Brain fog is a key symptom of perimenopause. Oestrogen is particularly important for how our brains function and it can be annoying and sometimes worrying when our brains start to change.
Long term, our brains generally learn to work with the new normal and recalibrate and become as effective as ever. I highly recommend reading Lisa Mosconi’s The Menopause Brain if you want to know more. But if you want to help with focus and concentration in the short term, read here to see what gives me an instant pick me up
- Water – if you are only 2% dehydrated (i.e. you wouldn’t even notice) then this can affect your concentration. Have a big glass of water before an important meeting.
- Movement – go for a quick walk. Run up and down the stairs. It’ll help with your concentration. And change your posture – there’s a reason why we automatically sit up straight when someone “important” comes into the room. It affects the blood flow to our brains and we can think more clearly.
- Go outside – you know the studies. It brings down stress levels, fast. And therefore allows your brain to focus on focussing.
- Have a square (or two) of dark chocolate – A 2017 study showed that flavanols (found in dark chocolate and cocoa, among other foods) may benefit human brain function. I have recently discovered Bare Bones Chocolate – an award winning and delicious treat.
- Write it down – I heard recently we can only hold 4 things in our brains before we start compromising on our clarity of thought. Don’t use your brain to store too much information. Write it down.
- Move locations – work somewhere new. The change of scene and the focus I got when I tried this was surprisingly good!
There are of course mid-longer term habits that can support your brain and these are important to know and to start including day to day. From nutrition to lifestyle and sleep, you can make a difference to how your brain works. If you’d like more to get more support, or are interested in trying out a week long course with nutrition, movement and lifestyle tips, then our Kickstarter Thrive in ’25 is currently available for £45.
Sign up for the 40s Woman Newsletter
Are you over 35 and noticing a difference in how you feel?
Do you want to gain an understanding of changes that are happening, some without us knowing?
Do you want to hear about some great additions we can include in our lives as and when we want to?
Sign up to the newsletter for some take home practical tips, plus enjoyable reads of other 40s Women