If you’ve recently had a brain injury, you might find yourself wondering how you can live your life to the fullest. Your daily routine, job, and life might be completely different compared to what it once was, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be just as good.

Here are just a few ways you can live your best life following a brain injury.

How common are brain injuries?

Having a brain injury can feel isolating. According to statistics from the brain injury charity Headway, there are over 350,000 people that suffer from a brain injury each year in the UK alone.

What are the effects of a brain injury?

Even minor head injuries like concussions can be tough. With immediate difficulties such as headaches, irritability, dizziness, and fatigue setting in, it can be highly unsettling to suffer from even minor brain injuries.

Those who suffer more extreme head injuries, even with good rehabilitation and support, can sometimes find that their personality, relationships, and independence are significantly altered.

Steps to help you live your life to the full after a brain injury

1. Define success on your terms

Albert Einstein once said: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

And this rings true for brain injury survivors too. To truly live your best life, it’s important to think about what success is to you. Although it might be different from other people’s successes, that doesn’t make it any less meaningful.

Try not to compare your standards of success now to what they were before the injury. Your life has changed, and so should your definition of success.

2. Set priorities and focus your energy to succeed

It’s easy to get too carried away trying to do everything. Instead, make a to-do list and slowly tick everything off as you go.
Try to think about what you must do and what you want to do. By narrowing it down in this sense, you’re far less likely to feel overwhelmed.

3. Learn to ask for help

You don’t need to do everything alone. Many survivors won’t ask for help because they don’t want to be seen as a burden.

But most friends and family are more than willing to help. So whether you need help making a brain injury claim if your injury is the result of negligence or if you just need a little more help with daily tasks, be sure to ask. You might be surprised at the number of people that are eager to help.

4. Create manageable short-term goals

Some of your longer-term aspirations might have to go on hold. But where you can try to break these long-term goals into smaller, actionable steps to help you get there.

Small goals will allow you to measure your success daily, helping you feel positive.

5. Develop and maintain support systems

Brain injury survivors can often feel alone and isolated. In fact, 45% of adults in the UK feel lonely sometimes. So, it’s important to reach out to others to help you overcome these feelings.

Whether you choose to speak to old school friends or join a brain injury support group, you’ll be glad you did.

So now all that’s left to do is go out there and live your life to the full.