Social Connection and Meaningful Activities
Key Points:
- Staying socially connected and participating in leisure activities contribute to a sense of who you are.
- Having a concussion may affect your participation in leisure temporarily.
- There are many forms of leisure activities: intellectual, creative, social, spiritual, and physical - find unique ways to get back to the ones you enjoy.
Why is staying socially connected important?
Social connectedness is very important for our mental health. Have you ever noticed that being with your friends affects how you feel?
After a concussion it is common for people to have a period of time when they may limit their social activities. It may feel overwhelming to be around too many people. It is important to return to some level of social interaction as soon as possible after your concussion. Your peers can be an important source of support during your recovery.
Why is leisure and recreation participation important?
Leisure and recreation activities are the activities that we choose to do in our free time. These are often referred to as meaningful activities. It is a way for us to feel refreshed from work, school, or obligations.
These activities can be physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, or creative in nature. If you have to take a break from certain physical activities, maybe there are other types of activities (creative or intellectual) you can develop for enjoyment.
- Examples: reading, learning a language, board games
- Give us mental stimulation
- Can be learning a new skill
- Give us a sense of accomplishment
- Examples: painting, beading/jewelry, playing musical instrument
- Provide us with a sense of relaxation/calm
- Can challenge us to see or think in a new way
- May expand our social connections or interests
- Examples: Games night or out for bubble tea with a friend, helping out at a sports team practise
- Can give us a sense of belonging
- May help in your recovery process by staying connected and having support when you need it
- Help to improve or maintain mood
- Examples: meditative walking or going to a place of worship
- Can be connecting to nature or self awareness / mindfulness
- Can be religious activities for some people
- Often very personal in nature
- Examples: yoga, swimming, sports, kayaking, or hiking
- Trying a new physical activity may also increase the variety of activities available to you. For example: snowshoeing instead of snowboarding for a while
- Can often give us feelings of strength, positivity, and confidence
- Can increase the chemicals in our brain that make us feel good
Here are more ideas for activities: Activity Suggestions for Recovery Stages after Concussion [PDF].
Leisure activities contribute to a sense of who we are. It can be very difficult when we have to stop an activity that we love to do, even if it is temporary. If you have to stop an activity for a while, is there another activity you can do to fill this need?
Leisure activities are important to everyone’s mental health. Finding balance between school/obligations and leisure may be much more challenging after a concussion. Finding this balance may actually help your recovery and coping skills. This may help you to have a more positive outlook and mood.
Remember that any leisure activity that has a risk of falling or being hit in the head needs to be avoided until you are feeling better and your doctor ensures that your brain has healed.