A Successful Day with Brain Injury

First of all, thank you so much to each and all of you who read the last blog post. Your page views and support are much appreciated!

The other day I was thinking about when living with a brain injury, what helps me to be successful during the day? Thus, the inspiration for this blog post was born.  It's not a comprehensive or a compulsive list; they are not all things that need to be done every day.  Rather, it's things that when there is a need and I can do these things, it helps me to be successful. And while everybody's journey with brain injury is different, I expect that most of them would help others with brain injury to be successful, or anybody for that matter!

The night before I go to bed I like to and/or try to do the following:

• Quick and basic clean up of my bedroom and bathroom. This entails hanging up clothes, putting my makeup away in the drawer, etc.  I do this so that when I wake up I will see clean surroundings. When you live with a brain injury, clutter can quickly distract your brain; making it more difficult to focus on what needs to be done.
• Place anything I will need for the next day into my bag and place it by the door so that I will not forget it the next day.  

When I wake up in the morning I like to do the following:

• Simplify! My main goal is to get out the door on time to work as together as I can be. With a brain injury it becomes difficult to quickly process and respond to more than one thing at a time and as a result things can take more time and energy.  Some of the ways I simplify are:
• Eat school lunch. When I do not have to pack a lunch or remember to bring one, it makes my morning easier and more productive. 
• Keep extras of what I might need at work. For example, some mornings are just rough and I get behind. It happens! Since I need to leave on time for work, I keep items such as mascara, mini containers of cereal, etc. at work to use as needed. If I am checking emails, I can eat my cereal at the same time.

During the day I like to do the following:

• If I am going to run an errand to someplace new, directions are a must. My brain does not naturally retain remembering how to get from point a to point b. I need the added support. Also, if I get lost, I am more likely to get anxious, lost, etc. 
• Make a "to do" list in my phone. The "to do" list is different things. It may be a list of groceries that I need or a list of people I need to call when I get home. For me, putting a list in my phone is the best way to go because it's usually always on me and I don't have to worry about reading my handwriting! Also, when I am typing something and then looking at it, it is easier to remember.

If I am going out late I like to:

• I am a big believer in the "prep nap." This is for several reasons.  Due to the brain injury, I tend to get tired earlier than many people and once I am tired, I often fade quickly and I want to be in my own bed. Also, I do not do well staying awake in the evening if I am in a dark setting (movie theatre, concert, etc) My brain senses the darkness and it often lulls me to sleep. Also, if the activity is a guest speaker, a lecture I am more likely to nod off. A prep nap can be as short as 20 minutes but I have found that when body gets a chance to really rest I can function better and enjoy the evening much more. Granted, this is not an everyday day activity, just as needed!

What has worked for you in being successful during the day? Brain injury or not.... Questions and/or comments are welcome!