Have you ever gotten up to go get something, then forgotten what it was before you got there? It happens to all of us. But what about when that sensation doesn’t seem to go away? Some people have a chronic issue which prevents them from remembering things clearly or holding thoughts in their head, and you’ve probably heard of it. It’s called brain fog.
You might also hear it called “clouding of consciousness,” and these terms are used by doctors and health experts to describe abnormal functioning of overall consciousness. It can be mild enough that you write it off as lack of sleep, but at the same time, severe enough to drastically impact your productivity and general well-being.
Entrepreneurs are both susceptible to it — and vulnerable to its effects
Brain fog can affect anyone, but in my years of practice I’ve noticed that it tends to weigh especially heavily on entrepreneurs and other people with creative lifestyles. Why? It has to do with the habits those individuals often have, things like:
- inconsistent sleep schedule
- poor diet
- high stress levels
- the “I can’t afford to get sick” paradox
That last one is particularly interesting — and important. People with a lot of responsibility frequently show a pattern of ignoring their bodies’ own warning system, instead of focusing their energy outward. Entrepreneurs are a classic example of this, caring about employees, clients, company goals, and plenty more — all while neglecting themselves.
Unfortunately, those same people — the ones with the most responsibility — have the most to lose by not taking care of their minds and bodies. Staying healthy and productive is so important to long-term success, and chronic, untreated brain fog is more than enough to grind things to a halt.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
Medical professionals aren’t 100% certain what causes brain fog, and it can differ from patient to patient. However, we do know quite a lot of risk factors, and as with many health-related issues, the best cure is prevention. When it comes to my own clients, I’ve had a lot of success — sometimes life-changing success — introducing them to simple programs that emphasize things such as:
- prioritizing good sleep
- eating organic, pesticide-free foods
- avoiding moldy environments
- staying hydrated
Of course, there are more specific treatment options that depend on the person, but the important points to be made here are that brain fog is not normal, it is debilitating, but you can treat and recover from it.
Embrace a healthy, proactive mindset and rise above the fog.