Photo by Thought Catalog
As you already know, people talk about their physical health, they talk about their long-term health (usually just physically speaking here), bone-related health, and they talk about their mental health too. Now, hands down, yeah, sure, you absolutely need to take care of these and keep on top of them, too. So, there’s absolutely no denying any of that here. But a lot of people forget about their cognitive health. You might think, “I only need to watch out for that in my 60s, though”, which, sure, every 60-year-old needs to. But in general, everyone of every age actually needs to stay on top of it.
You need to think straight, you need to remember things, and brain fog can be a lot more than just having one night of bad sleep. Your cognitive health might not get the attention it deserves, but you absolutely need to take care of it. Actually, more people are getting brain fog from using their brains less because they’re relying on AI. There’s been some studies on it, so even this just hammers down the sheer importance of it all.
But what all can you do, though, to keep on top of your cognitive health?
It’s About the Activities You Do
Well, for starters here, brains love being used. Okay, sure, that part is obvious here. So, you’ve got a lot of options like reading, puzzles, learning new skills, and finally picking up that one hobby that always sounded fun; all of that counts. The brain basically likes a bit of challenge. It is like a muscle, so you quite literally need to train it like one here.
But really, even tiny changes help. Like, even using the non-dominant hand sometimes, trying out new recipes, switching up walking routes, or learning random facts no one really needs. It is all fuel for the brain. So, try to go outside your normal routine, try to challenge yourself, just have some fun with challenging yourself. Again, treat it like a muscle when you exercise.
Know When to Ask For a Little Extra Help
But you have to be old to ask for some help, though, right? Well, usually that’s the case, yes, but sometimes forgetfulness or confusion isn’t just being tired or distracted. If something feels off for a while, it is worth checking in and actually finding out what is going on. While it’s rare, early onset of Alzheimer’s and even Dementia is possible. Just because it’s rare doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t happen to you either.
While some doctors might not take it seriously and tell you to “change your lifestyle,” others will take you seriously and can help, and some people consider booking an assessment through a private memory clinic if it feels like something that deserves a closer look.
How Much Sleep are You Getting?
Well, your lifestyle does play a pretty big role here, especially when it comes to sleep. Are you doomscrolling before bed to where you get sucked in, and it leads to getting less sleep? Are you doing the “I’ll be fine sleeping 6 hours tonight” sort of thing? Well, you already know you need sleep; that was hammered down long ago, and you do it daily. But try and take this even more seriously than before. You need at the very minimum 8 hours of sleep each night, peaceful sleep at that.
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