VeryWell Mind: Can't Focus? Same. These 5 Tips Will Cure Your Brain Fog Stat

 Can't Focus? Same. These 5 Tips Will Cure Your Brain Fog Stat


By
Kendra Cherry, MSEd
Updated on October 10, 2024
Medically reviewed by
Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD, FAAN





Sleep became a distant memory after I had twins—three non-consecutive hours on a good night. Balancing two newborns, a preschooler, and a full-time job had me running on fumes, way too much caffeine, and sheer willpower. But it was the constant brain fog that left me feeling disconnected and scattered.

“Brain fog is a term used to describe a wide range of cognitive difficulties, including problems with focus, memory, processing (thinking) speed, and mental clarity,” Dr. Simon Faynboym, MD, a psychiatrist and medical director at Neuro Wellness Spa, says. “Unlike normal mental fatigue, which is temporary overuse of your cognition, brain fog feels more persistent and can occur even without significant mental exertion.”
What Does Brain Fog Feel Like?

“People experiencing brain fog often describe it as feeling ‘mentally cloudy,’ ‘feeling mentally off’ or ‘hazy,’ with symptoms such as forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, slow thinking, and confusion,” Dr. Faynboym explains. While brain fog is often characterized as just being tired or forgetful, it's a lot more than that. Researchers sometimes refer to it as sluggish cognitive tempo.1rain fog is pretty much what it sounds like—a hazy, zoned-out feeling that makes focusing a major challenge. Your thoughts seem fuzzy, and doing simple tasks often feels like wading through molasses. For me, that looked like leaving my wallet at the bank, missing doctor's appointments, and occasionally mixing up my twins. Oops. Yeah, not my finest moments.


Lack of sleep is a major culprit, but there are many reasons why brain fog might creep up on you. Certain medical and mental health conditions are sometimes involved, but it's often just everyday things like stress, dehydration, or poor diet. Even spending too much time staring at your phone can leave you feeling a little out of it. If you're stuck in a spaced-out funk, getting to the bottom of the problem is key. Once you recognize the “why,” it's a lot easier to find ways to clear the fog.







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