Does this situation sound familiar? You’re in the middle of an assignment or a conversation when, suddenly, your brain seems to short-circuit. Maybe you forget a word or you totally space out. Instead of feeling sharp, you feel like you’re walking through jello. You lose concentration, and the world seems like it’s moving faster than you can keep up with. If you’ve experienced an instance like this, you might be dealing with brain fog. Brain fog is undeniably frustrating: you know you can do exceptional work, but having no mental clarity can feel like running in slow motion. On top of that, getting flustered can aggravate the symptoms, thus repeating the cycle. The good news is that brain fog is not permanent. By taking the right steps, you can reverse the symptoms to find a clear mind and even prevent them from happening again. That’s what this article is all about. In the following sections, we’ll explore the symptoms, causes, and solutions for brain fog. What Is Brain Fog?Before we dive into details, it’s important to note that “brain fog” isn’t an official medical term, nor is there a test or measurement for it. Rather, it’s a loose term used to describe chronic mental fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and cognitive dysfunction. It is not a disease, but rather a reaction to specific circumstances (which we’ll explore later). “Suffering from brain fog is basically the opposite of feeling level-headed, calm, optimistic and motivated,” says Jillian Levy of Dr. Axe.com. “Brain fog can easily rob you of inspiration and happiness, while increasing the likelihood for symptoms of anxiety and depression.” Think you might have brain fog? Let’s take a look at the symptoms so you can make an accurate self-diagnosis. Brain Fog SymptomsBrain fog affects different people in different ways. You might experience one or all of the following symptoms which can vary in intensity depending on the day. Here are the four most common symptoms associated with brain fog: 1. Lack of ConcentrationWhen you can’t concentrate, mental tasks can feel like a moving target. Rather than being able to zone in and focus, your mind constantly wanders off, making it difficult to get anything done. 2. ForgetfulnessBrain fog can affect one’s ability to remember all kinds of information, including academic material, daily tasks like forgetting your car keys, or personal memories like what you ate for dinner last night. 3. Chronic FatigueI fell asleep during my fair share of lectures in college, but chronic fatigue is much different. As a symptom of brain fog, chronic fatigue is characterized by extreme, never-ending tiredness that can’t be remedied by rest or caffeine. Since chronic fatigue is also a symptom of other disorders, you may want to talk to your doctor if it’s happening to you. 4. Mental FlatliningThe remaining symptoms of brain fog can be classified under what I call “mental flatlining.” Instead of feeling sharp and active like you normally would, you feel “off”: dull, unmotivated, unproductive, and maybe depressed. In this state, all of your day’s tasks and activities blur together, making it seem like you’re living in slow motion. If you’ve experienced any or all of the above symptoms, you know they take a toll on your academics, work, and social life. But what causes these brain fog symptoms? What Causes Brain Fog? 5 Common ReasonsWhen you have the flu, it’s usually just a matter of bad luck that you have to wait out until you feel better. Brain fog, on the other hand, is different: it’s not something you can catch, nor something you can ride out until the symptoms disappear. Brain fog is your body’s way of telling you that you probably need to make some changes in your day-to-day life. However, when you can’t think straight and you have assignments and obligations piling up, determining the root cause of your brain fog probably isn’t at the top of your to-do list. That’s what this section is for. Here are five common causes of brain fog: 1. Lack of SleepCollege students typically aren’t known for having great sleeping habits: maybe you’re even pulling an all-nighter as you’re reading this. You might be tempted to sacrifice sleep to get more done, that comes with a price. Lack of sleep, and the inevitable fatigue that follows, can be one of the main causes of your brain fog. Optimal rest (which is 7-8 hours per night for most college-aged students) plays a key role in cognitive function. Without it, we’re left feeling groggy and stressed. 2. Lack of ExerciseDid you know that aerobic exercise (the kind that gets your heart pumping) actually increases the size of the parts of your brain that are associated with thinking and memory? Exercise increases blood flow to the brain and has been demonstrated to improve sleep, boost memory, and reduce stress in addition to its physical health benefits. As you can see, when we let our bodies become inactive for too long, we put our brains at risk for becoming inactive, too. This can lead to the symptoms of brain fog: difficulty sleeping, impaired memory, and increased stress. 3. StressWhen the human body is faced with stressful situations, it releases cortisol, the “fight or flight” hormone. Normally, cortisol levels subside when stress passes. But if you’re stressed 24/7, those hormones continually flow throughout your body, making it difficult for you to calm down and think clearly. It’s no surprise that some of the symptoms of high cortisol levels mirror the symptoms of brain fog, such as:
4. Poor DietIf you thought binging on potato chips and candy only had physical consequences, think again. Your brain is the hardest-working organ in your body, and if you want it to function at the highest level, you need to give it the fuel it needs. A poor diet consisting of processed sugar (such as candy or ice cream), refined carbohydrates (such as chips, white bread, and cookies), and a lack of protein and vitamins can have a severe impact your mood, energy, and focus. And all of this leads to brain fog. 5. DehydrationHave you ever noticed how runners are often dazed and confused after finishing a marathon? Chances are, they’re dehydrated—and you can experience the same side effects if you’re not hydrated throughout your classes, work, and extracurriculars. Your brain clocks in at 73% water, and according to a study at the University of Connecticut, even a 1% dehydration level can impair cognitive function. Here are just a few side-effects of dehydration:
Sounds a lot like brain fog, right? 5 Solutions to Fix Brain FogOkay, so now that you’ve had a primer on the background, symptoms, and causes of brain fog, it’s time to take the steps to beat brain fog and keep it away in the future. In most cases, brain fog should subside naturally by changing your lifestyle and diet (which we’ll discuss below). However, if you can’t get your symptoms under control, or they worsen, you should consult a doctor. 1. Get Enough SleepMax Hirshkowitz, chair of the National Sleep Foundation Scientific Advisory Council, suggests that college-aged people should get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. This will allow your body to rest and recover after long days of rigorous mental and physical activity. If you have trouble getting to bed on time and getting enough sleep, check out our guide to best practices for sleeping. 2. Manage Your StressSome people are better at handling stress than others, but the biological effects of stress can still contribute to brain fog. Here are some practical tips for stress management that can be applied in college and beyond:
3. ExerciseThe internet is flooded with information that can cause us to feel overwhelmed about what a “good workout” really is. Truthfully, you don’t need all the frills to counteract brain fog. Your goal is to sweat—it doesn’t matter how you get there. For starters, you can try this free app called 7 Minute Workout that gives you (you guessed it) a seven-minute workout every day. And if you’re having trouble motivating yourself to exercise, we’ve got a guide for that. 4. Find Your EscapeWhenever I notice myself losing focus or I feel “off,” my go-to solution is almost always a walk. No music, nothing to think about, just walking outside to clear my head. That’s my “escape.” Of course, each person’s escape is different. Maybe you like to draw or cook — whatever it is, do it. This will be like hitting the “reset” button on your brain. 5. Fuel Up With (Healthy) Brain FoodThe main macronutrients that feed our brains are proteins, which are the building blocks of our neurotransmitters. Additionally, foods such as salmon, walnuts and pecans, avocado, extra virgin olive oil, and coconut oil contain brain-boosting omega-3 fatty acids that our brains rely on to build brain cells and process information. If you’re looking for a simple, effective diet solution, focus on adding more leafy greens, dark berries, omega-3s, and a high-protein lunch. Fixing Brain Fog: Where Do I Start?Okay, that was a lot of information (which I hope you found valuable.) Now you might be thinking: Where do I start? Whenever I’m faced with a chronic problem, I always try to understand the whole situation before obsessing over particulars. In the case of brain fog, you’ll want to identify its root cause before addressing things like changing your diet. For instance, it won’t matter how many leafy greens you eat if you’re only sleeping four hours each night or taking on more work than you can handle. There might not be a magic pill to beat brain fog, but with moderate adjustments and a little patience, you can put the odds of a fog-free life in your favor. Image Credits: featured RSS is cool and all, but you can also view the original post here: Brain Fog: Why You Have It (Plus 5 Ways to Beat It) Brain Fog: Why You Have It (Plus 5 Ways to Beat It) syndicated from https://dataentrytestpro.wordpress.com/ via Tumblr Brain Fog: Why You Have It (Plus 5 Ways to Beat It)
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