Choose a box for ideas that fit your situation. This is not a diagnostic test. Nothing is saved.

• Look at a favourite picture, object or view.
• Revisit a familiar story or programme if the input suits you.
• Enjoy a collection, special interest or memory without explaining it.
• Listen to a little music or audio only if comfortable.

Quiet does not automatically mean low effort. Sound, screens and concentration can still be demanding.

• Choose colours or materials without starting a project.
• Doodle, arrange pictures or make a few stitches if comfortable.
• Adapt a craft with easy-grip tools, supported arms or someone preparing materials.
• Use what you have, reuse materials or try a simple repair if it appeals.

Respect different skills and capacities. Homemade is an option, not an obligation. Avoid materials, scents or tools that cause problems for you.

Try a familiar puzzle, a turn-based game, sorting a collection or exploring a topic you love. Repetition can be enjoyable; novelty is optional.

Choose adjustable sound and brightness, clear rules, pause points and manageable complexity. Games do not need to be competitive. Screens can be useful tools as well as sources of input.

Enjoy a view, watch wildlife, notice a plant or spend time near a familiar animal if that suits you. A window view can be more accessible than an outing.

Consider heat, pollen, fragrances, noise and access. Nature is not automatically calming or comfortable for everyone. Caring for plants or animals also brings tasks; help can make participation possible.

Try quiet company, one shared joke, a short message or an activity alongside someone without needing conversation.

Agree that stopping, leaving or not replying is allowed. Sharing enjoyment should not require masking discomfort, forced humour or being cheerful for others.

Reading, gaming, crafting, conversation and outings can all use energy. With ME/CFS, enjoyable activities can still trigger post-exertional malaise (PEM). Symptoms may worsen later, so how an activity feels at the time is not the whole picture.

Fit enjoyment within your individual energy plan. Consider setup, travel, input, clean-up and recovery as well as the activity itself. There is no requirement to add activity or increase duration.

For severe illness, even suggested small activities may be too much. Comfort, quiet and appropriate care can be the priority.

• Keep a small activity box with familiar materials.
• Ask someone to help with setup and put-away.
• Choose an activity you can pause without losing progress.
• Use an optional reminder or agreed check-in if it helps you stop.

An unfinished activity can stay unfinished. You do not have to turn every interest into a project, income or achievement.

Exhaustion, grief, illness, distress and limited access can make enjoyment difficult. Do not add pressure to have fun. Start with comfort, company or practical help if that fits better.

If loss of interest or pleasure persists, or you feel increasingly hopeless, talk with a GP or trusted professional. Play ideas do not replace care or fix inaccessible circumstances.

Sources support general wellbeing, adaptations and energy management. The play examples are practical suggestions, not claims that play treats all six domains.