Morning brain fog? Read this.

Holidays are over and you’re back to work. Problem is, your brain doesn’t seem to be awake until mid-morning, leaving you lacklustre for any 8am meetings, plus reliant on three (sleep sabotaging) espressos to get you going. Morning brain fog – we’ve all been there. And fortunately for you, we have four simple strategies to see your brain fog disappear – some within minutes. 8am meeting? Can confirm!

1. Stay hydrated. Research shows dehydration correlates with inattention, lack of coordination and poor problem solving – symptoms common to anyone with ‘brain fog’. Think your 2L of water is enough? Think again. You need an additional 1L for each hour of exercise; and even more when it’s hot. Keep a glass next to your bed to ensure you drink 500ml as soon as you rise – by the time you’ve been awake for 20 minutes, you’ll see a significant difference.

2. Supplement up. Leverage nootropics with Performance Lab’s Mind – it contains Citicoline, a factor to heighten brain cell renewal by 26% – leaving you more sharp, focused and ‘on point’. The supplement also contains healthy fat phosphatidyserine, promoting neural repair. Particularly for those under stress, restoring your neurons to full functioning will lessen morning fog – it’s a key sign they are damaged. Take the Mind supplement as soon as you wake up, and throughout the day, should you find yourself flatlining.

3. Sleep properly. Studies show slow-wave (deep) sleep detoxifies the brain from neurotoxin beta-amyloid – responsible for memory loss. This is exactly why after a night of poor sleep, you find yourself forgetting seemingly simple information. And for those who haven’t slept properly all week? I’ve got bad news: over time, the neurotoxin builds up, pronouncing deficits in memory.

4. Cut out gluten. Linked closely by the gut-brain axis, research shows gut inflammation has adverse effects upon the brain, making it more difficult for you to focus, learn and memorise information. Pro-inflammatory gluten means even for those who are not fully celiac, it’s likely gluten still contributes to your brain fog. Not sure if it applies to you? Test out a gluten-free diet for seven days. Chances are, you’ll see a significant improvement in your brain fog – morning, afternoon and evening.