It doesn’t matter if you were in a car accident, you were injured at work, or you sustained an injury somewhere else, you want to get back to normal as fast as possible. A quick recovery means returning to work and getting back to everyday life.

Unfortunately, your injury can only heal so fast. Many people make the mistake of pushing things a little too far a little too early and end up re-injuring themselves.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to speed things up! Here are five things you can do that will safely speed up the healing process after an injury.

Get Support

Getting support is one of the most important things you can do if you have been injured. That includes support from friends and family members who are able to help you while you’re recovering. They can provide you with companionship if you’re stuck on the couch, but they may also be able to run important errands for you, like getting groceries.

Getting the right support might also mean getting support from a qualified injury attorney. It never hurts to seek counsel, no matter how you were injured or where you were injured. They may be able to help you claim compensation that can help you recover after an injury, which is important if your injury has caused you to rack up steep medical bills.

Prioritize Sleep

Sleeping isn’t easy if you’re worried about how you’re going to make money. It isn’t easy if you worry about your recovery, and it isn’t easy if you are traumatized by your injury. However, it’s well worth your time to make sleep a priority after you are injured.

Getting quality sleep can speed up the healing process. Getting a good night’s sleep helps conserve your body’s energy, enabling it to use it for healing. It breaks up lactic acid in your muscles, and your body produces HGH while sleeping that helps your body build new tissue.

Although resting is good, it isn’t enough. Get a full night’s sleep and consider supplementing with a nap so you can take advantage of all the healing that takes place while you’re snoozing.

Stay as Active as Possible

When you’re injured, staying active is probably the last thing on your mind. It’s true that there are plenty of exercises you shouldn’t do because you could re-injure yourself, but that doesn’t mean you should camp on the couch until you’re completely healed!

There are plenty of exercises you can do when you’re injured that will help you ease back into regular movement, and exercising can help you sleep better at night too. For example, if you have a leg or foot injury, you can still lift weights. Going for short walks can be helpful if you experience back pain.

If you aren’t sure which exercises are right for your injury, consider consulting a personal trainer who can ensure you won’t re-injure yourself.

Eat Well

Eating well is important to your health, so it should come as no surprise that eating well is important while you’re recovering from an injury too. A general rule would be to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, but there are some foods that can boost the healing process more than others. They include:

  • Power greens, like kale and spinach that contain iodine, calcium, and other nutrients, can raise energy levels and boost brain functioning.
  • Ginger, especially prepared as a tea, can help with an upset stomach.
  • Mushrooms may be able to slow tumor growth, and they have the potential to prolong the life of cancer patients.
  • Calcium-rich foods, like dairy products, can help you heal broken bones.

Follow Your Doctor’s Orders

It’s also important to follow your doctor’s orders. That might mean eating certain foods or doing certain exercises, but it also includes taking medications, attending all of your appointments, and resting parts of your body that require rest.

It may also include attending physical therapy sessions. Make sure you follow the guidance of your physical therapist and go to all of your appointments. Physical therapy from a qualified therapist can help you regain movement and get back to normal faster than if you skipped physical therapy altogether.

Healing from an injury takes time, but that doesn’t mean you have to let your injury set the pace for your recovery. With just a few tweaks to your daily routine, you can boost the healing power in your body and get back to your life as fast as possible.