Ever been working and it feels like you are having to fight through cobwebs to get your thoughts straight?  Do you find it difficult to concentrate or focus for extended time periods?  You may have brain fog, which can negatively impact your life, your productivity, and your ability to focus.

So, what causes this, and what can you do about it? Let’s find out.

What is Brain Fog?

Brain fog is essentially a slowing or impairment of the cognitive functions that govern your ability to plan, organize, remember, and solve problems. Many times brain fog is the result of lifestyle and dietary choices, which lead to imbalances in hormones and nutrient levels. 

But more and more, my clients are experiencing brain fog as a result of prescribed medication.

You could consider brain fog to be the opposite of feeling motivated, level-headed, and calm. When your brain is foggy, you may feel somewhat confused, disoriented, or forgetful.  You may experience balance issues, and have problems making decisions.

When your thoughts are slow or hazy to come together, or when you can’t seem to concentrate, you may be experiencing brain fog. In more severe instances, brain fog can lead to feelings of depression and unhappiness as you seem to lose your ability to control your world or find inspiration in life. 

Causes of Brain Fog and How to Address Them

Lack of sleep is a common cause of short-term fogginess. When you don’t get enough sleep, your brain cannot properly restore neural connectivity, which regulates memory and learning. Chronic sleep deprivation can impair motor functions and the ability to reason in dramatic ways. So if you’re feeling foggy, examine your sleep habits and make adjustments that will give you at least seven hours of rest each night.

Dehydration can also be a culprit. Water is a great conductor of electricity.  Since your brain is nearly three-quarters water, a ‘water shortage’ can have a significant effect. Even just a small amount of dehydration can lead to confusion, impaired mental performance, and disorientation. Be sure you are drinking plenty of liquids, especially water, throughout your day to stave off the mental fog.

Poor eating habits can make it hard to concentrate or think clearly. Not only  does your brain need energy to work well, the micro-nutrients in your food supply essential fatty acids, amino acids, andother necessary compounds to your brain cells.

Eating too many refined carbohydrates and not enough fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can leave your body and brain feeling sluggish. Focus on improving your diet and eating lots of whole foods that are primarily plant- based to help give your body and brain the nutrients they need to function at an optimal level.

Other factors that can contribute to mental fog include stress, inactivity, changes in your hormone levels, taking certain types of medications, and various medical conditions. Making changes to your diet and lifestyle to help lower stress, balance your hormones, and reduce your need for medications known to cause brain fog can all help you feel more mentally alert and engaged.

Certain medical conditions can cause severe or chronic brain fog, including Alzheimer’s, anemia, diabetes, migraines, and autoimmune disorders. If you suspect you have any of these, you should talk to your doctor about any other symptoms you may have.

Other things you can do to help clear your mind and refocus when brain fog is getting in the way of your productivity include taking a brisk walk, spending time out in the sunshine, clearing away any clutter that may be distracting you, engaging in a mentally stimulating conversation or activity with someone else, or changing your environment.

Final Thoughts

Clearing away the fog can be simple matter of eating better, getting more sleep, and drinking plenty of water. When you need a quick pick-me-up in your day, it’s good to challenge your mind to something new or different for a short period.

Everyone’s situation is different.  What works for one person may not work for someone else, so it’s important to narrow down your specific issue and find out what’s causing or exacerbating your situation. Find some balancing strategies that work for you. Work on recognizing when you start to feel foggy, and be proactive to address it before it becomes a real problem.

If you know how to MUSCLE TEST, you can actually ask your body what might be contributing to your brain fog.  Is it a certain food/ingredient that your system can’t process well?  Is it a medication or supplement that isn’t reacting well with your body chemistry?  Do you need to drink more water?  Are you drinking the right type of water to meet your body’s needs?  Is your body absorbing the water you are providing? You might be surprised by what your body tells you when you ask targeted questions.

If you have not mastered the art of MUSCLE TESTING – and I suggest you do – get on my calendar.  We can test to find contributing factors that may be negatively impacting your ability to think clearly, retain information, make decisions, and lead your best life. 

Do you have a daily morning ritual that you consistently follow each day? How you choose to start your day may hold the key to living a healthy, productive, and prosperous life.

Morning rituals have a way of setting the tone for the rest of your day. Wake up late, and you could find yourself running from one thing to the next to catch up. Toss and turn all night, and you might find yourself lagging, irritable, and exhausted. To avoid these types of scenarios, it is genuinely in our best interest to establish a healthy morning routine.

Routines are a chronological flow of events that we regularly execute. In simple terms, think of your daily routine as being a series of those common actions that you perform at the same time every day. Here are five benefits of creating a healthy morning routine.

Improve Your Stress Levels

Establishing a morning set of routines can do wonders for your stress levels. Morning exercise can have a powerful impact on your mind and body. Although morning exercise has a reputation for boosting your metabolism and burning calories, one of the most significant impacts it can have on your mind and body is the reduction of symptoms associated with stress. Exercise can reverse common negative side effects that accompany stress such as fatigue, pain, and the simple capacity to focus. Consistently including exercise in your morning routine can help to improve your mood and reduce stress.

Opportunity for Positivity

Establishing a healthy morning routine can place you on the path to positivity. Do not underestimate the significance of living in positivity. Positivity not only reduces stress levels but, according to the Mayo Clinic, researchers have found that positive thinking increases your lifespan, improves your cardiac health, enhances immunity levels, and promotes a higher quality of physical and mental well-being. What you do every morning can have a positive or a detrimental impact on your ability to practice positivity throughout the day. Exercise and the practice of meditation at the start of your day to reflect or bring about self-awareness can deliver a healthy abundance of positive vibes.

Mental Wellness

Morning routines have a magical way of also helping us to achieve a sense of mental wellness. They set the tone of normalcy. We know what to expect, and generally, at the end of our repetitive behaviors, there is some degree of a reward.

A Sense of Order

Some people function best when there is a sense of order in their lives. Establishing a morning routine can set you up for a great deal of organization for your day. That is not to say that it will serve as a protective force field against that thing called life that is guaranteed to disrupt your best-laid plans, but under what you may deem to be ordinary circumstances, a daily routine will ensure that the small things are not a distraction.

Productivity

Finally, a healthy morning routine gives us the immediate gratification of accomplishment. We can carry that feeling into the day, motivating us to conquer the remaining tasks that lie ahead of us for the day. Morning rituals can help to keep procrastination at bay. You can tackle complex items if you plan and leverage morning hours to get it done.

Developing a Morning Routine

Are you looking to establish a true morning routine? Don’t panic. Here are few tips to get you going.

• 1. Drink a glass or 12 oz bottle of water upon waking up to hydrate your body after a long night’s rest.
• 2. Meditate for 15 minutes while lying in your bed.
• 3. Indulge in 15 to 30 minutes of exercise.
• 4. Take a shower to soothe your muscles.
• 5. Eat breakfast.
• 6. Engage in positive thinking.
• 7. Focus on 3 things you are grateful for.

In summary, establishing a healthy morning routine can prove beneficial physically, mentally, and emotionally.