Stuck in a mental fog? 4 research-backed ways to clear your mind

Even for those who have been lucky enough to dodge a COVID infection, research shows large numbers of people are complaining about vague but persistent symptoms of “brain fog” and memory problems. UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center combed through t

Get your news fixation under control

“Repeated exposure to crises wreaks havoc with our well-being and can lead to bad decision making.” Common sense steps like limiting your news or social media consumption to set periods and taking short “digital detox” breaks. “Whether we’re trying and failing to make plans, keeping up with the ever-changing recommendations around COVID, or doomscrolling about climate change or the war in Ukraine, it’s hard to avoid anxiety about the future. That’s going to impact our brains,” explains Greater Good.

Get moving (preferably in nature)

Greater Good reports that “research confirms that being out in more natural settings is helpful for our well-being and has positive effects on our cognition above and beyond those coming from exercise alone.”

Stay connected to others

Another big cause of our collective decline in cognitive sharpness is isolation. Research shows that being cut off from other humans harms our memory, concentration, decision-making, and learning. And that being around others improves them. “A recent review of many studies (pre-pandemic) confirms that socializing is important for keeping yourself cognitively fit.”

Try new challenges

“Whether there’s a pandemic on or not, using your brain in new, challenging ways is good for neural health, and will help your brain stay healthy,” Greater Good reminds readers. “Noticing opportunities to incorporate new things into your everyday routines—even taking a new route on your walk or trying out a new recipe—could give your brain a fun workout without adding more to your to-do list.”