A personal injury often pauses life as we know it, and that can be hard, especially if the injury makes work and life more challenging. In some personal injury cases, you cannot work at all and most of your time is spent in recovery. Personal injury requires taking time for self-care to expedite a full recovery.

Sometimes full recovery may occur in a few weeks, but it’s also possible that complete healing will take months or more. Some personal injuries carry ongoing chronic pain, mobility issues, or concentration troubles. Recovery looks different for every person, but healing and coping can be helped with these self-care tips.

Physical Self-Care

Injury recovery often changes how you may want to live your life. For example, sleep may need to be prioritized in order for your body to have more time for recovering, and your nutrition intake also may need to change. The body also needs to move, but your injury may change what can be done. Be sure to speak to a doctor about what activities are safe for you to do.

Visit a Doctor

After a personal injury, visit a doctor. This can be crucial not only for recovery but also if you choose to seek legal action in a personal injury claim. Medical professionals also are trained to check for body trauma that might not be immediately obvious after an accident, and they are able to provide a treatment plan for recovery. 

Make Time for Rest

Sleep and rest are underappreciated necessities for personal injury recovery. Most humans require 7-8 hours of sleep for daily living, but humans need more sleep for healing in the event of injury. According to a study presented at the 5th World Congress on Sleep Medicine in October 2013, sleep deprivation can impair muscle recovery.

Choose the Right Nutrition

Your body is amazing, but it needs access to the right vitamins and minerals to function and heal properly. This is not the time to diet. As you recover from a personal injury, choose to eat wholesome foods such as vegetables and unprocessed foods. Be sure to increase your intake of Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Calcium, Zinc, and protein. 

Emotional Self-Care

Never underestimate the power of your mental health in daily life and in personal injury recovery. When you deal with bodily recovery, your emotional resilience can be the anchor as you heal. Emotional self-care can look like journaling, spending time with loved ones, or seeking therapy.

Spend Time with Loved Ones

During healing, you may feel isolated because you cannot participate in life the way you have in the past. When friends want to know how to help, ask them to visit or to call you while they commute to catch up. This time with people you enjoy can lift your mood.

Decrease Stress

Life may be more stressful than ever before as you manage “normal” life responsibilities while trying to recover from your personal injury. Take the time to decide what tasks can be removed from your schedule and what new routines can help you maintain calm. Some techniques may include deep breathing, meditation, or yoga.

Be Patient

Injury recovery takes time. While you may imagine the life that you lived before the injury and yearn to get back to normal, you’ll need to give yourself time to recover. This may mean changing your routine for a long time. Don’t rush yourself.

Personal injury recovery can be a long process. If you’ve experienced a personal injury, you may have legal solutions available to you. Schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer today by emailing office@carrilloinjurylaw.com.