4 Lifestyle Changes That Can Help Clear Brain Fog

There is nothing worse than trying to think clearly but struggling to do so because of brain fog. This mental fuzziness can slow down one’s entire day and affect more than just productivity.

Many people describe brain fog as a lack of mental clarity or inability to think clearly. When someone is experiencing brain fog, they usually have trouble trying to keep focus, organize their thoughts, and often feel confused.

Brain fog can be a symptom of many things such as anxiety, a medical condition, or your lifestyle. If you’re having trouble with clearing brain fog for any reason, take a look at the lifestyle changes that can help alleviate it.

Dietary Changes

Poor gut health is one of the leading causes of brain fog, so a healthy diet is critical. Dr. Sarah Bridges, a Minnesota-based psychologist, explains how sugary and processed foods can affect brain health.

“There is a ton of emerging research suggesting that the sugar and processed foods, which feed the bad bacteria in our gut, lead to inflammation not only in the body but in the brain,”

Says Dr. Sarah Bridges

We often hear of sugar crashes and crashes from processed carb foods, and they aren’t only physical. Incorporating more anti-inflammatory foods in your diet can help counter some brain fog symptoms.

Having a healthy gut means your body can make brain-boosting neurotransmitters much better. Seafood and omega-three supplements also encourage brain health which can help eliminate brain fog as well.

Better Sleeping Habits

Having a bad night’s sleep can leave you feeling slow the next day, and this feeling is consistent with your sleeping habits. It is essential to increase the quality and amount of sleep you’re getting for a clear brain.

Improving your sleeping habits allows your brain to recharge and reduce stress levels. If you can create a solid sleep schedule that helps you get consistent sleep, you can avoid brain fog.

Stress Less

Unfortunately, stress can affect many aspects of our health if we are not careful to manage it. Smartphones that are on at all times, beeping notifications from news sites and emails take up too much mental energy.

“When you have too much of a cognitive load—meaning you’re doing too many things at once, or have too much on your mind—it taxes our mental reserves,”

Says Dr. Sarah Bridges

Try to alleviate the stress on your brain by taking more breaks during long stretches of work, especially from home. Working in 90-minute intervals then taking a small break can help improve brain power by a lot.

Train Your Brain

Lockdown may have put many of us in the habit of blankly staring at screens for hours, but that needs to change. Try to engage in a fun, stress-free activity that can keep your brain busy and useful instead.

Board games with a memory element, puzzles, crosswords, or a game of solitaire can help you out. Try to turn to these activities for an hour instead of turning on Youtube videos immediately after your workday.