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Hey Wilderness Witches!
For the past few months or so, I have really been struggling with Brain Fog, and, unfortunately, it is my practice that is bearing the brunt on this particular occasion. So today, I want to share a little bit about what brain fog is and how we can break through it.
Often used by people when they’re feeling a “bit hazy”, brain fog is defined as “a condition in which you cannot think clearly or pay attention to things in a satisfactory way” (Cambridge Dictionary - https://dictionary.cambridge.org/). It affects many people who suffer from vestibular disorders (as well as many other health conditions) and results in diminished mental ability, clouding of consciousness and impaired concentration.
While brain fog may seem to come and go randomly, it is more often than not, triggered by an external factor in your diet, environment or lifestyle. Identifying these triggers can be somewhat problematic, but it is made possible by keeping track of various aspects of your diet, lifestyle and health, in your journal.
My current episode of brain fog has resulted in the complete nosedive of my craft. Not only am I unable to cast spells successfully, I can barely get around to even planning them. Not something that sits well with me, as I very much like to “do”, in my practice.
So, what can we do to help our foggy minds and burst through the clouds of confusion?
Lifestyle management
Building a strong foundation of health is vital when dealing with brain fog. Even during those times of not actively experiencing symptoms, ignoring things like keeping hydrated, eating well, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly can result in the fog rolling in more and more frequently.
Go for a walk
Struggling to be productive? Feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to complete? Find trying to “push through” is only making you feel worse? Go for a walk. Both calming and stimulating to the mind, going for a walk is one of my absolute “go to’s” when experiencing brain fog. I find walking in my local wood or park yields the most beneficial results, but even just pounding the pavements with a couple of laps around the block, still helps reduce the mistiness.
Take notes
Any excuse to buy stationery is a bonus in my book but writing things down can reduce so much of the frustration that comes from the memory impairment aspect of brain fog. Use post-it notes, fancy notepads or even just scraps of paper and place them where they will most likely need to be remembered. Setting reminders on your phone can also be incredibly helpful, particularly for repeating events or things further in the future.
Get rid of distractions
A seemingly obvious solution, yet one that is very often difficult to implement. Obviously, family life still needs attending to, and as much as we would all like to take more time out for ourselves, this is probably not going to happen. However, we do have some control over the seemingly endless bombardment of notifications, emails and information we encounter every day. When dealing with the already limited mental resources of our brain fog, distractions such as these have the ability to deplete us of what little productivity we do still possess. So, turn off your phone, put it in Do Not Disturb mode, hide it away in another room or leave it at home whilst you take a walk. Close down your inbox and web browser while you’re at it, as the intention here is to prevent all potential distractions for a period of time, enabling you to get the most out of the limited energy you’re working with.
Final word
Unfortunately, these strategies are not magickal cures, result won’t be instant, and a small amount of trial and error will be required to determine what works best for you.
Do you suffer with brain fog?
Have you discovered any other strategies that work for you?
Let me know in the comments below.
Until next time,
Amy