Since entering peri-menopause I’ve had a terrible time concentrating. I work in the creative industries so it’s really important for me to be able to stay focused and produce content for my clients. Has anyone found ways to reliably cut through the brain fog and get things done?!
- Rebecca, New Orleans
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Jen6 years ago
Oh my goodness I am so unproductive these days. I can focus and my motivation is low. I am a do-er so this is so out of character. I didn’t relate it to menopause but as I am learning these are all symptoms. I have my own woodworking business. I’m dependent on my production manager to keep me organized and remind me of projects I have to complete. He has become my boss!!!!! If anyone has some solutions - I’m begging also.
Rebecca6 years ago
I've found the tips shared here very helpful, I hope you have too Jen! Hoping things get better for both of us
Annabel, UK6 years ago
I am an Architect and I have found it hard to focus my mind since entering menopause. I find if I am feeling particularly ‘jumpy’ that I write lists and slowly work through each thing. Oddly enough I find that whilst it is hard to concentrate in many ways I am more creative than I have ever been but it is often hard to balance this against the anxiety I feel. I also often feel overwhelmed and then I have to tell myself to go back to my list. It’s all about trying to manage this new way of being and still being productive at my job. Not easy but creative thinkers are supposed to be good at change!
Rebecca6 years ago
Dear Annabel, thank you for sharing how you feel. I so relate to feeling more creative now than I ever have before, yet feeling held back by my mind failing me at times. I've found it so helpful to read yours and other ladies' comments and tips. Thank you so much
Maite6 years ago
I feel that way quite often while working. What I normally do is take a break and do some deep breaths and it works ! When I am back to work I can concentrate and produce! It is hard to have patience with myself but I will get there!
Rebecca6 years ago
So interesting that you and others here have found breath work to be helpful. I didn't even know it could help with such an issue! I now know to try it so thank you for sharing!
KMichelle6 years ago
Hi Ladies. I fully relate. I was just sharing with a girlfriend who has not hit menopause how terribly disorienting (and depressing on a really bad day) this time has been - specifically because of the brain fog and inability to focus in or stay focused. While I realize it is a stage to embrace, I feel deeply for all of us who are in creative fields and/or self-employed - who have not the option to have consistent “bad” or “off” days. Thank you for starting this discussion. Ps. I have found B vitamins (combo of all) plus Eleuthero to be helpful SOMETIMES. ?
Rebecca6 years ago
I have just started taking Vitamin B for a different issue. Helpful to know that you've found it good for the brain fog! Here's hoping it works for me too. And I agree with you completely, some of my friends have found support from their employers but it's a whole different challenge being self-employed and dealing with this crap on a daily basis! Thank you for sharing your advice. I'm sending you good vibes
KMichellereplying to Rebecca6 years ago
Awesome Rebecca on the Vitamin B. Functional medicine doctor recommended it to me for adrenal fatigue - yet another issue that began with meno. I can tell when I don’t take it. Self-employment & daily basis - true not a good mix at all!! Seeing your comment yesterday helped a great deal. While it did not mean any of us were relieved of the symptoms, it is so helpful to know that you’re not alone. Hopefully this thread will continue going and we can share what we learn as we go and grow! Many good vibes right back at ya!
Dawn6 years ago
It is so helpful to hear this and know it’s not just me! I have been struggling a lot with brain fog and concentration - especially at work. I have always been one that could manage a lot of different complex items at once, but not anymore. And I’m always feeling like I am not working fast enough. I agree with Annabel that the lists are what do seem to help - when I can get myself to use/create them. I also try to start my day with a little exercise and a mindfulness session, which help some too. But the brain fog/concentration issues are by far the worst symptoms I am having so far.
Rebecca6 years ago
Same here Dawn, I used to pride myself on my ability to multitask. Now even single-tasking is a challenge! The mindfulness tip is interesting as I hadn't considered that for this (only anxiety and sleep, which thankfully are not too bad for me). Any specific type of mindfulness that works for you?
Dawnreplying to Rebecca6 years ago
Fortunately my work provided a subscription to the Whil app and I have been using that. I have it set for just a 5 minute (it can be customized to longer ones if desired) daily session. It seems it is helping me to feel at least a little sharper in the morning. Thanks for starting this discussion Rebecca!
Katie6 years ago
Hi, I work in the City and lead a small global team. Our work is both strategic and technical. Brain fog has been a big issue for me. Lists help but also getting lots of sleep, exercise, eating a good diet and eliminating caffeine. I’m a morning person and I’ve found I’m experiencing less brain fog then than later in the day so arrange to do my most important work then. Finally pre lock down fertility acupuncture worked well for me.
Rebecca6 years ago
So many helpful tips! Thank you Katie. I would love to go for acupuncture...maybe I can now that things are open again.
Cathy6 years ago
I tracked my days for a month and logged how foggy I felt throughout each day, it definitely has a pattern, mornings are clearer than afternoons and some parts of the month there is no problem at all. Armed with this I now plan my work around it, completing the brain demanding tasks in the mornings and scheduling projects for the weeks I know I will find it easier to focus then keeping more menial tasks I can plod through for the difficult days. Appreciate not everyone can do this but it has worked for me, at least to know I won’t feel foggy forever and there are always windows of clarity!
Rebecca6 years ago
I didn't think to track the timing of when I feel more foggy. Such a good idea! I have a feeling I will find a similar pattern to you...I'm trying it out this week so I can have a better idea of when to schedule things. Thanks Cathy!
Anisa6 years ago
I relate very much to this. I’m not in a creative job, but I am in charge of a department that needs to think outside the box. Lately, I’ve been struggling with focus and memory. If it weren’t for me writing things down, nothing would get done. I feel like I’m drowning most days in anxiety, not in what I’ve done, but in what I might have forgotten to do. I’m trying supplements to see if that helps a little bit. Thank you all for sharing. It helps to know that this is normal.
Rebecca6 years ago
Oh Anisa, I feel for you completely! I am always wondering these days what I have missed. I feel like I can only record so many things in my list! What supplements are you trying? I'd certainly be willing to give try some too, just not sure what's right for this.
Anonymous6 years ago
I have a senior management strategic role and have struggled the same as you. however, I’ve found starting HRT has really helped. It’s not something I ever thought I’d use, but my hormones dropped off abruptly and caused all manner of issues, turning me into a zombie. ☹️ I’ve been on HRT for 4 months now, it’s not an overnight cure all, my dose had to be increased after 3 months but I have to say the brain fog was the first thing to clear for me and I feel so much better. It’s not for everyone but talking to your doctor about the options available can really help - I felt I was going crazy and unable to perform a job I love anymore. Thankfully things have improved massively again over recent weeks and I’ve managed to deliver a project early with better outcomes, something I would have found so much harder to do five months ago.
Becky6 years ago
Brain fog has been one of my worst symptoms of peri-menopause. I struggle with highly detailed work pretty much on a daily basis. I get slowed up a lot. I also get pretty absent minded about little things when working around the house and doing small chores. This is just not me! I know I am not alone but I do wish no one had to struggle with this.
yvette6 years ago
Brain fog is real and I’m hating it. It used to be that if I had coffee, I would be able to focus. But now, if I have coffee, even super early in the morning, it prevents me from a good nights sleep. I’ve started to take Ashwagandha. It helps a little with focus. Don’t know anymore.
Jojo6 years ago
It’s reassuring to read that others suffer brain fog too, even though it’s so awful. I’ve managed to hold down a high pressured job despite being diagnosed with fibromyalgia 10 years ago. I was always grateful that brain fog wasn’t one of my symptoms initially, but then I hit peri-menopause 5 years ago and brain fog has slowly increased. 6 months ago it got very bad (reading the same paragraph 4 times and still not having a clue what I’ve just read!), I always thought it was my fibromyalgia but then researched more about menopause and made the connection! Since starting body identical HRT only a month ago, my brain fog has reduced massively, I feel more productive and energised but this may also be down to the new high strength B12 I’ve started taking in liquid form, just a few drops on the tongue each morning!
Liz6 years ago
I’m a chemistry teacher and my brain fog means I completely lose a word and then stand there silent as I desperately try to find it. Not humiliating in front of a class of 15 year old at all!!!
Savonia6 years ago
Today was the worse day ever in lack of concentration and remembering even my name. Lol. This is difficult to think about because even basic info felt like a chore. I thought maybe I need to be tested for Alzheimer’s or a brain scan, is this for real? The hardest part of my job is managing personalities not my workload. Brain fog is very heavy to carry.
Anonymous2 years ago
I can relate to what you are saying, some days I feel like my brain is just mush, and maybe the day before I felt so sharp and productive, it feels disheartening when the brain fog rolls in. I also get anxiety at work feeling I am going to overlook something important, or ask a question about something I should know, and then be perceived, as being flaky or not paying attention. I waffle between trying to explain to my supervisors what’s going on with perimenopause, but at the same time I don’t want it to seem like I am making excuses, it can feel very lonely and the bottom line is I still need to be able to perform, and I want to prove myself to be a valuable And hard-working employee. I am a nurse working in research, managing patients and clinical trials, there’s so much detail to keep track of and some days it just feels overwhelming even though I love my job, it’s depressing on the brain fog days, knowing I know how to do my job, but somehow I just can’t access that part of my brain to perform in a tiptop fashion. I live by my lists. If it weren’t for them, I think I would feel even more lost, and I’m grateful when the brain fog lifts. I have definitely noticed a pattern during certain times of my cycle, but it’s gotten hard to predict because now my cycles are so irregular, but during the week or so that I have brain fog, it’s always worse in the morning and better by 11 or 12, so I just hold fast until that time and then try to be as productive as possible. It does certainly help to know you are not alone and you are not going crazy. There have definitely been days when I’ve wondered if I’m losing my mind and it can be quite frightening .
Anonymous4 years ago
I am a FullTime Mom of 4 and Grandma of 6. I am Raising my 2 youngest granddaughters age 4 & 3. They keep me so busy because they are full of Energy and Learning Everyday. I Start one Task and Notice something else. Then Remember I Forget to Finish what I had Started. The Concentration is Gone and Brain Fog is Here. Does Anyone Else have this problem? Getting very Frustrating.
Amanda4 years ago
My mind is everywhere but where it should be. It has been this way for a while. I have been keeping list of things I need to do and try to get that done. Creativity is not my problem. My problem is the cleaning up afterwards and cleaning house.
Anonymous4 years ago
I can relate . I am part of multinational company , Europe and South African, Business Support & Transformation. What has helped me is, no longer multitasking, nor setting aside my work immediately to support others , then coming back to mine unfocused. I need to focus on my task with a clear mindset, meditation is doing good , plus less time on my mobile personal device, also I am trying to get more and better sleep.
Anonymous2 years ago
I have also learned that multitasking is not my friend during the times that I have brain fog, I also try to give myself priority and not allow myself to get distracted on the times I have brain fog. I find it is easy to want to start scrolling on my phone as it is a mindless activity that takes my mind off the anxiety that I might be feeling as I’m having trouble focusing, but I’m realizing that is not always the wisest use of time nor helpful. I like your tips above, thank you.
Taia4 years ago
I have a good cup of coffee coffee every morning called Focus from Bare Organics and I rarely struggle to focus on things. I feel like I sometimes am too focused ?
Nekesha3 years ago
Definitely! It’s especially bad when I get interrupted and try to get back on track. I try to limit each task to a smaller window of time and take mini breaks throughout the day. I also have scheduled focus time on my calendar with a do not disturb notice so no calls come through and I make call backs after. I also find that pausing with deep breaths help too. Sometimes I’m just totally off and nothing seems to help, but these techniques have worked fairly consistently for me.