Brain Fog Episode 1.7

I know I am very late for this week’s discussion on brain fog. I have been having my own issues with it these days. Insomnia is clouding my brain. Its not that I can’t seem to remember to do things. More like not being able to remember how to do things….and the lack of sleep is killing the energy of my brain cells.  So, even if I am able to do something, the result is not what it should be. Anyway, enough of me. This is a post about someone else’s brain fog, and not my own. Over the past couple of months, I have been profiling b5 media bloggers and their battles with brain fog. However, that’s not going to happen today. A while ago, I put a call out to the readers of this blog to email me, and tell me what their struggles with the BF are all about. The first person who responded was Jenna. So today, is her turn.

Here is Jenna’s problem with the fog:

First problem is one of recognition. I now have little clues that I look for all the time – if I put the water in the kettle then forget to turn it on; if I put the oatmeal on the stove, turn around and start emptying out the dishpan, then carry the dirty dishtowels to the laundry pile only to burn the breakfast I entirely forgot; if it takes me more than half an hour to read through my Bloglines blog updates; if I break or drop more than one thing in an hour…

I think we have all been there!!!

Here is Jenna’s solution number 1:

Then I try and restructure the day avoiding anything prone to disaster: I don’t cut out anything. I don’t bake anything. The dishes are left until the next day (unless they are piled so much I’m knocking things over all the time…). I don’t email anyone likely to take offense. I don’t order anything. My doctor suggests repeating what you are doing while you are doing it (she sang “I’m going to make a tea. I’m going to make a tea….”) – while I haven’t done so out loud, I do sometimes do this in my head! I’ve also written out what I need to do in itty-bitty steps and made myself follow the plan.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the singing solution. It’s a great idea!!!!

Here is Jenna’s solution number 2:

Sometimes physical things are ok, even though my brain is fried. I start with a short walk outside – sometimes the increased blood flow and oxygen to the brain helps. If that goes ok, I look for ‘grunt work’ – stuff that I’ve already figured out, just need the physical effort. Cleaning some of the shower comes to mind! (not that it ever happens )

Walking is great, for clearing out the fog. Not sure about the shower cleaning though, although that could just be me….I hate cleaning the bathroom!

And solution number 3:

And then there are the days that turn disastrous regardless, or those which turn terrible because I ignored the early signs. You just gotta sigh, go to bed with a good book, and hope tomorrow will be a better day.

Sometimes that’s all you can do, just write the day off…and start again tomorrow. Although, I never seem to do that…and disaster just follows disaster for me. But I am glad to know that Jenna at least knows when to say “enough!”

Thanks for sharing your brain fog story and solution, Jenna. You gave me some really great ideas on how to deal with my own.