BRAIN INJURY 101: Establish a Routine
These days of quarantine seem to languish on. Can you feel it? One day slipping into the next. And if you are out of work, or don’t have children to school, you may not even know what day it is. Perhaps, it’s like the movie “Groundhog Day”. Your days become an endless repetition, as you struggle some mornings to even make it out of bed. You don’t have a routine, so you need to establish one. (Preaching to myself!)
A Routine – or lack thereof
After my spinal cord injury and prior to my secondary diagnosis of the mild TBI, my physical therapist was adamant I keep a daily routine. Wake up the every day at the same time, getting out of bed immediately, make my bed. Before my injury, I worked outside the home, so I had a schedule and a fairly good morning routine. And now, well (confession time), I’ve fallen into old habits. I’ve not made my daily routine urgent enough to get up once the alarm goes off.
They say opposites attract. This is true for me. My husband is a morning person. He often times rises as early as 4:00 am and he’s in bed early also. AND, he wakes up HAPPY! I’m the opposite. I tend to be the night owl. And although I love the thought of early mornings, I struggle to get out of bed. Mornings and I don’t get along.
The greatness of meeting the sunrise
However, those rare days I do happen to meet the sunrise, making it to the kitchen to grab coffee and sit on the deck, it makes my soul sing. I can sing with the Psalmist, “But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, (emphasis mine) for You have been my stronghold and refuge in the day.” Psalm 59:16 NASB
How about you, dear friend? Do you struggle to keep a routine? I’ve attached a link to an article I found on the importance of a daily routine foe TBI survivors: https://www.lapublishing.com/blog/2011/brain-injury-blog-routines/.
Will you join me?
I truly hope this article helps anyone struggling with routines during this time of quarantine. Or for that fact, anytime. In the meantime, will you join me in singing of the LORD’s lovingkindness each morning? It’s amazing how it helps. Taking our eyes off ourselves to place them on the One who created us and walks with us daily (should we ask Him) can help us to start our day with a positive note.
Oh Pam, I can relate to so much of this, although I haven’t experienced a TBI. I’m a night owl and my husband is an early bird also. When I retired, I looked forward to sleeping in and relaxing, HA! Our morning routine is to go for a 2-mile morning walk together before he goes to work. He’s up and having coffee shortly after 5am, but I sleep until 5:45 so we can be out the door promptly at 6am (retired military husband, lol). I love how it starts my day and the time we have together so it’s worth it! BUT, I pull what I call the “Lazy Elaine Card” when I just need a break or haven’t slept well. He used to pressure me, but now he knows I only use it when I really need it, and just goes out on his own or walks with me later. This morning routine has been so good for both of us!