The Year I Broke My Brain
How a Head Injury Transformed My Librarianship
A Presentation by
Nicole Clarkson
Research & Engagement Services Librarian
Kelvin Smith Library,
Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio (United States)
Presentation Overview
About My Injury
What Happened?
September 10, 2022 - I went to bed.
September 11, 2022 - I woke up with a forehead contusion from a furniture collision during a sleepwalking episode.
Diagnosis:
Concussion without loss of consciousness
Recovery Came in Stages
Initial Phase (Sept 2022 - Nov 2022)
constant pain, no cognitive exertion, no stimuli, and horrible memory loss
Functional Recovery (Nov 2022 - Feb 2023)
intermittent but severe pain, limited cognitive exertion, and noticeable memory loss
New Normal Recovery (ever since)
lingering memory loss, occasional migraines, and sensitivity to stimuli and overexertion
Memory Assistance
For Head Injuries, Daily Logs Are Must-Have Memory Aids
Concussed Daily Log
My Daily Logs Continued but Evolved
Student Worker for Cataloging & Metadata Department, 2023: Documenting the details of bibliographic records that I had worked on that day at the end of my shift to stop mixing them up later.
Research & Engagement Services Librarian at Kelvin Smith Library, 2024 to present: Fleshed-out details of everything I did in a day that I take down the moment after I do it to track, assess, and recount all relevant workday activities.
Characteristics of my Current Daily Logs
The Key Components of Memory Assistance
What’s Easy to Forget?
What information do you often forget?
What’s Helpful to Reference?
What information you could you potentially need later?
What’s Important?
What information will cost you to forget?
Task and Time Management
For Head Injuries, Task Lists are needed keep track of all pertinent action items
Task List
01
Pick up Groceries
02
Call Dad
03
Check Mail
My Task List Continued but Expanded
Functional Recovery:
Simple to-do lists of everything from bigger projects to small one-minute tasks that I digitally crossed off upon completion
New Normal Recovery:
Two separate lists (personal and professional) that are color-coded, organized in a table in Google Docs, and sorted by due date and/or priority
Element 1 of Today’s Task List - Color-Coded Task Names
Why Color-Coded Classifying?
Differentiates responsibilities and evaluates frequency and distribution of core activities
Column 1: Task Name
These entries use the colors designated by the key at the top of the document
Element 2 of Today’s Task List - Dates / Times for all Tasks
Column 2: Due Date
With or without an exact time that it’s due or happening
The main reason that my Task List is a table in a Google Doc is for moving these rows up or down when I need more time or when I finish something early
Element 3 of Today’s Task List - Priorities for Tasks
Column 3: Priority Tag
Critical = urgent must-do task, no extensions
Required = must-do task that’s not urgent
Important = should-do task but can postpone
Optional = can-do task if there’s time
Element 4 of Today’s Task List - Status of Tasks
Column 4: Status Tag
Not Started = No work done but that’s okay
In Progress = Started but needs finishing
Completed = Done, can remove from List
Overdue = Little to no work done, should be complete by now
Deciding on Task List Elements
Priority and/or Status?
Is it helpful to further track how critical a task is to complete?
Dates and/or Times?
Do you miss checkpoints or deadlines and want a way to keep track?
Code your tasks?
Do you wear many hats and want to differentiate your tasks?
Self-Care and Bodymind Acceptance
For Head Injuries, Brain Breaks are needed to ease brains into and out of cognitive exertion
Initial Recovery: Constant Rest
Functional Recovery: Breaks Before and After All Activities
New Normal Recovery: Breaks as Needed, At Least Once a Day
Main Types of Brain Breaks
Low Cognition Breaks
Screentime Breaks
High Energy Breaks
Nothing left to give. I need an activity that requires no major thinking
Example: coloring
I need a blue-light break after staring at a computer or smartphone too long
Example: journal
My brain is very tired but my body wants to lean into activity
Example: running
Discovering Your Best Brain Breaks
High Energy Breaks
What activities release physical energy but don’t tax the brain?
Screentime Breaks
What activities can you do to get away from your computer for a bit?
Low Cognition Breaks
What activities are mindless yet accessible at work?
For Head Injuries, self-care also involves
Listening closely & creatively to your body/mind
without judgment
I have a migraine - I’m doing too much
I dreamt about food - I forgot to eat
I can’t move or speak - too much stimuli
New Normal Recovery still has atypical cues
I’m still scrutinizing how I feel without opinion
(it is what it is)
I tired out mid-workday - it’s time for a Brain Break
My brain feels fuzzy - something is about to go wrong
I’m irritable and not engaged - overstimulated
Figuring Out Your Bodymind Cues
Uncommon Cues
What do you notice when you’re in need? What cues show up for other sensitivities?
Stimuli Overload
Where are your thresholds for socializing or sensory input? When do you need to regulate?
Common Cues
How does your body express hunger? What about thirst? Do you have a cue for needed sleep?
Asking for Help
For Head Injuries, it is impossible to do everything you used to do independently pre-concussion.
You have to ask for help.
Hey friend, can I have a ride?
Hello, Professor. Can we get rid of deadlines?
Hey family, can anyone come to my appointment with me?
Source(s) of stress
When Brave, I Still Ask for Help
Possible + specific changes
My own power & resources
Source(s) of other power & resources
“I have too many projects. I have made a list of all of my responsibilities and coded them based on importance, difficulty, and timing. Can you review the list and help me decide what to drop or delegate?”
Use This Framework for Your Needs
Power & Resources
What is in my control? What do I have the capacity to act on? Who else might be able to do more?
Possible & Specific Changes
What is humanly possible to change about this? How many granular steps to take to accomplish this?
Source(s) of Stress
Where exactly is my stress coming from? What factor(s) influence it the most?
Takeaways from Transformed Librarianship
DENOVAN WRIGHT
"Teamwork fuels our dreams, and every week is a new opportunity to soar higher together."
You don’t need to identify as disabled or chronically ill to accommodate yourself.
There’s no permission slip needed to do things differently
Lesson 1 of Broken-Brain Librarianship
DENOVAN WRIGHT
"Teamwork fuels our dreams, and every week is a new opportunity to soar higher together."
Nobody scrutinizes my processes when I keep delivering effective, timely, and high-quality work.
The same is likely true for you.
Lesson 2 of Broken-Brain Librarianship
DENOVAN WRIGHT
"Teamwork fuels our dreams, and every week is a new opportunity to soar higher together."
I came up with all these strategies because they work for my unique needs
Yours will look different because you’re not me
Lesson 3 of Broken-Brain Librarianship
Thank you for attending!
Reach out to me at nicole.clarkson@case.edu for any follow-up.
Don’t wait until you’re concussed!