MIT neuroscientist shares 4 things she never does to avoid ‘brain fog and forgetfulness’

MIT neuroscientist shares 4 issues she by no means does to keep away from ‘mind fog and forgetfulness’

The alarm goes off. You dress, have your espresso and go to work. However at lunchtime, you begin to really feel disorganized. You re-read emails since you lack focus and psychological readability.

There may be nothing worse than mind fog. Together with stress and lack of sleep, it may be brought on by the immune system creating an inflammatory response within the mind. This may result in signs corresponding to poor focus and reminiscence, or issue making choices.

As a neuroscientist, I research the causes of mind fog and forgetfulness. To keep away from them, listed below are 4 issues I by no means do:

1. I by no means let my physique tense up for too lengthy.

Even if you happen to suppose you might be relaxed, your physique could also be bodily tense (eg stiff neck, again or shoulder ache). It may be the results of stress brought on by issues like unfinished duties or impending deadlines.

So after I discover that my physique is tense, I instantly do an train known as “respiratory field”:

Inhale by your nostril, counting slowly for 4 seconds.
Maintain your breath for 4 seconds.
Exhale by your nostril, releasing all of the air out of your lungs, counting slowly to 4 seconds.
Maintain your breath for 4 seconds.
Repeat for a minimum of 4 rounds.

Field respiratory is an easy means to assist calm your mind. Studies also show that it can reduce levels of cortisol, which is the chemical produced when the body is stressed.

2. I never use screens an hour before bedtime.

As tempting as it may be to scroll through Instagram or watch TV before bed, these activities can be too stimulating for the brain.

Instead, I try to read a book before turning off the lights. If that doesn’t help me sleep, I do a “relaxation body scan”, squeezing and relaxing the muscles – starting with my toes and working up to my head.

Ideally, we need around eight hours of sleep per night. More than that can lead to a depressed mood, and less than that doesn’t give the brain enough time to rest and reset.

3. I never fill up on glucose.

If your gut isn’t healthy, your brain can also fail. I strengthen my gut-brain axis by maintaining a diet rich in hydrating foods, healthy fats and digestible proteins.

More importantly, I try to avoid sugar. Your brain uses glucose (sugar) for fuel, but refined carbohydrates like high fructose corn syrup found in sodas are not good sources of fuel. Your brain gets a puff of too much glucose, then too little.

This can lead to irritability, fatigue, mental confusion and impaired judgement.

I also eat magnesium-rich foods — whole grains, leafy greens, dried beans, and legumes — to help regulate my mood and sleep cycle. And I make sure I have my last caffeinated drink of the day before 10:00 a.m.

4. I never go a day without meditating.

I meditate at least 12 minutes a day.

Doing this at night can help alleviate brain fog the next day:

Remove all distractions from your bedroom.
Sit or lie down in a comfortable position.
Take deep breaths.
Quietly observe your thoughts.
Whatever thoughts come up, just acknowledge them to focus on your breathing.

If you don’t like to meditate, you can do a mindful activity like cooking or going for a quiet walk.

I also recommend finding a mantra you can say in the morning, like, “Brain fog is a state of mind. I’m going to bed early tonight and I’ll be fine tomorrow.”

By articulating your goals out loud, you can begin to change your habits in a more intentional way. And through that repetition, your brain and your body will begin to follow suit.