Brain Fried: 19 Tips for Overcoming Cognitive Fatigue

When you’re feeling overwhelmed and unable to focus, sitting with your thoughts might not sound like the best thing to do, but hear us out. Caffeine can cause jitters, headaches, insomnia, upset stomach, and rapid heart rate, especially if you have a caffeine sensitivity. Because of this, the Food and Drug Administration recommends no more than 400 milligrams, or 4 to 5 cups, of coffee per day. We exist in a culture where it’s socially acceptable to consume caffeine and alcohol, especially in moderation.

Thyroid disorders

Most psychological hitches are the result of several different factors at play, and fuzzy brain isn’t an exception. Brain fog can be a side-effect of certain medications or medical conditions, but it can also be lifestyle and/or diet related. Here’s a quick overview of the most common causes, you might want to check out if you’ve ticked off more than three mind fog symptoms listed above. With the right strategies, you can regain your mental clarity and stop living in a haze. But you can take steps to improve your mental and physical health to reduce your risk of symptoms becoming bothersome. Regarding brain fog and COVID-19, new research shows that brain fog is a result of the virus living in your gut after infection symptoms resolve.

• But if you’ve been dealing with anxiety or stress for a while, you might have a harder time recognizing what’s affecting you.
• If you are already trying to do it all, don’t try to do it all yourself.

Medications and Cancer Treatments

Other medical conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome and lupus, can also contribute to confusion, mental sluggishness, concentration drops, and memory hitches. It can be difficult to establish whether brain fog is the result of depression and consequent cognitive underperformance, loss of motivation, and low energy levels, or vice versa. Unless the cause of the mush brain psychological hitch is identified and treated, brain fog and depression can evolve into a vicious cycle, which can be quite literally impossible to break out of. On top of that, a 2015 study conducted by a team of University of Michigan Medical School and Depression Center researchers has found that conditions such as bipolar disorder can lead to fuzzy thinking.

Menopause or Other Hormone Changes

NeuroLive™ is the ultimate foundation for optimal brain health and cognitive function. Studies show that quality sleep can make you eat more healthy and get rid of your brain fog. Sleeping well can also lower your risk for diabetes and heart disease.

• In one study, middle-aged men who were considered “heavy drinkers” experienced more cases of rapid cognitive decline than men who drank less.
• Studies have found pregnant ladies often experience impaired memory and cognition, due to altered bodily chemistry and hormone level oscillations.
• Below are some of the most common causes of brain fog that we see at Parsley Health.
• These weird feelings can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or lifestyle.
• Luckily, these deficiencies can all be corrected fairly easily which is why I recommend everyone take a high-quality multivitamin.

When clouds start to crowd your mind, it’s time to put on your boots made for walking and take your brain out for a hike. Regular physical activity is one of the most efficient deterrents to mind fog, as it sharpens mental faculties, promotes blood flow, and boosts the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Who’d have thought regular gym workouts can help you build peak shape fast, both figure- and brain-wise? If you’re not a huge fan of barbells, you can try outdoor sports such as cycling, running, or mountain climbing and dial up your cognitive functions equally efficiently. Chemotherapy does kill cancer cells, but it takes a toll on brain power, too.

Rebecca says it’s important to give yourself time to reset, and to not try to push yourself too far. So, we asked a couple of experts for their top tips on how to find some focus – even if only in the smallest of ways. Which could help you feel less anxious about your mounting to-do list. One common symptom of lockdown appears to be a complete inability to concentrate on anything. You may have heard that you need to drink 8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. Taking just 15 minutes away from your work (to read, stretch, stare into space — whatever feels right) can help you reset and return with improved productivity.

Certain medications

Alternately, consider talking to a co-worker, teacher, mentor or supervisor, or guidance counselor. Some workplaces also have designated professionals on staff to provide employee support and help people dealing with stress both in and out of the office. Simply telling a loved one about the things stressing you out can help you feel less alone. Plus, they might be able to offer some advice that’ll make the task at hand easier to face.

Strategies for Alleviating Brain Fog

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