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Why Utilize a Home Schedule?
Sticking to a schedule helps us all create habits that enable us to meet our goals, but a home schedule can be especially beneficial for individuals with brain injuries and neurological disorders. Not only does a home schedule build stability, but it can also help individuals manage stress, increase productivity, and allow them more control over what happens in their day.
Getting Started
We recommend using a planner or journal and taking it everywhere with you. If a person uses assistive technology, that can be a helpful tool. Assistive technology can be high tech or low tech (i.e., paper calendar vs. phone or use of smart speakers). Ask your Speech-Language Pathologist to help you with this process. Together, you can create a predictable, daily routine designed to meet your current needs.
Tip: Create a well-balanced daily schedule that includes breaks and overestimates the amount of time needed for activities to avoid feeling rushed. Have general categories in your schedule, such as “physical exercise” or “self-care;” this allows for flexibility and variation.
Eight Categories To Consider For Your Home Schedule
Aerobic exercises
Strength training
Activities for daily living/ home tasks (e.g., eating, hygiene, laundry, etc.)
Sleep/Rest Breaks
Meditation
Self-care activities (e.g., journaling, taking a bath, etc.)
Leisure/fun (e.g., watching a movie, doing a puzzle, etc.)
Therapies
Tip: Keep in mind that staying organized or remembering can be challenging for individuals with brain injuries and neurological disorders. So consider placing post-it notes in logical places to help reinforce the scheduled activities. For example, place a sticky note labeled "wash your face before bed" on the mirror in the bathroom.
Atlanta Speech & Wellness is the only speech therapy private practice in Atlanta that specializes solely in adult neurological rehabilitation. Our expertise is in brain injury, including stroke, TBI, concussions, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and dementia. We are dedicated to providing individualized evidence-based therapy to help you improve cognitive or communication changes while empowering you to reach your full potential. If you're ready to work hard and return to doing what you love, give us a call to get started!
Article written by Josie Ehrlich. Josie holds a BS in Psychology and is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Pre-Professional Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Georgia. She also works full-time as an assistant teacher at The Howard School, a K-12 school in Atlanta specializing in language-based learning differences. Josie hopes to do her graduate work in Communication Sciences and Disorders, starting in 2023.