Now that the packing has been completed I plan on spending the rest of the week making sure to not overdo things physically and to rest.

We were already told that our Galactic Starcruiser would be full of lots of activities and to be well-rested before the trip. I am also starting to do some more research about what I need to do to heal my tennis elbow.

Turns out I may have been doing it all wrong from the beginning, instead of wearing my compression bands all the time like I have been doing I should only wear them when I will be doing strenuous activity. Wearing them too much apparently does more harm than good.

I also need to get better at the RICE method. (From WEB MD)

• Step 1: Rest. Pain is your body’s signal that something is wrong. As soon as you’re hurt, stop your activity, and rest as much as possible for the first 2 days. Don’t try to follow the “no pain, no gain” philosophy. Doing so with certain injuries, like a moderate to severe ankle sprain, can make the damage worse and delay your recovery.
• Step 2: Ice. Ice is a tried-and-true tool for reducing pain and swelling. Apply an ice pack (covered with a light, absorbent towel to help prevent frostbite) for 15-20 minutes every two to three hours during the first 24 to 48 hours after your injury.
• Step 3: Compression. This means wrapping the injured area to prevent swelling. Wrap the affected area with an elastic medical bandage (like an ACE bandage). You want it to be snug but not too tight — if it’s too tight, it’ll interrupt blood flow.
• Step 4: Elevation. This means raising the sore body part above the level of your heart. Doing so reduces pain, throbbing, and swelling. It’s not as tricky to do as you might think. For example, if you have an ankle sprain, you can prop your leg up on pillows while sitting on the sofa. The CDC recommends you keep the injured area raised whenever possible, even when you’re not icing it.

I know that something like Tennis Elbow is notoriously difficult and time-consuming to heal so in the end I just need to be more mindful that I am not overworking my arms, and avoid heavy lifting and repetitive motions.

And finally I need to be patient with myself and not get frustrated.