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Written by Steve Gillman
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You may have heard the expression, or even had the experience,
but what is brain fog? It is that state of mind when you can't
quite focus or think clearly. As for how to cure it, that
depends on the cause. There are two basic kinds of causes.
Physical Causes Of Brain Fog
A lack of sleep can make it difficult to concentrate. Sleep
requirements vary, but the bare minimum for almost everyone is
somewhere around five hours, and many of us suffer if we sleep
less than seven or eight hours. Some research indicates that
after a minimum quantity, the quality of sleep is more important
to the normal functioning of your brain.
Too much sugar can cause brain fog. To prove this to yourself,
eat a piece of sugary cake on an empty stomach and try to do
math problems thirty minutes later. What you'll experience is
commonly known as the "sugar blues," and can leave you tired and
irritable. Avoid eating too much sugar if you want mental
clarity.
Certain prescription drugs can cause brain fog. Illness, alcohol
and even brain damage are possible culprits too. Some of these
problems can be remedied on your own, while others will require
the help of medical professionals. You may have to experiment a
bit to see what helps (talk to your doctor if this means
quitting or reducing a prescription).
Mental Causes Of Brain Fog
Specific thoughts and worries can make it tough to think
clearly. I refer to these as "mind irritations." They can easily
get in the way of your attempts to focus. Such unresolved
thoughts or feelings are often just below consciousness. Just as
it would be difficult to concentrate on work in the middle of a
chaotic group of people, it is tough to focus a mind full of
unwanted thoughts and feelings. An unmade decision that is
hanging there, a conversation that wasn't quite finished,
thoughts about the future, and many common worries could all be
sapping your brainpower.
A simple mindfulness technique can take care of this problem.
Start by watching what's going on in your head until you become
conscious of the "noise" and "characters" in there. Perhaps a
thank you card you need to write has been quietly bothering you
all day, for example. Maybe you're worried about an upcoming job
interview, or continually reviewing what someone said to you
three hours ago.
Pay attention for a minute or two, and once you become aware of
these "mind irritations," do something to resolve each one. You
might send that card, for example, or just put it on your "to
do" list so your mind can let go of the thought for the moment.
If nothing else, bring a problem to full consciousness and tell
yourself something like, "There is nothing I can do about this
until Thursday." This categorizing of things as "nothing to
worry about now," will often stop unconscious thoughts from
repeating themselves.
Once you have done this a few times, you'll find it becomes
easier to recognize what's just below the surface, irritating
you and preventing concentration. If you take care of those
things, clearer thinking is almost guaranteed. Finally, one last
suggestion: Taking several deep breaths through your nose and
letting the tension drain from your body can sometimes clear
that brain fog in seconds.
About the Author:
Copyright Steve Gillman. For more on Clear Thinking, and
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