Strategies (top)
• Know your attention limitations and take a break when necessary
• Set your watch or timer to remind yourself to rest
• Determine the times of day when you are most attentive and have the most
energy – complete the most demanding tasks during this time
• Be sure to get enough sleep on a consistent
basis as fatigue will further reduce
attention capabilities
• Use headphones or earplugs in a noisy environment to reduce distractions
• Arrange your work environment to minimize visual distractions
• Take rest periods when changing tasks
enabling time to adjust to something
new
Write things down immediately (carry pads, post-it notes, day
planners
with you at all times)
• Call yourself and leave a message if you are out of the office or house
• Use electronic devices (pages, telephone
dialers-preprogrammed numbers, voice
activated telephone dialing,
calculators, tape recorders, key finders, answering
machines, laptop
computers, car finders)
• Rehearse information
• Keep items in the same place such as keys, purse, wallet, etc.
• Take time while reading, if necessary read
things more than one. Print
information off of the computer to read
• Slow down when reading, writing and speaking
– this will help while processing
the information.
• Ask people to talk slower or ask them to
repeat what they’ve said – this will help
give you time to process
what is being said
• Wear helmet when bicycle riding, skiing, snowboarding, etc
• Wear seatbelts while riding in a moving vehicle
• Get regular medical check-ups
• Use protective equipment when playing sports
• Seek medical attention after any type of head injury
• Make a list, prioritize and check things off as
you get them done. Write out goals
for the day, week, and month –
include work, home and school
• Review your list from time to time. Is everything on that list necessary?
• Ask yourself, “What is the best use of my time right now”? Then do it!
• Be willing to sacrifice “perfection” to get things done
• Learn to say “NO” to demands that don’t benefit YOU
• Whenever possible, delegate!!!
• Don’t waste time on minor decisions
• Arrange your work time to keep interruptions to a minimum
• Be realistic about what you can accomplish during a given period
• When is your energy at its peak? Plan your work
for those times and use your
less energetic times for leisure or a nap
Things That Make Life Easier (top)
• Personal Trainer
• Personal Shopper
• Maid
• Someone to drive
• Earplugs
• Quiet Workspace
• Support Groups
• Daily Planner
• Giving Yourself A Break
• Taking Notes
• Memory Games
Consequences of Brain Injuries (top)
Physical Consequences
• Seizures
• Difficulty in walking and balance problems
• Muscle weakness or stiffness
• Speech, hearing or visual impairments
• Headaches, migraines and pain
• Fatigue and increased need for sleep
Cognitive deficits
• Short and long term memory loss
• Slowed ability to process information
• Attention and concentration problems
• Spatial disorientation
• Difficulties in:
• Following directions, planning and organizing
• Communicating, reading and writing
• Learning and remembering
Emotional and behavioral difficulties
• Self-centeredness and lowered self-esteem
• Lack of energy, restlessness or irritability
• Decreased motivation and difficulty sleeping
• Mood swings, periods of laughing or crying
• Inappropriate behavior
