Brain Fog – Symptoms, Causes & Beating Strategies

We all experience fuzzy thoughts sometimes. For instance, your mind becomes less sharp when you are ill or lack sleep. But how can you understand if it’s brain fog or not?

In this article, we covered the symptoms and causes of brain fog and most importantly, how to get rid of it.

What is brain fog?

Brain fog isn’t a scientific term or medical condition. It describes when you constantly feel foreign to yourself. If you have trouble focusing on reading a simple e-mail or forget about what you ate last night you might have brain fog. Brain fog symptoms include:

• having fuzzy thoughts,
• being unable to concentrate,
• experiencing memory loss,
• not having mental clarity,
• having difficulty recalling things on a regular basis.

What are the causes of brain fog?

There are a variety of causes behind this disturbing condition. The most common causes of brain fog are:

• Chronic stress
• Sleep deficiency
• Poor eating habits
• Nutrient deficiencies such as vitamin B12 deficiency
• Spending too much time on the screen
• Depression and anxiety
• Medical conditions such as heart disease or hormonal imbalances

How to get rid of brain fog

When you are mentally exhausted, there are some simple strategies that can get back your clear mind.

• Get enough sleep: Your body needs to sleep in order to get rid of unhealthy toxins which can contribute to brain fog. Improving your sleep is important to support this cleaning process. So target to sleep 7-8 hours per night and try to avoid electronic devices before bedtime to sleep better.

• Keep a balanced diet: What you eat is also important for a sharp mind. Include some leafy greens, whole grains, healthy fats, and proteins in your meals. Consume less processed and sugary foods.

• Try intermittent fasting: If you’re already paying attention to what you eat and still experience brain fog, you may try to change the time you have your meals. Intermittent fasting is a popular regimen based on restricting the times of food consumption during the day. Recent studies show that intermittent fasting improves your mental clarity and concentration in the long term. You can get your personal fasting plan by downloading Fasting Kompanion.

• Be in flow with yoga or meditation: Yoga and meditation are great to relieve stress. Relaxing your body provides a relaxed mind so it reduces mental fogginess.

• Deepen your thoughts: Your brain loves engaging in deep thoughts. Channel this deep thinking to something you like to do. You can listen to a podcast or watch a film and take your time to think about its content afterward.
• Create screen-free times: Sitting too much on the computer or scrolling through Instagram for hours makes you feel dizzy and foggy. Take screen-free breaks while working on the computer and try digital detox to sharpen your mind.

The bottom line

Having a foggy brain is a common problem, especially at these times when we spend hours on the screen. It makes you feel uncomfortable and out of yourself. Some health problems can lead to mental fogginess so if your symptoms persist, you should consult a medical professional for further support.