Has it become more difficult for you to keep your attention, make decisions, and remember new things lately? Or maybe you constantly lose your keys, forget about important meetings, or leave the bathroom light on? Or do you have trouble concentrating on your work, so you suffer from low efficiency?
Perhaps the whole point is that we are constantly in "On" mode: flipping through the news, checking social networks, doing work tasks, participating in Zoom conferences and diving into online shopping. It is not surprising that after a whole day in front of the screen of first a smartphone, then a computer or laptop, and then a TV, we experience stress and fatigue from information overload.
If an unbearable fog in your head prevents you from focusing on important things and spoils your life, try one of these tactics.
It doesn't matter what sources you read and what topics you are interested in — there will be frightening messages. Newspapers, TV programs and social media feeds are set up to capture attention, and in this, bad or scandalous news has no equal. But it's worth being careful: negativity can shake our mental well-being and not in the best way affect how we make decisions.
To avoid unpleasant consequences, be careful about what kind of news you read and how often. If you have already read a not very joyful message this morning, do not watch the evening news release. Or try to limit your time on social media — this will ease the feeling of loneliness and reduce anxiety. And it's better to take a regular break from gadgets. This way you can fully focus on your work.
Physical activity improves M. Angevaren, G. Aufdemkampe, et al. Physical activity and enhanced fitness to improve cognitive function in older people without known cognitive impairment / Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews our cognitive abilities, while sitting for a long time without interruption, bind B. Chandrasekaran, A. J. Pesola, et al. Does breaking up prolonged sitting improve cognitive functions in sedentary adults? A mapping review and hypothesis formulation on the potential physiological mechanisms / BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders with their deterioration, as well as with changes in the brain that lead to P. Siddarth, A. C. Burggren, et al. Sedentary behavior associated with reduced medial temporal lobe thickness in middle-aged and older adults / Plos One to dementia.
This does not mean that you need to turn into a person who gets up at 5 a.m. and goes for a run with a smile. Even a small load can give a good result. If there is a park or other open space near your home or work, take regular breaks for walks. Research confirms M. G. Berman, J. Jonides, S. Kaplan. The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature / Psychological Science that nature has a positive effect on our cognitive skills.
Scientists from the UK have studied J. Ingram, C. J. Hand, G. Maciejewski. Social isolation during COVID-19 lockdown impairs cognitive function / Applied Cognitive Psychology The impact of isolation and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic on our mental abilities. It turned out that they improve significantly when we have the opportunity to communicate with others.
Write to your parents, gather in a cafe with friends or spend a quiet evening with a loved one — and you will feel much better.
You probably have friends who are always busy with different hobbies. They draw, learn to play the piano, study French, write poetry or make unusual crafts.
It's time to take an example from them. Research proves E. R. Oby, M. D. Golub, et al. New neural activity patterns emerge with long-term learning / PNAS that learning new things helps to maintain brain health and has a positive effect on the formation of neural connections.
Of course, if you are already loaded, you should not take on even more. Add something new to your daily life little by little, for example, try unusual recipes or take different routes to work.
If you have already tried everything you can, but the fog in your head still does not dissipate, do not scold yourself. We live in an extraordinary time, so show yourself a little more compassion. Forgive yourself for minor mistakes, such as another loss of keys or an argument with the boss.
In case your condition turns into a real depression, contact a specialist. It will help you deal with emotional problems and return to a productive mode.
It's important to learn to accept the fact that right now we may not be the best version of ourselves. Maybe it's out of our control altogether. But if we start to notice what "feeds" our brain and makes it work with pleasure, then we will finally be able to dispel the fog and continue moving forward.
