Mindfulness, Brain Injury, and Finding Peace During the Holidays

Dec 23

The holiday season can bring joy, connection, and reflection. For individuals living with a brain injury, it can also bring overstimulation, fatigue, emotional overload, and grief for what has changed. Amid the noise and expectations of the season, mindfulness offers a gentle way to slow down, reconnect, and find moments of peace.

Mindfulness is the practice of bringing awareness to the present moment with curiosity and compassion. After a brain injury, this practice can be especially powerful. Meditation and mindfulness-based practices have been shown to support emotional regulation, reduce stress and anxiety, improve attention, and promote nervous system regulation—all areas commonly impacted by brain injury.

At Recreate Yourself, recreational therapy uses mindfulness as an intentional, accessible tool for healing. Through guided meditation, breathwork, movement, sensory-based activities, and adaptive recreation, individuals are supported in reconnecting with their bodies and minds in ways that feel safe and empowering.

The Benefits of Meditation After Brain Injury

Meditation after brain injury is not about “clearing the mind” or doing it perfectly. It’s about creating space—space to pause, to breathe, and to notice without judgment. Research and lived experience show that meditation can:

Reduce stress and emotional reactivity
Support attention, focus, and mental clarity
Improve sleep and fatigue management
Increase self-awareness and self-compassion
Support nervous system regulation and resilience

Organizations like LoveYourBrain have long emphasized the power of mindfulness in brain injury recovery. As LoveYourBrain shares, “Yoga and meditation empower people affected by brain injury to heal and thrive.” Their work reminds us that healing is not just physical—it is emotional, mental, and deeply human.

Another guiding principle from LoveYourBrain is that “Hope, resilience, and community are essential parts of recovery.” Mindfulness practices help cultivate all three by allowing individuals to meet themselves where they are, moment by moment.

Recreation Therapy & Mindfulness

Recreational therapy uniquely bridges mindfulness with meaningful activity. Rather than separating meditation from daily life, recreational therapists integrate mindfulness into activities people enjoy—movement, music, art, nature, and social connection. This approach makes mindfulness more accessible, especially for individuals who may struggle with traditional seated meditation after a brain injury.

Mindfulness in recreational therapy is about engagement, choice, and joy. It helps individuals rebuild trust in their bodies, reconnect with their values, and experience moments of accomplishment and gratitude.

A Holiday Meditation for Peace & Gratitude

This holiday season, we invite you to slow down and listen to a guided holiday meditation focused on peace and gratitude. Designed with brain injury considerations in mind, this meditation offers gentle pacing, simple language, and space for rest.

Whether you are navigating recovery yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply seeking a moment of calm, demonstrated practice invites you to: