BRAIN FOG
BRAIN FOG
“Brain fog” is a term we use to describe the experience of fuzzy thinking or decreased focus. It is tricky to determine what may be the cause - as there are many things that may be contributing.
Firstly, seeking help from a health care provider is integral in determining what you are experiencing is not resulting from a medical condition (menopause, depression, anxiety, or thyroid can all have symptoms of brain fog), or due to a side effect from medication.
With these other reasons ruled out, feeling foggy or unfocused can also be a product of stress, sleep, inflammation, mood, exercise, distractions, and decreased motivation and passion.
Understanding how all these different factors play into our focus can be important in addressing the right cause of our brain fog - but overall improving our lifestyle can help.
STRESS
It is hard to focus when our bodies are in fight or flight mode. While some levels of stress can be productive for us, chronic high stress can turn off important parts of our memory and brain function.
Supporting stress management can ensure we hit that perfect level of stress that helps us be productive, but doesn’t overwhelm us. Finding time to take intentional breaks from what we need to focus on helps support our ability to bounce back from stressors. We want our cortisol (stress hormone) to respond appropriately at the right time, not all the time.
SLEEP
Poor sleep wreaks havoc on our overall system, but especially our ability to focus. Our brain rests, regenerates and creates neural connections when we have good quality deep sleep. If we are not getting this rest, it won’t be able to support the thinking and decision making we are trying to do throughout the day.
EXERCISE
A good exercise regime supports overall health but also supports our brain health. Those who exercise have higher levels of BDNF, a neurotrophic factor, involved in supporting the maintenance and growth of neural connections throughout our brain (among many other things). Exercise also helps to support body metabolism, proper hormone functioning and good sleep all which can help improve focus.
INFLAMMATION
Inflammation is a normal occurrence in our body as a result of injury or part of an immune response. Many people however experience an increased amount of inflammation due to the quality of our modern diets. A diet lacking enough anti-inflammatory fats, anti-oxidants, and increased processed foods and sugars, can cause inflammation to show up in our skin, mood and pain responses. Turning down inflammation can be achieved with robust diet change and support from supplements. While there may be no direct link to “brain fog” per say, the link between inflammation and mood disorders is well established. Reducing inflammation is also low hanging fruit in that it helps our overall health.
MOTIVATION AND PASSION
Motivation and passion are often overlooked contributors to brain fog. Feeling passionately engaged and focused on your task at hand can make a huge difference. Understanding your personal WHY behind what you are doing can reframe your focus and help you feel more aligned. This can be daunting, and sometimes it takes some challenging reflection. Being kind to yourself and exploring your personal values can be a rewarding experience. You can download our values and priorities blueprint to support some of this work here.