Recently I’ve had quite a bit going on. All good things but I’ve started to find it challenging to think clearly. My brain is all foggy.
Brain fog
Brain fog isn’t a medical condition; it’s basically when your ability to think becomes hampered. I consider myself an organised person, but boy oh boy have I found it hard to figure out my focus. Even my word flow has been impacted; I have to write down more notes and reminders than ever before. Some symptoms of brain fog include:
- Trouble putting thoughts together
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering what you were doing
- Physical or mental exhaustion
- Lack of motivation and interest in the things you’d usually do
- Thoughts that seem hazy or difficult to grasp
It’s to the point that I thought I was having some sort of early-onset Alzheimer’s. I kid you not. Anywho, I realised that my situation could be remedied and was being caused by good old fashioned overloading.
I researched some strategies that can help to bring back mental space and clarity which I’ll be sharing with you on this Sunday.
Get more sleep
Sleep deprivation can make it difficult to think clearly through the day. A few nights of broken sleep probably won’t do you much harm but if you regularly don’t get enough sleep, you’ll more than likely begin to see and feel the effects – irritability, daytime sleepiness and difficulty concentrating.
Being a breastfeeding Mumma, I’ve been used to broken sleep but since the girls have been sleeping through the night, I have become accustomed to around 8 hours of sleep a night. Lately, I’ve been averaging 5 hours so I know I need to make some changes.
Replace some of your time doing things you love
Stress often happens when life becomes busier than usual.
If you have so many responsibilities you don’t know how to manage them all, it may seem counterproductive to take time out to do the things that bring you joy. But if you don’t take the time, you’ll just keep adding to your stress.
Try setting aside some time each day to engage with your loved ones, practice your hobby, read/listen to a book, take a bath, cook that special meal you’ve been thinking about for ages.
Meditate
Yes, that old chestnut! Anyone that has followed my blog or social media for some time will know that meditation is at the heart of my self-care routine. Meditation is a powerful tool to help you to refocus and regain some clarity.
Read my blog post about meditation for all the joys this can bring.
Take care of your health
Eating right is essential for mental clarity. If you don’t get the right nutrients, you cannot expect your body and mind to function to its optimum level or really, just function right full stop.
When you are unbalanced, it’s easy to push your health to the side; preparing nutritious meals and getting some exercise is probably the last thing on your mind! But trust me, the time invested is worth it. Your body and mind deserve the boost it’ll receive if you dedicate some time to your health. You can get rid of tiredness and lethargy after just three days of eating right and positively moving your loins.
Adding the following foods to your diet can help improve cognition:
- Fresh produce (especially berries and leafy greens)
- Whole grains
- Nuts
- Water (and lots of it!)
Physical activity has plenty of benefits, so it may not surprise you to learn improved cognition is among them.
Exercise can help:
- Improve your sleep
- Increase the flow of blood to your brain
- Improve memory and reaction time
You don’t need to hit the gym for an intense workout to make a difference. A quick 15 minute walk can often do the job.
Put yourself first today.
Sending light and love always.
DiDi x
Words from a Black Woman 