I’m 12 years old and I was being the catcher when the girl from third base was coming in to home and we collided and then I yelled” I broke my leg” and there was bone sticking out but not out of the skin they called 911 and that was the first time ever that I had broke a foot or be on crutches or be in an ambulance truck but they took me to the hospital and I was in there for 6 hrs I have a splint on and I use crutches but I have keeper me foot elevated and only got on my crutches when I need to go to the restroom but I’m bored of watching tv and coloring and all of that stuff I might decorate my crutches should I do that?
Katelyn, we are SO sorry you broke your leg! But we are delighted with your super healing powers! Most people are in too much pain for a few days to be bored. 🙂 And you’re bored in a day! WOW! Definitely decorate your crutches! You can purchase decorative tape at Target, your local hardware or office supply store! Hot glue (BE CAREFUL!) jewels, beads, to your crutches. Wrap your crutches with ribbon. Go for it! Our Pinterest page has lots of cool ideas. Check out this board, specifically … https://www.pinterest.com/castcoverz/decorate-your-cast-boot-or-crutches/ If you want to get super creative with felt pens, consider our autographical crutches (WAY COOL!): https://www.castcoverz.com/designer-color-crutches-autographical-white/
In a few days your crutches are going to hurt your hands and under your arms, check out our cool but comfortable designs for crutch covers here https://www.castcoverz.com/standard-crutchwear-print-fabrics/
In the meantime, keep your leg elevated!!
Big Hugz!
All of us at CastCoverz!
I want to have fun and you helped me but I want to get out of the house and cruches are to hard
We get that, Gretchen! We’re glad we helped. Just remember, for awhile your new normal is recovering and healing. Soon you’ll be out of the house and you’ll be a pro on those crutches. Big Hugz!
This is dumb
Hi! Sorry you think this is dumb. We have a philosophy we live by at CastCoverz!, don’t go to someone with a complaint unless you have 3 solutions, too. So we’ll ask you the question, “What 3 things do YOU recommend for someone to do while in a cast, boot or on crutches?” I’ll bet you can really help people!
Big Hugz!
I fell in rain and broke my ankle Friday and was still walking just hurtt ! Nothing to do I’m bored
Hi, Lacie! We sure hope you saw a doctor! Perhaps you just sprained it, because most people can’t walk on a broken ankle. Plus, if you broke it just Friday, odds are you’d be in too much pain to be bored. 🙂 Funny, we’ve had similar replies. Our advice? Go see a doctor! In the meantime, sprain or break, keep that leg elevated!
Big Hugz!
You could read!!!
Just had surgery on my knee cause the 9 inch angle grinder decided my leg looked tasty. Definitely doing some of these while stuck in bed for the next 6 weeks
Josh!
We are SO sorry about your accident. But, we’re glad you searched us out and we could help you with some ideas while you recuperate!
Keep that leg elevated!
The CastCoverz! Care Team