Combat Brain Fog With These 12 Tips
Has it felt harder than usual to focus on the tasks or projects before you? Do you ever feel like your mind just isn’t quite as sharp as usual? You may be suffering from brain fog. While brain fog is not considered a medical condition, it can prevent you from thinking clearly and being able to concentrate.
What Is Brain Fog?
Brain fog occurs when you feel detached from your mind; it can feel as though you simply aren’t able to focus on things with the same energy as you used to. It feels like you can’t concentrate, making tasks that usually seem easy suddenly feel more overwhelming. You might forget a certain word or misplace your keys. You could have a hard time carrying on a conversation with those you care about.
When you’re suffering from brain fog, it can be difficult to make decisions – even those as simple as what to eat for lunch that day. It’s like you’re floating above your own body, unable to come back down to Earth.
If a case of brain fog gets serious, it can even cause blurred vision, headaches, and nausea.
Why Does Brain Fog Occur?
There are many things that can cause brain fog, like sleep deprivation, poor diet or nutrition, lack of exercise, stress, depression, dehydration, and other factors. And with stress being one of the causes of brain fog, it’s no wonder that many of us might be experiencing this issue right now – as this year has provided many stressful experiences.
12 Ways to Overcome Brain Fog
1. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep
When you’re stressed out, it can be hard to maintain a proper sleeping schedule. And with so many people working from home these days, it can feel even more difficult to get to sleep on time, making sure that we get the full eight hours that most bodies need.
Try making yourself some chamomile or lavender tea before bed to help yourself relax into the deep sleep that you deserve.
2. Maintain a nutritious diet
A nutritious diet is key to making sure that your cognitive abilities are sharp and functioning properly.
Vitamin B12 is an especially important nutrient when it comes to combating brain fog. Increasing your consumption of vitamin B12 can reduce depression, tackle that brain fog, improve memory, and enhance your ability to solve problems. Eggs, salmon, lean beef, clams, breakfast cereals, milk, and nutritional yeast are excellent sources of this vitamin.
3. Find new ways to manage your stress levels
Anxiety and stress are two common causes of brain fog, so managing your stress levels are crucial for alleviating brain fog. There are many exercises and practices that can combat stress and anxiety, but the important thing is finding something that works for you.
Try things like yoga, crystal healing, meditation, and other forms of physical exercise until you discover which practices bring you the most joy.
4. Indulge in your favorite hobbies and activities
Sometimes as grown-ups, we forget how important it is to take time for the activities that make us feel excited and alive. Carve time out of your day for video games, gardening, reading, painting, watching your favorite movie, baking, having deep conversations with those you love.
Make time to follow your bliss.
5. Begin a Daily Meditation Practice
Meditation has many benefits, and it is one of the easiest ways to clear the mind of negativity.
While it may seem daunting at first, taking the time to learn how to get into a deeply meditative state can make all the difference between a sharp, clear mind and a brain full of misty fog.
Read This Next: How Meditating Everyday Changed My Life
6. Incorporate exercise into your daily life
Exercise not only keeps the body healthy and fit, but it also promotes cognitive focus. Just 30 minutes of exercise a day can help you feel more refreshed, revitalized, and ready to take on any task before you.
7. Focus on your self-care routines
When we feel stressed out, it becomes easier to forget about the self-care routines that you need to practice each day to keep your spirits up and your vibrations lifted. Whether your self-care routine involves positive affirmations, burning sage, visiting with friends and loved ones, or writing in your journal. Don’t skip those things now.
8. Spend time outdoors
If you’ve been spending most of your time indoors lately, there’s a good chance that you’re not getting enough sunlight – which in turn can lead to a vitamin D deficiency. When you’re not getting enough sunlight or the resulting vitamin D, you may become depressed or weak. Try taking a walk in the sunlight each day. And don’t forget to wear your sunscreen!
9. Cut back on the caffeine
If you’ve been suffering from brain fog, you may have tried to balance it out with more morning coffee. However, getting rid of that caffeine addiction can significantly improve cognition and eliminate brain fog.
10. Cut back on carbs and sugar
While they may give you an immediate boost, sugar, and simple carbs are known for the inevitable crash. In fact, too much sugar or too many carbs can actually make you feel even sleepier than before.
Try satisfying your sweet tooth with healthy fruit smoothies with kale and spirulina to really improve cognition.
11. Cut back on the booze
Many people enjoy a glass of wine or a nice IPA at the end of a hard workday, but alcohol can cause hangovers, which encourages us to eat greasy foods, which can slow us down in the long run.
12. Try games and puzzles that challenge you mentally
Puzzles, video games, riddles, and other mentally stimulating activities can not only improve your mood, but they can also help you eliminate brain fog and strengthen your cognitive abilities.
Staying Positive
It can feel frustrating trying to climb out of a hole of brain fog and cognitive mist. But it’s important to be gentle with yourself and try to stay positive along the way. Do things that make you feel good and try not to put too much pressure on yourself during this time.
With determination and a little fun, you’ll be feeling sharper than ever in no time.
Related Article: A Meditation to Find Peace in Uncertain Times
