How to deal with one of the main symptoms of Covid, Long Covid and Omicron

With the omicron variety on the rise and the number of cases still rising, a common symptom of Covid that many have struggled with is brain fog.

Whether you’re having trouble concentrating at work or feeling a little more forgetful than usual, brain fog can be extremely frustrating for those who suffer from it.

With that in mind, Lensstore has teamed up with experts to provide some tips on how to cope with and reduce the effects of brain fog.

Rebecca Lockwood, neurolinguistic programming coach, says: “When you’re not focused and constantly thinking about things and worrying, it can leave the brain foggy and fuzzy, making it hard to concentrate.”

“It is important for your emotional and mental well-being to constantly monitor your mental health. This is often called “brain fog”. Brain fog can make you feel like you can’t concentrate long enough to do anything productive. It can also make you feel like making the smallest of decisions is difficult, can cause headaches, and heightened levels of stress and anxiety.

6 tips to reduce the effects of brain fog

Take regular breaks

Rebbecca Lockwood suggests “taking regular breaks and not trying to push yourself too far. If you feel like you need a time out, take one. Have no expectations of yourself and what you should do and allow yourself to honor the feelings you have.

Step away from digital screens

“Looking at screens a lot can cause you to have too much foveal vision. This is when you only focus on the thing right in front of you. That alone can increase stress levels and make you feel less motivated to do something else.

“The opposite of that is peripheral vision. That’s when ‘you have eyes in the back of your head,’ as your mother might have told you when you were young. When we’re in peripheral vision, we are able to focus on all the things around us at the same time, it leaves us feeling calmer and more grounded in ourselves.

Eliminate distractions

With screen time on the rise and the internet becoming more accessible than ever, Rebecca recommends “moving your phone out of your awareness and eliminating any other distractions that might tempt you to do something else instead.”

Be sure to get sufficient amounts of water and sleep

Adjusting certain lifestyle factors can have a big impact on brain fog. Nutritionist Ellie Busby stresses the importance of gaining 7-8 hours of sleep each night while increasing your water intake to at least 1.5 liters per day.

Analyze your diet

Nutritionist Ellie Busby recommends “making sure you’re drinking enough water and getting the most important nutrients for the brain. Log all your foods and supplements for a few days using a nutrient tracker like MyFitnessPal or Cronometer. Be sure to take B12 and iodine supplements daily if you’re vegan or vegetarian, and be sure to get enough iron if your ferritin levels are low.

Relax

Ellie Busby also recommends participating in activities that help you relax and reduce your stress levels, such as walking, yoga, or reading, as these can be a great way to reduce the effects of brain fog.