It came up in conversation recently when I was asked what I now do with my days because I am no longer working full time. I was taken aback because I feel very much like I am always working. I end each day more tired than before my brain surgery and that is still functioning at about 30% of what I used to do on a daily basis. This functioning has improved over the past seven months, but I have hit the limits of physical healing and we are now into functional healing, or relearning things.
I have completed, on the advice of my speech pathologist, aids and schedule plans to help with my day and rest periods. These may be beneficial others who struggle with cognitive damage; PTSD, TBI, and even my "watch and wait" friends who are living with brain tumors.
I have a basic schedule then make adjustments depending on what I need to accomplish; phone calls to specialists, appointments, documentation required by services. Included in my schedule are basic household tasks, in addition to reminders for rehab and meals. If it's not on the schedule it may not happen. Heck, if it is on the schedule it may not happen. As J reminds me, "Set your schedule in Jell-O. Be flexible to your needs."
Begin by categorizing your daily events. What fills your bucket vs. what empties your bucket. Then identify what is fun and what is responsibility. I have been cautioned that without enough fun, you will begin to withdrawal and may become depressed, losing motivation to heal. The color code we use is just one way of categorizing events; think along the lines of a traffic light. All green activities are rest periods. These activities soothe and help my mind heal.
Minimal Activity/ Stimulation
Does not cause rapid cognitive fatigue GREEN
- Washing laundry
- Folding clothes
- Eating F
- Walking
- Playing with the dog
- Crochet F
- Reading to boys
- Dusting furniture
Doable but challenging, leads to overload GREEN to YELLOW
- Riding in the car
- Sorting laundry
- Listening to music F
- Watching TV/movies F
- Any outing including rehab or therapy
- Making beds
- Meal planning
- Cooking F
Rapid overload, frustrating, not do-able RED
- Emotional phone calls
- Driving
- Loud/lots of talking
- Long shopping trips with boys
- Listening to arguing/snapping
F= Reward activities
Below is a sample of my daily schedule as it stands right now. Keep in mind that this has been adjusted over the past seven months. What I can do now, is much more than what I used to be able to do.
Cognitive Function Weekly Schedule
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Day
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Sunday
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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Saturday
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Morning
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7 Breakfast
Rest
9 Church or rest
|
7 Breakfast
Rest
PT/OT
Cleanup
10 Shopping
Rest
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7 Breakfast
Rest
PT/OT
Cleanup
Rest
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7
Breakfast
Rest
PT/OT
Cleanup
10
Appt.
Rest
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7 Breakfast
Rest
PT/OT
Cleanup
10
Park
Rest
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7 Breakfast
Rest
PT/OT
Cleanup
10 Finances
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8 Breakfast
Rest
9 PT/OT
Rest
10 Chores
Rest
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Afternoon
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12 Lunch
2 Rest/nap
Dinner prep
Rest
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12 Lunch
Rest
2 Early day
School time
Rest
Dinner prep
Rest
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12 Lunch
Rest
Play/rest
School time
Rest
Dinner prep
Rest
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12 Lunch
Rest
Play/rest
School
time
Rest
Dinner prep
Rest
|
12 Lunch
Rest
Play/rest
School time
Rest
Dinner prep
Rest
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12 Lunch
Rest
Play/rest
School time
Rest
Dinner prep
Rest
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12 Lunch
Rest
2 Outing
Rest/nap
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Evening
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5 Dinner
Clean up
Rest
7 Movie
Bedtime
10 Mom Bed
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Play time
6 Dinner
Clean up
Rest
7 FHE
Kid Bedtime
10 Mom bed
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Play time
6 Dinner
Clean up
Rest
7 Art
Kid Bedtime
10 Mom Bed
|
Play time
6 Dinner
Clean up
Rest
7 Reading time
Kid Bedtime
10 Mom Bed
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Play time
6 Dinner
Clean up
Rest
7 Sewing
Kid Bedtime
10 Mom Bed
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Play time
6 Dinner
Clean up
Rest
7 Game night
11 Mom Bed
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5 Dinner prep
6 Dinner
Rest
Menu Planning
Bath time
11 Mom bed
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I hope this can help. God bless.
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