I’ve been here before.
I almost forgot how frustrating it was until last month.
If you follow me on Instagram, you might have noticed that I wasn’t posting as much in May. Well, part of the reason was that I just needed time to focus on my client work and preparing for new offerings that will be released in June. However, one of the biggest reasons for my decreased presence was that pesky brain fog. Honestly, I was dealing with it for a couple weeks before I finally realized what was happening. Don’t worry, I’ve escaped the fog, and have included some holistic tips below to help you clear out the fog too.
Brain Fog is a term used to describe mental fatigue. It is when you don’t really feel like yourself. You can’t seem to think clearly. It’s harder to process information and stay engaged in conversation. You find it difficult to remember new pieces of information, or even retrieve information that you’ve previously stored in your brain. It’s really a crappy feeling.
First, it’s important to recognize that Brain Fog is a symptom, not a diagnosis. In order to begin feeling like yourself again, you have to identify the root cause. Brain Fog can be caused by chronic stress, sleep deprivation, mental health issues, new medications, nutrition deficiency, chronic inflammation, and a number of medical conditions.
Don’t worry, there is hope for you!
You can break free and begin thinking clearly by paying more attention to your:
- Sleep Quality – Follow good sleep hygiene practices. Aim for 8 hours of restful sleep a night.
- Physical Activity Levels – Start logging your exercise. I highly recommend moving for at least 150 minutes/week. If that seems to daunting, just start small by adding 10 minutes of exercise each day. That might just be a quick jog on your lunch break, a stroll after dinner, or starting your day by dancing in the mirror to your favorite songs.
- Nutrition – Eat foods that support good brain health like broccoli, berries, walnuts, dark chocolate, salmon, avocado, and tomatoes. Swap your sugary, carbonated and alcoholic beverages for water, green tea, or coffee. Avoid any foods that you think you may be sensitive or allergic to. If you are on a plant-based diet, make sure you are supplementing with B-12.
- Digestive Health – More people are becoming aware of the gut-brain relationship. Make sure that your diet is not heavy in processed snack foods, fried foods, dairy products, sugar and anything foods that you are allergic to. Instead, treat your tummy well with lots of veggies (not fried), anti-inflammatory herbs & spices, fermented foods (pickles, kimchi, saurkraut, yogurt, miso, kombucha), or probiotic supplements.
- Stress Levels – Life is constantly presenting us with new reasons to make stress our lifestyle. Chronic stress can wear your brain down, making it harder to think, reason or focus. Identify at least 3 stress-management and/or mindfulness techniques that work for you. Manage your mental health by spending time with loved ones, allowing time for activities you enjoy, and speaking with a mental health professional as often as you need.
Make sure that you stay plugged in via social media for more information on dealing with brain fog throughout the rest of June.
Instagram: @Moda.Wellness
YouTube: Monique Danae
Moda Wellness 