It’s easy to think. Thinking is what our brain does without even… thinking about it! Thinking clearly is another thing altogether.
Our brains work constantly, tirelessly, they keep us alive with their ‘background processes’ and they keep us alert by ensuring our consciousness always keeps us from danger.
However, brains are selfish. They are simply out for themselves. If they aren’t getting enough oxygen to them, they make the body pass out so that oxygenated blood can move to them easier when the body is horizontal. Consciously we have no control over that, if our brain wants us horizontal, that is it. It may give you a warning sign so you can sit or lie down, but if it feels seriously threatened then that is it. Wallop, and you are on the floor. Not so good when you’ve fallen off the curb into the path of a speeding truck.
Brain fuzz, confusion, woolly headedness, brain farts, and anything that causes your brain to suspend normal activity to do something that it feels is more important instead, is caused by our own inability to treat it with the respect it deserves.
Have you ever tried running whilst eating, or watching a really interesting documentary while trying to read a book and listen to an episode of the Archers? Nope – thought not. We can’t do too many things at once because it’s too confusing…. Imagine how our brain feels!?
Confusion is caused by over stimulation and high level of stress (good and bad). Stressing yourself out by doing things you love (that extra crazy work out at the gym or that really hard crossword just before bed), is just as bad for your brain as negative stress. Both types of stress keep the brain active and like your body, your brain needs some chill out time too or it will just get confused.
10 tips to help your brain release its confusion:
- Be healthy. Make sure your brain is getting as much good nutrition and oxygen as it needs.
- Be calm. Negative stress takes a lot of your body’s resources, all of which are controlled by the brain.
- Be happy. Your brain thrives on happy hormones. Happiness supports good attention, concentration and awareness. You know you are more productive when you are happy.
- Be kind. Being kind to yourself and others prevents negativity which promotes negative stress.
- Be responsible. Owning your actions and reactions supports your ability to know who you are and how you will act and react in similar situations.
- Get enough sleep. Not just ‘enough’, but good quality sleep (see my blog on sleeping).
- Relax. You don’t have to fill every non-working moment with an activity. Relax with a book or in a bath to eliminate good and bad stress.
- Meditate. Even if you manage 10 minutes a day (which is enough), try sitting with your eyes closed, concentrate on your breathing, and let thoughts drift away from your mind (see my blog on mediation).
- Be confident. Confidence isn’t just external, it is much more important to be inwardly confident and assured that your actions and decisions were right for you at the time and not to second guess yourself.
- Be you! Your brain doesn’t want an imposter, it wants you. Don’t be who someone else wants you to be. You are fantastic the way you are.
Apart from eliminating confusion (which may take some time to perfect so be patient and persistent), treating your brain with respect will make you feel much better in yourself. After all, we all want to eliminate the biggest threat of all, which is your brain’s ability to throw you under a truck!
Jayne Jones
BSc(Hons) Psych (Open), Cert.Couns.Studies