All Blog Postings by Mary
Widow Brain Fog
By Mary Francis · Originally published: May 23, 2022
Archive notice: This is a historical post from Mary’s years of blogging. Some older posts may mention products, courses or shop items that are no longer available, as Mary now focuses her time and energy on supporting widows inside her private Facebook community. The guidance and stories remain here as a free resource for widows.
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One of the most common questions I get is about “widow brain fog” – is it real and how long does it last?
Yes, it is real and how long it lasts depends on stress, age and the steps you take to help yourself along the way.
The good news concerning memory loss and brain fog is that we can take action steps to stop or lessen it. Our brain responds to change, creativity and joy. So as our grief lessens, our interest in the world around us and ways that we can be of help to others will help lessen our “widow brain fog”.
- Accept invitations and visits from family and friends. Lively conversations keep our brains active.
- Daily challenge yourself to use your brain by remembering a phone number, calculate rows of figures as you shop and learn something new.
- Make time to do physical exercises that are safe and enjoyable.
- Eat a well-balanced diet, with more fruits and vegetables.
- Do exercises like cross-word puzzles, Sudoku or similar brain games.
- One of the best ways to get out of your “widow brain fog” is to be a mentor to someone else. By passing on your wisdom and knowledge you strengthen your own brain.
- Get enough sleep as it is critical to maintaining your focus.
- Get enough light – we need our vitamin D, so get outside every day or invest in a high quality full-spectrum light.
- Improve your focus by breaking up big tasks into smaller portions that are more manageable.
- Regain control of you “fog” moment by pausing and taking a few deep breaths. This will give you a chance to get your composure back.
- If you have a mental block, it sometimes helps to call someone and have a 10 to 20 minute conversation.
- Give yourself a pep talk – always be kind and positive, never be critical as this is a temporary period in your grief journey.
- Seniors who have taken up painting, drawing, sculpting or other artistic activities and continue into their old age are less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment. These activities encourage our brains to focus.
- Michigan State University scientists say that listening to your favorite song for three minutes activates nerves within the brain that improve concentration faster and more effective than a cup of coffee.
