You’ve got a ton of things you need to get done but for some reason you just can’t seem to get focused. Instead, you get distracted; feel like you don’t know where to begin and maybe you’d rather just take a nap. Sometimes you feel exhausted and just can’t get anything done.
These are clear signs of brain fog or the inability to have the mental clarity you need to get things done. While it’s not a chronic disease, it can really slow you down, preventing you from completing your work and might even get you fired. After all, if you can’t get your work done your boss isn't going to be very pleased.
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Brain fog is caused by an imbalance in the brain’s limbic system. This is the part of your brain that helps you think clearly, make decisions and maintains an emotional balance. When your limbic system is not in alignment you have brain fog: you can’t think clearly and you can’t make decisions easily and you may even experience emotional swings or moodiness.
Usually when you have brain for it's connected to high levels of stress – emotional and physical or an injury (not just to the brain) and inflammation which impacts the brain.
So if you’ve been through a lot of stress, gone through a stressful event or had a severe injury or have inflammation these can all lead to some degree of brain fog. That lack of mental clarity or brain fog can last a few minutes, a few hours or can go on for decades if left untreated, which can then lead to depression, anxiety, weight gain and even obesity, infections and sleep problems.
It’s not all doom and gloom. If you have brain fog there are some simple things you can do right now to help you feel better and be more focused. Here are 5 proven and effective methods to clear up that brain fog to give you sharper mental clarity:
1. Get Moving
If you’re not already exercising you need to get started and get moving. Exercise increases blood flow throughout your body and you need to get that blood flowing to your head as soon as possible. If you are exercising, try doing a little more – running, cycling, swimming or any aerobic exercise will help.
If you find you don't have time to squeeze in that workout, take a brisk walk with a friend during your lunch break. Having a buddy system helps to keep you motivated, accountable and on-track. Opt for taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Park your car in the furthest parking spot to where you need to go.
2. Choose Healthy Meals
Make conscious choices as to what you consume throughout the day.
Grabbing a coffee and need something sweet? Opt for a piece of fruit instead of that chocolate chip cookie.
There is plenty of research that shows what refined carbohydrates do to our bodies. Choose healthy, natural, whole foods. Avoid wheat and refined carbs. Minimize the junk food (let's face it - stopping it altogether is not realistic). If you are going to have a donut, make it an occasional treat instead of a daily habit.
Once you stay away from refined foods for a while and you end up having that bowl of pasta - be aware of how you feel after your meal. Don't take our word for it - try it out and you'll notice the difference.
3. Get Your zzzzz's
Do a google search and you'll find lots of research showing the impact to your mind, cognitive memory functions and body when you don't get enough good quality sleep.
The key word being 'quality' sleep. There’s no point sleeping for 12 hours if you toss and turn or keep getting up every couple of hours.
So get better sleep.
Change your routine before bedtime if you have to. Make sure your bedroom is dark and cool.
There are lots of proven ways to improve the quality and quantity of the sleep you get - find what works for you!
4. Quiet the Mind
Meditation and Yoga seem to be the 'in' thing to do but they've been around for centuries (over 5000 years).
They're very effective, proven ways to unplug from the world for a period of time and quiet the mind.
During meditation and yoga, you allow the body and mind to de-stress.
When this happens, it's much easier to think clearly and stay focused.
5. Smell Those Roses!
Our lives are busy. So busy that we go from task to task and often lose the moment and miss out on the present.
This go-go-go routine creates more brain fog as we don't know what we need to focus on some days.
If this feeling sounds familiar, it's a sign that you need to stop and be present.
Take a break and go for a walk. Soak in all the goodness around you.
Push yourself to be more positive and appreciate the little things you come across every day.
Just simply shifting your mindset for a few minutes a day will help clear up that mental fog
Talk to Your Doctor
Our lives are busy. So busy that we go from task to task and often lose the moment and miss out on the present.
This go-go-go routine creates more brain fog as we don't know what we need to focus on some days.
If this feeling sounds familiar, it's a sign that you need to stop and be present.
Take a break and go for a walk. Soak in all the goodness around you.
Push yourself to be more positive and appreciate the little things you come across every day.
Just simply shifting your mindset for a few minutes a day will help clear up that mental fog
Conclusion
Losing focus in life and walking around with brain fog affects every area of your life and makes life much less enjoyable.
If you find you suffer from these symptoms, try some of the tools we have outlined above.
Try some of these tools to see if they help.
In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".
