I’m Recycling Bubble Wrap to Improve My Life

I hate throwing anything out. If there might be a use for something, I keep hold of it. The other day I noticed a pile of bubble wrap which I’d been keeping hold of and I have the perfect project in mind for it. Most people like to recycle these days because it’s good for the environment. But I’m not just recycling the bubble wrap for environmental reasons. I’m hoping that it will improve the quality of my life.

I'm recycling bubble wrap to improve my life. Picture of a glass bowl with a plant growing inside it.

How can Recycling Bubble Wrap Improve my Life?

Who doesn’t like popping the bubbles on bubble wrap? It’s almost like stress relief therapy whether popping them slowly one by one or twisting and scrunching the plastic so they all burst together noisily. But I don’t intend on going on a bubble popping frenzy. I intend to put it to better use. If you’re anything like me, you might want to do the same.

Clumsy and Accident-prone

I am more than a wee bit clumsy and accident-prone. Sometimes, I think I must be the clumsiest person on the planet.

If there’s something to be stumbled over, I stumble over it and if there’s something to bump into, I am guaranteed to bump into it. I’ve even been known to trip over my own shadow at times.

I hate being so accident-prone. Perhaps it’s a side effect of the medication which makes me unsteady on my feet or perhaps I am just naturally clumsy. Whatever the reason, I nearly always have an array of colourful bruises in varying stages to show for my efforts.

Bubbles Not Bruises

After a recent accident, I decided that I need to be more proactive and find some form of protection and I think bubble wrap might just be the answer. Perhaps if I wrap myself in it from head to toe, I’d do less damage to myself. If I could get fewer bumps and bruises, the quality of my life would improve greatly.

Not Just Bumps and Bruises – Breaks too

My latest escapade involved a chest of drawers in my bedroom. Something got broken in the process and it wasn’t the chest of drawers.

I can’t blame the furniture because it’s been in the same position for about twelve years. It didn’t suddenly move or jump out in front of me. I misjudged the distance between the chest of drawers and myself, walked into it and gave myself quite a thump just above my hip. It was one of those eye-watering bumps which really took my breath away for a minute.

It only left a tiny mark, so there was no real harm done…or so I thought. But as the day went on, the right side of my rib cage was getting painful. I had given myself quite a jolt so I wasn’t really surprised that I was feeling more pain. But the rib pain worsened over the next few days. Coughing hurt, sneezing hurt, talking hurt, even breathing hurt.

The following week, I had to give in and go to see my doctor because the pain had become excruciating. He examined me, poked and prodded and I squealed ouch a few times. The doctor thinks that when I bumped into the unit, the jolt was enough to break my rib.

Broken Ribs

In years gone by, broken ribs were strapped up, but it was discovered that could cause more problems since it constricts breathing. Nothing helps broken ribs apart from time and painkillers. Therefore, I’ve been lazy and resting, resting, and resting some more. (Nothing new there, really.)

It’s now almost three weeks since I broke my rib. Sometimes, it feels like it’s improving. Then I sneeze, cough, hiccup or laugh and it feels as bad as ever. And trying to sleep at night, is still extremely painful.

It’s not the first time I’ve had a broken rib. Two weeks after my gallbladder was removed a couple of years ago, I was in a lot of pain so my GP sent me back to the hospital to be checked. When the hospital did some x-rays and scans to try to find the cause of the pain, the doctor discovered I had a broken rib. However, the x-ray also showed that I’d had multiple previous rib fractures.

I have osteoporosis which means my bones might break more easily, and it would seem that my ribs are particularly prone to breaking. I live with constant rib pain due to my scoliosis and it can often be extremely painful. But sometimes the pain has possibly been down to fractures and not just ‘my ribs are playing up’ kind of pain. It’s hard to know

Taking Preventative Measures

Anyway, after that last disaster, I realised that it’s time to start taking preventative measures.

Life is difficult enough as it is. I don’t need bumps, bruises and breaks on top of the pain I already live with.

I thought about just wrapping myself in a duvet all day. That did sound appealing especially at this time of year because it is so cold. I could happily hibernate until Springtime arrives.

Then as I was contemplating the thought of hibernation, I spotted the pile of bubble wrap in the corner of the room. Perfect, I thought. Absolutely perfect.

Wrap up With Bubble Wrap

I can now just wrap myself up with bubble wrap. My legs, arms and body will be completely protected. If I trip, I’ll have a soft landing. If I bump into something, I’ll bounce rather than bruise. I might hear some popping, but at least I’ll know it won’t be my bones.

Recycling Bubble Wrap Instead of Popping the Bubbles

At this time of year, you might be receiving packages you’ve bought to give as Christmas gifts. If there’s any bubble wrap amongst them, don’t throw it away. Don’t pop it either. Save it.

If you’re like me and you’re a wee bit clumsy and accident-prone, recycling that bubble wrap might improve your life too. Think bubbles instead of bumps, bruises and breaks.

We might even start a new fashion trend.

If you’re not like me (lucky you!), you could always donate any spare bubble wrap to the Despite Pain Bubble Wrap Campaign. I’m sure there are many others like me who could use it.

Well, are you like me? Are you forever getting bumps and bruises? Do you think it’s time to wrap up with bubble wrap? Why not leave me a comment below. And please do share this post on your social media pages.

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32 thoughts on “I’m Recycling Bubble Wrap to Improve My Life

  1. I am right there with you on recycling things – not just for the environment but because I live a frugal lifestyle. I am also chronically ill so I will keep all of your bubble wrap suggestions in my mind, thank you so much!

  2. Oh ouch! Are you sure that chest of drawers didn’t jump out at you?

    I’ve pulled my rib muscles before (never even knew that was possible) and cracked ribs from coughing when I had repeat chest infections the other year. It was beyond painful, couldn’t lie down properly. I have osteopenia, so not the same level of thinness as your osteoporosis, but as you say it makes you that bit more prone. I can only imagine what it’s like having broken a rib. Wrap several layers of that bubble wrap around yourself, Liz. Just make sure you do the top and bottom halves separately otherwise it’ll be like wearing a onesie when it comes to going for a wee!
    I hope it heals as quickly and as well as possible.

    If that chest of drawers attacks you again I would suggest making a police complaint ?
    Caz xx

    1. Oh, you gave me a giggle thinking about a bubble wrap onesie. Not good. Definitely wouldn’t be good lol. Onesies look so comfortable and cosy, but I’m always put off wearing them for that very reason.

  3. What a great sense of humor about something so awful to deal with. I’ve thought more than once about wrapping myself in bubble wrap or even buying one of those blow up sumo wrestler costumes! Between poor proprioception, joints that go out on me regularly and dysautonomia, I am a complete nightmare. I wear more of my water than I drink. I stumble around like a drunk, bounce off of walls and furniture and have fallen down the stairs so many times, I have nightmares and flashbacks. Anyway, you definitely aren’t alone in this struggle. I’m so lucky I don’t have osteoporosis and amazingly, I have never broken a bone. Lucky for us, we still have our sense of humor to get us through. Learning to laugh about these things is an art form we all need to master. Xx

  4. Kathy Forsyth

    I have to tell you how I use bubble wrap and it has helped me. I’m a klutz at heart and bruise very easily. I’ve also developed the unhappy issue of my skin tearing very easily on my forearms. Every time I reached under the kitchen sink for anything I’d bump my arm on the cabinet resulting in big purple bruises and skin tears. I took the small bubble wrap and taped it onto the cabinet edge with double sided tape. Now when I bump into it, no bruises or sin tears!!

  5. Kelly Martin

    Sorry to hear about your injury. Broken ribs are awfully painful I’ve heard. I love the idea of recycling bubble wrap. There’s so much packaging thrown out at this time of year.

  6. I shall resist the temptation of popping bubble wrap and re-use it as well. I already re-use a lot but never actually thought of how much bubble wrap gets thrown away.

  7. Lindsay Rae

    I was just talking with a coworker the other day about how cathartic popping bubble wrap is, but I think I like your idea better! I, too, am a very clumsy person and I think you’re really on to something here. “Bubble wrap, new measures in self-protection” it’s got a nice ring to it! Ha! Love it, great thinking my friend!

  8. I love this post so much! And yes, completely agree with you – being enveloped in bubblewrap does seem like the best solution at times. Here’s a question: small bubbles or large bubbles?

  9. Great idea! I always thought about taping bubble wrap around little kids when they start to learn how to walk because they fall all the time and sometimes can get badly injured.

  10. shelleyfirstlyyou

    Ah, poor you i feel your pain I did my ribs coughing with an asthma attack, I now have MS so also clumsy now too. A sense of humour is what keeps us going but defo hurts the cracked ribs!, love your post, Shelley x

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