Do you sometimes struggle with completing basic tasks? Do you find yourself unable to focus on routine chores? Or, when reading, find yourself staring at the same sentence for five minutes? You could be experiencing brain fog – an aptly named cognitive slowdown that affects your mental processing speed and makes even the simplest of activities feel overwhelming.
Brain fog isn’t a recognized medical condition in itself, but it is related to other diagnosable conditions. According to Healthline, brain fog is a “type of cognitive dysfunction involving memory problems, lack of mental clarity, poor concentration, and an inability to focus.” Basically: your brain feels foggy.
Adulting in the 2020s
“I can’t adult today,” declares a well-worn phrase plastered across the internet, coffee mugs, t-shirts, and other paraphernalia. Adulting, a noun/verb/gerund coined by millennials and mainstreamed by Grammar Girl in 2014, refers to living a responsible, grownup lifestyle: paying bills, holding a job, food prep, etc. Countless articles and blogs have tackled the topic, from why Millenials struggle with transitioning into the workforce, to why seemingly straightforward aspects of modern adult life can feel surprisingly strenuous. It’s a divisive word – critics are quick to pull out a standby list of millennial faults: previous generations managed their households without whining, extended adolescence is problematic, Peter Pan syndrome shirks responsibilities.
Whatever your opinion on “adulting” memes, the reality is that living a balanced, full and fulfilling life can be stressful. Adult life means juggling work, socializing, chores, medical checkups, exercise, meal prep, hobbies, creative projects, 8 glasses of water and hours of sleep – and, if you’re a parent, raising well-rounded children. Add nine months of social distancing, cancelled plans, job adjustments, and Covid anxiety, and you’ve got a recipe for burnout…and potentially brain fog.
Managing Brain Fog
Experiencing mental fuzziness? Here are a few ways to reduce and manage brain fog.
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Diet+exercise+sleep. I know, I know, we all want something exotic, easy, or at the very least, original to fix our health. But the truth is that the basics of diet/exercise and sleep are the key to a functional, balanced life. Taking care of your physical health has a huge impact on your mental, emotional, and psychological well being. Use a whiteboard, a notebook, or a digital journal like Zinnia to set simple goals and track progress. Be realistic – you aren’t going to suddenly become a gymfluencer, but making incremental and sustainable lifestyle changes will have a lasting impact on your health. Fatigue and food triggers are factors of brain fog that can be addressed.
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De-stress your life. Destressing your life is an individual journey – sit down and pinpoint the stressors in your life that might be creating anxiety and brain fog.
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Work stress? According to one study, more than half of Americans don’t like their jobs. Take a week off to clear your mind and reprioritize your career goals. Hint: it’s ok if your career goals prioritize work-life balance over income.
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Relationship stress? It’s ok to cut or reduce time spent with friends or family who are sources of anxiety. Consider therapy to unpack how you relate to others and yourself.
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Time and money management stress? There’s an app for that. No, but really there are apps that can help you with managing your resources – consider YNAB for keeping track of savings goals. Use an journal app like Zinnia to create weekly plan for what you want to get done every week.
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Stay accountable. Congratulations! You’re making lifestyle changes to reduce brain fog and other impacts of stress. That’s great. But in order to have a lasting, permanent lifestyle shift, you need to hold yourself accountable. This doesn’t mean beating yourself up for making mistakes or reverting to unhealthy habits. It means having a system in place that encourages you to continue your journey towards a healthier, happier existence. Ask a good friend or significant other to hold you accountable through weekly checkins – these should be encouraging, not stressful. Have a virtual coffee date and share your highs and lows from the week.
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Set up a reward system. Complete a no-spend week? Treat yourself to a small gift. Cut out processed foods for five days? Enjoy a bag of white cheddar popcorn.
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Write it down. Use a planner or journaling app to write about your progress and keep track of your plans.
Brain fog is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. Researchers have linked it to stress, fatigue, depression and anxiety. If you are experiencing bouts of brain fog, take a moment to examine the stress triggers in your life, and try to make healthy, sustainable changes in your daily lifestyle. (And, of course, talk to your doctor about any health concerns you have.)
What works for you? We’d love to hear how you tackle brain fog. Tag us on social media with #pixiteapps.
source https://www.pixiteapps.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-brain-fog
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