Eat regularly
Sometimes I find myself reading something over and over, trying to figure out what the words mean. That's when I realize it's been too long since I last ate. If this sounds all-too-familiar, you'll be glad to know that lifting yourself from a brain fog can be as easy as having the right snack. Eating well won't just help you focus today -- it can also protect your mind's abilities, including your memory, for tomorrow.
Get up to speed
The best thing you can do to be sharp all day is get a good night's sleep. Beyond that, you need to give your brain quality fuel throughout the day.
A balanced breakfast jump-starts your mind's dexterity and gives you staying power for the day. Believe it or not, our brain fuel is essentially sugar, but for staying power eat carb-rich foods that your body digests slowly, such as whole grain breads and cereals paired with fresh fruit, lower-fat milk and yogurt.
Protein-packed foods boost our brainpower as well, so include one-inch cubes of lower-fat cheese, or perhaps a scoop of tuna or eggs with your morning meal. If I'm heading to a breakfast meeting that I suspect will only offer pastries, I know I'll be more productive in the group if I have a proper breakfast before I leave home.
Although it often gets a bad rap, caffeine does enhance our capacity to think. The key is moderation: too much caffeine can zap your ability to concentrate, so try to limit yourself to two coffees (and I don't mean extra-large mugs!) a day.
Eating every three to four hours will help you maintain your brainpower all day. Going too long without food can cause lower blood sugar levels, which cloud your ability to think clearly, while heavy meals can make you want to snooze. As with your morning meal, try to eat a balance of carbs, protein and fat.
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