Contributed by: Jane Sandwood
If you’re a typical white collar worker, you probably spend more than half your workday receiving and processing information. 60 million Americans work in the knowledge sector, which has led to a crisis of brain fog: that feeling of being unable to think straight due to information overload. These jobs are associated with long work hours and those who work more than 11 hours a day have been found to be twice as likely to develop depression. For people living with a low mood condition, this lack of mental clarity can be triggered more quickly and be harder to deal with. However, thinking clearly will help you to make wise decisions and achieve the most from life. Here’s how to stay clear minded during a depressive episode.
Before you can overcome a mind fog, you need to recognize when it occurs. Sometimes, you can be so lost in over thinking, that you’re not even aware that it is happening. Keep a diary and note down your thoughts every couple of hours. Is your mind filled with negative and anxious thoughts or does it feel rather still and calm? This should help you to spot a mental fog appearing, so that you can take the following steps to overcome it.
Find a Quiet Place to Meditate
Mindfulness meditation is one of the most effective remedies against an overloaded mind, which has led to it becoming commonly prescribed by doctors. 1 in 30 of us has now been told to practice spiritual activities, such as yoga and meditation in order to boost mental and physical health. That’s over six million Americans. When you are looking to cope with brain fog, take yourself to quiet place if possible and focus on a single object, such as the rise and fall of your chest as you take deep breaths, and feel yourself return to a place of mental clarity.
Maintain a Consistently Healthy Lifestyle
The brain is a complicated machine, which requires the right care to function at its best. While some brains may be wired for overthinking more than others, all brains will benefits from a healthy diet. The most effective brain foods include heavy doses of omega-3, which is contained in oily fish and nuts, along with dark colored fruit and veg, such as kale, spinach and blueberries. Remember to exercise regularly to keep blood flowing to the brain and clear the mind of worries.
Mental clarity is an extremely important part of mental health, but many take it for granted. If depression affects you, then take comfort in knowing that you can take control of the brain fog. When it starts to occurs, find space to relax and detach from information, even if just for a couple of minutes to meditate. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising will also keep your brain working properly and help to keep your mind clear.
