Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry for your reason for being here but you have found a good place.

The simplest way to describe rest as needed for a concussion is to do nothing that has an agenda, whether it is a time limit, productivity goal, trying to meet others expectations, etc. In the early stages, it literally means resting or napping.

A good schedule would be something like this.

Get up in the morning.

Take a shower or do whatever you do first thing after getting up. Do it without any time constraints.

Have a good breakfast. This should include good nutrition and supplements such as B vitamins, Omega 3's and all of the anti-oxidants.

Avoid caffeine. You do not need to have a chemical wake you up. Let your brain decide to wake up. Also avoid MSG and anything with processed soy. The glutamate is counter to brain healing.

Some very light reading or TV viewing like watching the weather report can be OK. Do not push this routine to 'feel normal.'

Maybe do some household chores. Nothing strenuous. Clean up the kitchen, etc. Get the hubby off to work and kids off to school with as little stress as possible.

Sit down and relax. Maybe play a few hands of Solitaire with a deck of playing cards. This should not be strenuous. Just some manual stimulation with some gentle visual stimulation. Again, no pressure. Just relax and go through the motions.

If at any point, you feel spacey or have trouble focusing with your eyes, stop and relax with your eyes closed. Maybe listen to some quiet music, with head phones or ear buds if possible. Keep the volume low.

If you feel like you are going to doze off, do it in a comfortable spot with good back and neck posture. Neck injuries are common with concussions.

When you feel up to it, get up and do some more simple tasks or activities. It is better to keep you hands busy that your brain. Simple manual activities are great therapy. Sewing, knitting, playing cards, polishing silver (no harsh smelling chemicals) anything with more manual involvement that mental. Your hands can not go fast enough to over-stimulate your brain, except if you try to play video games. Playing a musical instrument may be a good activity.

A low key walk can be OK but be sure to take short laps so you do not find yourself too far from home and needing to rest. Good resilient shoes are best to limit the jarring from planting your foot with each step.

Follow a similar routine with lunch and dinner/supper. Moderation in any and all activities. Family needs to be fully involved in keeping the chaos to a bare minimum. No loud music or TV's or video games blaring.

Healing is a marathon, not a sprint. The cognitive issues may take quite some time to get better. The head aches, too, but keeping stress low can help with the head aches for some PCS sufferers.

If you have a good day, be thankful and plan to lay low in hopes of having another good day. One good day does not mean a recovery. Sixty good days in a row may be a good sign of recovery but not an excuse to go overboard with activities.

Listen to you brain and body, if you don't feel up to an activity, don't do it. If you get any feeling of being spaced out, stop and rest for the rest of the day. Note what you were doing before the spacey feeling came on. It is likely one of many triggers of your PCS symptoms.

When you feel up to it, Download and print the TBI Survival Guide at www.tbiguide.com. When you have time, watch the "You Look Great" YouTube video series (six chapters). It will help if your family watches this series too. Show them the TBI Survival Guide with your symptoms highlighted.

The more people you get in your corner to help you and watch out for you, the better.

And, don't try to compare your PCS with others. There is no way to compare symptoms. Every person is different. Comparing just creates an opportunity for anxiety. Anxiety is your enemy. Rest and patience is your friend.

My best to you.
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Mark in Idaho