Do you ever feel periodically confused and forgetful? Do you have periods when you simply cannot focus and all your thoughts seem a little sluggish and muddled? That’s called brain fog, and it’s a sign that something is a little off.
Symptoms of brain fog include low energy, irritability, headaches, poor focus, forgetfulness and difficulty when remembering, mild depression, anxiety and confusion. It can be hard to recognize if you live in a chronic foggy state, but just know that you can and should feel amazing and clear-headed every day. It just requires a little more self-care. If you’ve been feeling a little muddled, here are some lifestyle tips that will improve your focus, clear up your thinking, and make you feel like a million.
GET ENOUGH SLEEP
If you are fatigued, your brain just isn’t going to work properly. Sleep is the only time your brain gets to rest and reset, so if you are skimping out, don’t expect your brain to keep up. Prioritize a healthy sleep schedule and start embracing naps if you have to. A fatigued brain is slow, foggy and not much fun.
STOP EATING SUGAR
This goes back to the gut. When you eat sugar, you are feeding all the wrong types of bacteria in your gut. This causes overgrowth, and, as the unwanted bacteria exert their effects on the brains, brain fog. Too much caffeine and refined carbohydrates can have a similar effect, so it is important to keep a clean and balanced diet for a clear mind. Focus on protein, green veggies and healthy fats until your mind clears up.
DRINK UP
Sometimes, lack of focus and foggy thinking could be the result of something as simple as dehydration. Being fully hydrated allows your mind to function optimally, helps to prevent headaches and makes the body more effective at removing cellular waste. Go drink some water. Right now.
BOOST YOUR BACTERIA
In a culture so fervently opposed to bacteria, it may seem illogical that putting more bacteria in your body could help to clear up your mind. But the 100 trillion bacteria in your gut make the brain-gut connection a powerful force. And those little critters kind of run the show. The type and quantity of bacteria in your gut have a profound effect on how the brain works. Eating probiotic foods like sauerkraut and yogurt or taking a high quality probiotic supplement can encourage good bacterial growth and work wonders for that mental fuzz.
LOOK OUT FOR FOOD SENSITIVITIES
One warning sign of a food sensitivity is brain fog. And if you pay attention, it is pretty telling. Speaking from personal experience, I get very foggy when I eat gluten. I just cannot think clearly and become hopeless if I am trying to do any sort of multitasking. Try to notice if your thoughts become slow and jumbled soon after you consume certain foods. And remember that it’s not you or your intelligence. You just need a few lifestyle tweaks. Honing in on your diet could make a world of difference when it comes to how you feel mentally.
Do you suffer from a lack of focus and muddled thoughts? You don’t have to accept it as a part of life. With a few tweaks to your diet and lifestyle, your mind can become sharp and quick again.
