To say that everyone currently in lockdown is feeling a little foggy, distracted and struggling with motivation recently is an understatement. Regardless of how incredible your work team is, how much space you have at home, or how busy you’re making yourself, it’s difficult to stay inspired without our usual social connections.
That said, it’s nice to remember that you’re not alone. Experts say we are all experiencing “pandemic brain” – an inability to remember things and follow through on tasks.
Just like a simple leg stretch to break up the workday, the brain needs a workout, too. And with lockdown causing extreme changes in our lifestyle, we now need to be deliberately exercising those thinking skills.
With this in mind, we’ve been putting some thought into mind-body practises we can all do, to boost our collective brainpower. After all, the more you train your brain, the more you’ll improve critical cognitive skills, which will help you to feel more motivated to get up and slay the day.
Here are five ways to combat that pesky WFH brain fog:
Get Moving
We all know how easy it can be to stay glued to our desk when working from home, especially without a friendly colleague to remind you to grab a coffee or take a break. We’d normally burn off some of this stress by heading to the gym or jumping in the pool. A recent study by the University of Queensland revealed that weekly moderate physical activity increased people’s cognitive function on average by 5% for men and 14% for women. We know it’s hard to get motivated, but there are endless ways you can exercise at home. You could do some Yoga with Adriene, a dance workout with Amanda Kloots, or even a Cher hot dance (which is a personal fave) if you’re looking for some exercise that doesn’t feel like exercise.
Daily Trivia
If you are one Love Island episode away from completely losing it, you can keep your mind stimulated by using Alexa’s Question of the Day skill, which only recently become available in Australia. From arts and entertainment to literature and science, Alexa poses a new trivia question for you every day. Start off your morning learning a quirky fact and collect points as you progress. You could even implement a trivia game into your workday and involve other colleagues who need a brain stimulation boost. Who doesn’t love a game of trivia?
Eat a Delicious Meal
The foods you eat play a large role in keeping your brain in peak working condition. Food also acts as the ultimate mood booster. According to nutrition experts, these are some of the best foods to support your brain and memory: fatty fish, blueberries, broccoli, dark chocolate, turmeric and coffee. If coffee is the highlight of your morning (or day) at the moment, you’ll be glad to hear that it’s good for you. The caffeine sharpens concentration, increases alertness and improves your overall mood. Also, consider cooking, which lets you to get creative and gives you something to focus/concentrate on that’s outside your current reality. Now’s the time to experiment with baking and cake decorating, because there’s no risk, only reward. And if you’ve got heaps of leftovers, deliver some to your friends; we guarantee a gorgeous box of cupcakes will make their day.
Meditate
It’s no secret that those of us in lockdown are experiencing some form of stress, so now’s the perfect time to try out some virtual meditations at home. We’ve experienced firsthand how beneficial it is to practise gratitude daily, as it improves your mindset and sees a shift in negative energy that may be lingering due to the stagnant nature of lockdowns. Practising meditation, even ten minutes a day, can significantly improve cognitive function. There are some amazing apps to help you out, such as Calm, Smiling Mind and Headspace, or you could check out the incredible instructors at BodyMindLife and try out some beginner classes.
Take Breaks
It’s okay to take a break. Regardless of how stressful your job may be, it’s important to step away from our screens for short breaks throughout the workday. It doesn’t need to be any longer than 5-10 minutes, but that break from looking at a screen and thinking about the next thing you need to tick off the list allows your mind to relax, remember where it is and reflect on how it feels — integral for our physical and emotional health. Go for a quick walk, pick up some clothes off the floor, make yourself a tea or even treat yourself to a face mask. There are so many simple ways we can care for ourselves that will make all the difference.
