Getting your words muddled up, losing your train of thought mid sentence, missing appointments, forgetting peoples names…sound familiar? Could it be menopause related brain fog?
Brain fog and poor concentration are two of the top symptoms which cause difficulty for people working through menopause. The good news is you can reboot your brain. Here are my top 3 tips for breaking through the brain fog at work.
What are you Eating and Drinking?
Your gut health is directly linked to your brain health; in fact your gut acts as a 2ndbrain. So if your gut is unhappy your mental faculties will suffer too. Cutting back on the usual suspects like sugar, caffeine and alcohol will really help you to focus.
Your Lifestyle
Cortisol is your main stress hormone and if levels are too high too often you’ll be on permanent red alert and find yourself unable to plan ahead or make critical decisions. You can’t avoid stress in the 21stcentury, especially at work, but you can learn how to manage it and keep your cortisol levels balanced.
When it feels like its all getting too much find an empty meeting room and sit quietly by yourself for 5 minutes. Slow your breathing and you’ll find yourself calming as your parasympathetic nervous system kicks in.
The Right Type of Exercise
Regular exercise doesn’t have to be about smashing it out at the gym 5 times a week. Getting out for a brisk walk each day will increase your oxygen levels and boost your brain power. Instead of working through your lunch break get out the office and walk. When the sun’s out you get the added benefit of a vitamin D top up – crucial during your menopause years.
In summary:
- your gut health is directly linked to your brain health. How happy is your gut?
- you can’t avoid stress but you can learn to manage it by creating space for yourself and
- make time for exercise. Get out the office and walk around the block once a day.