Baby, It’s Foggy Inside

This article has been researched and written by Arelang Naturals^® in-house writers.

What really is brain fog? How does the brain suddenly go into a state of disarray? How does something that almost always functions at max suddenly glitch? The answer is more simple than you think. Give a good read to what we are about to tell you.

A cloudy-headed, confused and forgetful feeling, brain fog is not a medical condition but a very common cognitive dysfunction attributed to ‘mental fatigue’ or ‘mental exhaustion’ or what we commonly call Brain Fog. As we age, our body goes through a lot of changes. Physiological as well as Psychological. The most common thing people notice is that the brain is unable to learn and remember things as well as it once did. Even mundane things like leaving without the car keys when you are taking the car out or forgetting the name of a person you met just 2 days ago (an all too familiar feeling!), finding yourself going into the kitchen and having completely blanked out on what work you had there, difficulty concentrating or learning new things, all these become a part of the problems of everyday.

As taxing as this sounds, here’s the good part! Brain fogging and mental fatigue is easy to overcome as long as you can figure out the reasons behind what's causing it before the frustration and forgetfulness sets in. Here are some of the common causes that need not hold a permanent spot in your life.

Stress: Stress has always been a survival mechanism for the human body. However, we tend to stress about more things now than our ancestors did. A work deadline, an exam, a chirping bird, literally anything could stress us out. That might sound normal. But, these continuous stressors become chronic stress conditions. Stress releases chemical reactions that add to hormonal imbalances in the body and tires the brain out. That could affect your cognitive function - causing you to forget things, and feel lost and confused. Keeping your mind worried and constantly working, leads to irritability, loss of concentration, and barely any focus on even the simplest tasks at hand.

So what do you do?

It is important to identify triggers and step back from tasks that start to stress you out. Step back, go for a short walk, close your eyes for a few moments and think of a pleasant memory. Even better, there are supplements rich in adaptogens that replenish nutrients in your body, calm your mind down and help your brain unwind.

Next, meditate and relax! Your mind and body both need to declutter. While the body finds a way to eliminate waste every morning, the mind too needs a health break from the current and mundane. Meditate for at least 15 minutes a day. No thoughts, just one with yourself. That helps bring your brain activity back in sync, gives you time for some self love and centers your mind to happy thoughts!

Diet: Most things tie back to the importance of a healthy diet, including brain and cognitive function. Much like the rest of the body, the brain needs a rich supply of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Without this, it can feel fatigued like your body and lead to impaired functioning.

So what do you do?

Clean up your diet! Incorporate at least one good nutritious meal every day rich in fruits, veggies, and light on the oil. Add micronutrient-rich and brain-boosting foods to your daily meals so that your brain can absorb the best of it and function the way it should. Next - supplement the lack of nutrients and vitamins in the body such that your brain can absorb the best of it and function the way it should.

Sleep: Sleep, Rest, Relax. The single most important thing to the human body after high-quality nutrition has to be rest. Sleeping fewer hours than stipulated or disturbed sleep can cause many health issues. Brain fog is amongst them. A sleepless brain is a tired brain and will not be able to function at full throttle. Besides the body gets most of its nutrition absorption, cell repair, overall maintenance work done while you are sleeping. When you are sleep deprived, you are also depriving your body from getting its repair, creating an imbalance in your hormones and worse still compromising your immunity.

So what do you do?

Get in a good night's sleep. Not just once a week. Everyday. Put your phone aside an hour before bedtime. Get your serotonin going with supplements or foods that encourage their production, so your body can release melatonin and put you into a long night's slumber. .

Next lay low on the caffeine and the alcohol. Not only will you sleep better, the rest of your body and most importantly, your brain, will remain healthy.

Physical Inactivity: Your body needs a workout. Even if just a quick walk with some nice music. That's not just to be physically fit. The fresh air will do your lungs some good, and your brain can release hormones that help it function faste, the sweat pores will release the toxins. Also tire you out a little so you can get a good night's sleep. Indulge in a sport, a few laps in the pool, a walk in the park, a workout on some thumping music.

While these tips and tricks help clear your head and prepare for all the thinking and storing that the brain has to do if you cannot cope with mental fatigue, you must speak to a mental health professional and get adequate support.