Brain Fog… It’s a Thing!

Got Brain Fog? It’s a Thing…
Are you struggling to tackle simple projects or feel like it’s hard to organize your thoughts? If yes, then you could be one of the millions experiencing “brain fog” – a byproduct of chronic stress that has dramatically increased over the past year. Other symptoms of brain fog include:
• You feel like you’re searching for your words.
• You have difficulty making up your mind and making small decisions becomes a big deal.
• You lose your focus quickly – you go to the fridge for milk but, when you get there, wonder why you’re standing in front of an open fridge.
Brain fog can also make you feel extremely mentally fatigued, which reduces productivity.
How to manage brain fog in daily life
To address brain fog effectively we need to identify the cause. Ask yourself:
• Is the source of stress temporary — like a big project at work — or is it more work in general?
• Am I experiencing a challenge to work/life balance – more chores and life tasks to juggle while working?
• Is my diet or alcohol consumption contributing?
• Is this feeling of brain fog persistent both in times of stress and times of calm? If it’s there in times of calm, it’s important to see your doctor because it could be a sign of something more serious.
If we’re pretty certain the cause of our brain fog is a year of unrelenting stress, here are a few ways to tackle it:
1. Of course, more sleep and exercise, less drinking, and overeating. This recipe is com-mon knowledge but sometimes, during a stressful time, hard to manage.
2. If you want to do something right now and – as I like to say – control the controllable, start by taking just 15 minutes for something you love. That could mean doing something you think is totally frivolous. There’s one caveat: It must be done with zero guilt. Remind yourself that you’re giving a very fried brain a much-needed chance to recharge. To optimize our brains, we need to take short breaks throughout the day.
3. Develop a stress management plan:
• Set boundaries around time for self-care.
• Analyze your schedule: Is there anything you can de-prioritize? Be ruthless. It’s easy to say that everything is a priority, but that’s never the case.
• Come up with your “three ways to manage stressful situations anywhere.” Your three things may include breathing exercises or mindfulness – just make sure they’re things you can do anywhere.
Look forward to spring
Another factor that plays into brain fog is the weather. So, in the middle of winter, it can feel a bit hard to motivate ourselves to make changes.