No More Brain Fog

By Steve Gillman

Techniques For Clear Thinking

Where are...car...my keys...hmm...and that...oh yeah, but...hmm - This is your brain on stress. You've had the experience, right? How can you combat "brain fog," and think more clearly? Try some of the following.

Clear space means clear thinking. Despite protests to the contrary, it's rare that a person can work better in clutter. An organized office or home means you won't have the thought "where is that..." distracting your mind.

Sleep better. Individual sleep requirements vary, but the bare minimum for almost everyone is somewhere around five hours. Many of us suffer if we sleep less than eight. The research, however, seems to indicate that after a minimum quantity, the quality of sleep is more important to normal brain function.

Try meditation. The simplest form is to close your eyes, relax, and watch your breath. Your mind will wander, but just continually return your attention to your breath. Do this for five minutes, and you'll see results.

Mindfulness: A Powerful Technique For Clear Thinking

Resolve your "mind irritations," by watching what's going on in your head. This takes practice, but you can start now. Maybe a phone call you need to make has been quietly bothering you all day, just below consciousness. Perhaps you are worried about an upcoming meeting.

Tune in to your mind. When you are aware of these stressors, small and large, do something to let them go for the moment. For example, make that phone call, or just put it on your "to do" list and your mind will let go of the concern for now. Just bringing a problem to full consciousness and telling yourself something like, "There is nothing I can do about this until Friday," will often stop unconscious worrying.

After doing this a few times, you'll find it becomes easier to recognize what's just below the surface, irritating you and sapping your brainpower. Take care of those things, and clearer thinking is automatic.

More Tips For Clearer Thinking

1. Take a walk. Research will eventually show this to be one of the best things you can do to improve the quality of your thinking. Don't wait for the proof. There are enough other reasons to take a walk anyhow.

2. Avoid all sugars. If you really don't understand the concept of brain fog, eat sugary cake on an empty stomach, then try to do math problems twenty minutes later. You'll get the point. This is what they call the "sugar blues."

3. Take several deep breaths. Breath through your nose when you do this.

4. Avoid alcohol. It kills brain cells.

You don't have to use all of these tips and techniques to have clearer thinking, but try at least a couple today, and make one or two a habit. You'll have a more powerful brain.

Steve Gillman has been studying brain improvement, concentration, creative problem solving, and related topics for years. You can visit his website, and subscribe for free to his Brain Power Newsletter at: http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/newsletter.html

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Related page: Enhanced Mental Clarity.

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