Ways of quietly resting
 

Hi everyone,

I looked for a thread like this but couldn't find one, and figured it might be useful. Quiet rest is touted around here as the best medicine for recovery, but with lots of anxiety for many of us, doing absolutely nothing is tough. What are people's strategies for quiet rest? Any particular activities that you find useful in occupying the mind just enough from getting too anxious, but not overworking it?

Manual tasks and activities are likely the best way to occupy a PCS mind without over-stimulating it. The hands can not work faster that a struggling mind can tolerate. Things like knitting, playing solitaire with real cards, practicing a musical instrument (not drums), and a variety of hand crafts give the brain quiet stimulation.

I'm sure there are plenty of activities others have used to occupy their minds safely.

I went on a baking binge when I first got my concussion. It was the only thing I enjoyed doing. Avoid complicated recipes with lots of details or ingredients. I enjoyed making cookies, cakes, and brownies.

A work-around that may help with long recipes is to pre-measure all the ingredients into separate containers like you see them do on TV shows. This will prevent wondering, Did I add the salt already?

I'm cracking up over here because I totally do that! I remember ruining a few loaves of bread recently because I kept forgetting whether I had added yeast.

Another thing that works for me is immediately putting away each ingredient after I add it, like sticking the milk back in the fridge or the salt back in the pantry. When my counter is empty, my dish is ready for the oven. :)

I was about to add a similar tip but the pre-measured ingredients also addresses the "Did I already add 2 or 3 teaspoon fulls ?" Adding ingredients directly into the mixing bowl can be a counting challenge for some of us.

I use a 'move the item from one end of the counter to the other end' system sometimes.

Laupala,

Hi. I find using my hands to be very relaxing. I make jewelry and the twisting looping braiding parts become hand memory and my brain is chillin.

A few weeks ago my family made egg rolls and I found wrapping them very relaxing.

I also like looking at pictures on my iPad or phone. Pictures don't bother me like looking at other things. Doctor said it involves a different part of the brain. There are many websites with a huge variety of pictures.

I hope this helps.

Jace

I did a lot of coloring while I was recovering. Buy the biggest box of colored pencils or crayons you can find and Google "coloring pages for adults" or "mandalas to color free."

I also spent a lot of time walking outdoors (weather permitting).

Other ideas:
*take a bubble bath
*do your hair in some fancy way
*give yourself a manicure and/or pedicure
*download a guided relaxation podcast and listen to it
*fill a bird feeder in your backyard and watch it
*pet your dog or cat
*get sample perfume cards from stores and smell them to see how the fragrance notes change over time (got that one from Jane McGonigal of SuperBetter)
*practice meditation (podcasts available for this as well)

I would recommend Flickr.com if you like pictures, some great stuff on there for everyone.

Oh my, I'm laughing about the adding the salt business...do it all the time, can't tell you the number of times I've either forgotten or asked myself did I put this or that in a recipe.

Also, will walk away from putting something in the oven and completely forget about it, have even put a sticky note on my forearm to remind me and forgot it was there :)