Brain fog is a common affliction among the pandemic. Here are some effective ways to deal.
The coronavirus pandemic has felt eternal, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s progressed pretty quickly. More and more people are getting vaccinated and we’re nearing the day when things will go back to normalish. Still, the world has changed, and it’s expected that we feel as if we’re emotionally exhausted without knowing the exact source.
Brain fog is hard to define, but it encapsulates this feeling of tiredness and lack of productivity and energy. Quarantine brain basically. Brain fog is not a mental condition, but it’s produced by things like lack of sleep, stress and chaos — things that we’ve had our fill of over the past year.
Here are 5 ways to cope with brain fog:
Create the space for breaks
When spending the majority of time at home, it’s common to finish your work day at 7pm. Sometimes, these aren’t hours spent focused doing what you’re supposed to do, but on working, spending time on social media, getting distracted and then working again.
Do your best to break this cycle, creating the space for breaks. These can include preparing some lunch, going for a walk, for a run or reading something away from your computer. Breaks with intent stimulate your mind and improve your mood. They will help you get rid of brain fog and to come back to work with a more creative and purposeful approach.
Socialize
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Socializing varies in difficulty depending on the person. For some, it’s easy while for others it’s draining, requiring them to make an effort to hang out with friends and loved ones. When experiencing brain fog, it’s very important to see other people and talk to them, getting some much needed perspective. Ease into the process slowly, especially if you’ve spent the past year alone, but make it a priority.
Stay active
Staying active not only breaks up the monotony of your day, it also helps you have some structure. Try your best to be active at least once a day, whether that means going for a brief walk around the neighborhood, to stretching in your yoga mat.
Be positive with yourself
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We tend to talk down to ourselves a lot. It’s a bad habit that’s very harmful and difficult to shake off. Try your best to have some compassion for yourself, reminding yourself that it’s okay to go through an adjustment period when going through strange circumstances. Which is basically what this entire year has been.
Focus on your routine
The pandemic has forced us to rework and rebuild our routines time and time again. Brain fog is a sign that you should work on your routine again, switching it up in a way that feels fresh and invigorating. Incorporate activities that make you happy in your day to day life, going on walks in lieu of commutes or using the extra time in the mornings to do something that makes you feel happy and relaxed.
