Follow us: hu Improving life after brain injury Need to talk? 0808 800 2244 Donate Home About brain injury Individuals Brain injury and me 9 ways to help with pl... Share your story Share your story with us to help others affected by brain injury 9 ways to help with planning problems after brain injury The ability to plan and carry out tasks is complex, and is often affected by brain injury The ability to plan and carry out tasks is complex and is often affected by brain injury, particularly where damage to the frontal lobes has occurred. It is an example of 'executive dysfunction', where a range of seemingly routine activities are adversely affected by brain injury, often having a severe impact on day-to-day life. We’ve put together 9 tips to help people who have problems with planning: Allow yourself plenty of time to plan activities and record your plans, using as many aids as you find helpful (such as calendars, diaries, electronic timing devices, mobile phones and pagers). When planning your day, week, or a particular activity use a step-by-step approach, dividing the activity into manageable ‘chunks’. Use checklists and tick off each part of the activity that you have accomplished. This will help you to stay on track. Mentally rehearse your plans. Discuss your plans for the day with others. They can help you to write down a step-by-step checklist of the different actions for that day. Similar strategies can be used for longer term planning, such as appointments you need to make. Discussing your plans with others will make you more likely to remember, and the other person can remind you of things if necessary. Step-by-step checklists can be placed in key locations in the house in order to remind you of the different sequences to go through to do a task, such as preparing a meal. Prepare a weekly routine for tasks like shopping, washing and tidying the house. Knowing that, for example, Monday is shopping day, will make you more motivated to get the task done. Try to develop back up plans in advance, rather than when problems arise. Find out more If you experience difficulty with your planning skills after brain injury, it is important to seek professional advice. Contact your doctor to ask about a referral to a specialist such as a neuropsychologist, neurologist or occupational therapist. You can also contact our helpline to discuss these issues in more detail. They can provide you with further information on living with a brain injury and give details of your local Headway group or branch. Explore the links below for more information: Back to stories index Effects of brain injury Find out about some of the main difficulties that arise after brain injury, together with some suggestions as to how to deal with them. Find out more Executive dysfunction Executive dysfunction is a term for the range of cognitive, emotional and behavioural difficulties which often occur after injury to the frontal lobes of the brain. Find out more Helpline The Headway helpline is a free, confidential service available to anyone with a question about brain injury - from survivors and carers to students and professionals. Find out more Related resources Executive dysfunction after brain injury Redeveloping skills after brain injury Friends of Headway Individual membership Join/Renew Contact Us t: 0115 924 0800 e: enquiries@headway.org.uk Help us improve life after brain injury. Donate Improving life after brain injury 0808 800 2244 Call our free helpline 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday. Or email helpline@headway.org.uk Join our online Community 27k Likes 25k Followers 3k Subscribers Privacy policy Cookies Terms & Conditions Accessibility Contact Us Resource centre Find a Headway Approved care providers Charity shops Fundraising comments, feedback and complaints Vacancies Join our mailing list Headway - the brain injury association is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Charity no. 1025852) and the Office of the Scottish Regulator (Charity no. SC 039992). Headway is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England no. 2346893. © Copyright Headway 2021 - Site designed and developed by MEDIAmaker By clicking 'Accept All Cookies’ you agree to the storing of cookies on your device. This will help us to offer the best possible experience and develop more of the information you need. Accept All Cookies Cookies Settings