Read more about exercise as a treatment for chronic stress and pain. Plus, harvesting your own fresh vegetables is satisfying and delicious.

Robust evidence from a 2017 analysis shows that gardening can reduce anxiety and depression and increase life satisfaction. Research from 2019 has found it may improve insomnia. It’s been found to improve cognitive function, according to a 2021 research review. Studies, like one from 2019 in Iran, show it can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Even 10 minutes may boost mood, per 2018 research. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you exercise for 30 minutes per day, any kind of movement counts. But that’s not all - a 2021 study suggests it can also distract us from upsetting thoughts and a 2017 study notes that it can aid in emotional regulation after a stressful event. Research from 2015 has shown that exercise may relieve chronic pain and fatigue. A 2016 study found that exercise promotes the expression of proteins in the brain that enhance brain function and reduce instances of anxiety and depression. Scientists have associated a wide variety of exercises with improved brain function. So if your mind’s feeling off, it might be helpful to get moving. Your brain and body are intimately connected. You might have heard people comparing your brain to a computer, but the truth is a lot more complicated than that. Read more about the importance of taking a break. A large body of research points at nature as a positive promoter of mental health. Researchers from 2018 suggested that creativity is a worthy opponent to stress. This might include painting, writing, coloring, dancing, cooking, or baking. Naps may strengthen memory retention and cognition, 2017 research says, especially for young adults. Research from 2020 suggests social connection improves brain function. Just a few mindful minutes can increase concentration, per 2018 research.

To give your brain a more efficient break, try: One 2019 study showed that reaching for a cell phone did not allow the brain to recharge as effectively as other types of relaxation. Not all mental breaks are created equal, however. It might be best to momentarily quit.Ī 2016 study suggested that stepping away from a task and taking a break can substantially improve your performance, focus, and degree of self-control. Have you ever felt like you just couldn’t get yourself to focus on a task, no matter how hard you tried? Well, research suggests the solution isn’t to try harder. We’ve partnered with C60 Purple Power, known for its 99.99% pure Carbon 60 products, to create your go-to guide for fighting brain fog.

But, if all you’re experiencing is a little bit of fogginess, it might be worth it to test out a few lifestyle changes. If your brain fog is disrupting your everyday routine or making it hard to perform daily tasks, you should make an appointment with a healthcare professional. MacKinnon says that because there are so many different factors related to brain fog, there’s no one-size-fits-all way of treating it. In fact, a 2021 study found that 7 percent of people with long-haul COVID-19 reported brain fog.

certain medications (such as those for anxiety and depression).

But most of the time, the sensation is temporary,” MacKinnon adds. “We all have periods of not thinking as sharply as we’d like. “’Brain fog’ isn’t a scientific term itself, but rather a mild cognitive dysfunction that may be caused by many different conditions,” says Dean MacKinnon, MD, associate professor of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins. You might be experiencing brain fog, a term used to describe a set of symptoms that impact your ability to think.

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