How to shut off your brain: 4 science-backed tips to stop thinking and relax
In this blog post, we’ll explore what causes brain fog and how to manage it. In and of itself, brain fog typically isn’t an emergency, says Hafeez. Here’s everything you need to know about brain fog from Covid-19, including how to deal with it. More research needs to be done into Covid-19’s effect on the brain, but the condition is likely due to inflammation in the blood vessels that feed the brain, says Dr. Kaiser. One illness that comes up a lot in relation to brain fog is dementia, says Dr. Kaiser. It’s especially important to get evaluated by a mental health professional if you have a family history of mental illness or have had a big change in your life recently.
Do Carbs Cause Brain Fog?
Knowing some of the potential brain fog causes can help identify the best approach for managing it. For those with Oxford House memory difficulties, he adds alarm clocks and memory books as more ways to “outsource” our brains. It only becomes a true problem, though, when your cognitive and memory difficulties are prolonged. We didn’t have to contend with back-to-back Zoom meetings, peak hour traffic or the complexities of the taxation system.
Depression or Anxiety
If your brain fog is disrupting your everyday routine or making it hard to perform daily tasks, you should make an appointment with a healthcare professional. But, if all you’re experiencing is a little bit of fogginess, it might be worth it to test out a few lifestyle changes. If you’re experiencing brain fog, it’s natural to feel frustrated or even frightened. But it’s important to remind yourself that this is your brain’s response to stress—it’s not permanent, and it’s not harmful.
How to Break Free From Brain Fog and Digital Overload
Plus, they might be able to offer some advice that’ll make the task at hand easier to face. MacCutcheon also recommends what is mush brain mindfulness practices to help decrease stress. Older research conducted at Washington State University found evidence to suggest adding plants to study areas could help you feel more attentive and less stressed, possibly leading to increased productivity.
When should brain fog be treated by a healthcare provider?
When you’re stressed and overwhelmed, it can be hard to open up, especially if you feel like your loved ones are under stress, too. Try to remember that the people who care for you probably want to help in whatever way they can, even just by listening. She recommends giving yourself time each day to engage in activities that bring you joy and give you energy. Doing so can help you recharge, prevent overwhelm, and reduce your risk of becoming too stressed to function. When you’re already functioning at full capacity, thinking about a big job you have to get done can make you feel as if your brain is ready to shut down. You’re already mentally exhausted, so a new project may seem too daunting for you to even make a start.
Luteolin is a plant compound that fights inflammation, boosts cognitive function, and has been shown to improve memory. After identifying one of the possible causes above, it’s important to treat the underlying issue that’s causing your brain fog. Try to find ways to reduce stress in your life through relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation.
Studying smarter, not harder
We have biological limits and there comes a point where working longer hours, sleeping less and squeezing in more simply doesn’t work. Instead, it makes us more mushy-brained, more reactive and more prone to making poor decisions. Mushy brain is a sign that things aren’t right and it shouldn’t be ignored.
If you experience brain fog, please seek medical advice as soon as you can. As a chronic migraine sufferer 04 , having 15 or more migraines a month, I experience brain fog daily. I have particularly noticed the impact on my time awareness as I was never late before chronic migraine.
- Brain fog is common, and a provider can help you find out what’s causing your symptoms.
- A hug from a friend or family member or a cuddle session with your pet can still give you a mental boost.
- In large doses, caffeine can set off the biological chain reactions that lead to brain fog.
- Contact a healthcare provider if brain fog is interfering with your quality of life.
But, while it’s all well and good telling people it’s OK to do nothing right now, it’s OK to not be productive, it’s OK if you’re not achieving (which it is by the way), not everyone has that luxury. One common symptom of lockdown appears to be a complete inability to concentrate on anything. Although it’s less of a quick fix, there’s no way around it — sleep is one of the biggest determinants of the ability to stay sharp.