Patients may believe that brain rest is only effective if they avoid all activities—for example, lying in a dark room doing nothing—but research suggests that engaging in minimal to moderate cognitive activity post-concussion may be acceptable.1Brown NJ, Mannix RC, O'Brien MJ, Gostine D, Collins MW, Meehan WP 3rd. Effect of cognitive activity level on duration of post-concussion symptoms. Pediatrics. 2014 Jan 6. Patients are encouraged to take note of how they feel before, during, and after cognitive activities, and to adjust their behavior accordingly.
See Concussion Treatment and Recovery
Health care providers can also guide patients regarding the need to reduce workloads and avoid mentally taxing activities.
Reduce Post-Concussion Workloads
Maintaining minimal to moderate cognitive activity can still be challenging for busy people. Cutting back on work and chores and simplifying tasks can help.
Stay home. Taking time away from work or family obligations may be hard, but it is necessary in order to attain brain rest. After a few days of complete brain rest, if symptoms are diminished, people who have experienced concussions can often return to work. If patients are not sure when a return to work is appropriate, they are encouraged to consult their physician.
Complete one task at a time. This approach helps minimize distractions and reduces the stress of concentrating on too many things at once.
Limit household chores. The physical and cognitive demands of maintaining a household can strain a recovering concussion patient. If possible, more physically involved housework, bill paying, and other chores should be undertaken by others or postponed until recovery is well underway.
See Factors Affecting Concussion Recovery
Health care providers can provide information to help patients communicate with bosses and family about the prescribed rest.
See How to Prepare for an Appointment with a Concussion Specialist
In This Article:
- Brain Rest and Concussion Recovery
- Getting Brain Rest After a Concussion
- Resuming Daily Life After a Concussion
Avoid Mentally Taxing Activities
Even activities that are not labeled as “work” can still demand a lot of cognitive energy. People with concussions are advised to limit or avoid:
Participating in activities for which reaction time is important. Driving, bike riding, operating heavy machinery, playing many sports, and similar activities may put the patient or others in danger.
Making important decisions. Decisions about finances, personal or professional relationships, and other large decisions should be shared with trusted friends or family or delayed until the patient is further along in recovery.
Relying heavily on short-term memory. Memory and recall may be affected by a concussion and may not improve until the late stages of recovery. People recovering from concussions are encouraged to write down anything that is difficult to remember and refer to their notes as needed rather than struggle to retain information.
See Risks of Inadequate Concussion Recovery Time
Eliminating as many mentally taxing activities as possible during concussion recovery can help reduce recovery times. While it may not be feasible for patients to postpone everything until recovery is complete, asking friends, family, and coworkers for help can help reduce mental stressors.
Relax and Rest
Reducing physical and mental workloads can also make it easier for patients to get the needed amount of physical rest during recovery.
Sleep. Keeping a regular sleep schedule is important to the recovery process. A regular sleep schedule requires good sleep hygiene practices, such as avoiding caffeine and snacks before sleep, keeping the room dark, and sticking to a bedtime routine. Nighttime sleep may be supplemented with short daytime naps, if needed.
Limit physical activities. Sports, exercise, and other activities should be reduced. Minimizing physical activity helps prevent aggravating physical and mental symptoms. It also helps protect against additional injury.
No non-prescribed drugs or alcohol. Drugs and alcohol are known to slow neural recovery and impair judgment. Patients with concussion would be advised to avoid such substances. Patients should consider checking with their health care provider before resuming alcohol use.
Reducing workloads, avoiding physically and mentally taxing activities, and getting enough rest all contribute to concussion recovery. Resuming normal daily life is a gradual process.
- 1 Brown NJ, Mannix RC, O'Brien MJ, Gostine D, Collins MW, Meehan WP 3rd. Effect of cognitive activity level on duration of post-concussion symptoms. Pediatrics. 2014 Jan 6.
