Brain Fog Is Real and It’s Not Funny, Until It Is

Yesterday I walked into the kitchen, opened the fridge, and just… stood there. Not in a zen, peaceful way. In a “why did I come in here and why is the refrigerator not answering me?” kind of way.

Brain fog isn’t just forgetting a word, it’s a full-on mental shutdown. It’s losing your train of thought mid-sentence, rereading the same line five times, and questioning if you actually took your meds (or just dreamed about taking them).

Over the years, I’ve built a little army of survival tools. Some of them are silly. Some of them are lifesavers. All of them help me keep functioning on the days my brain throws up a “closed for maintenance” sign.

Here are five tools that help me function when my brain decides to go on vacation:

NOTES, notes everywhere

Dry erase board on the refrigerator, notepads on all the tables, sticky notepads everywhere, two different password-protected password lists (and my husband has the password), and a digital notes app that has at least 50 individual new ones since the beginning of the year. I jot down to-dos, meal plans, meds, and anything that flies through my brain before it flutters away. It’s visual, quick, and always accessible.

A medical narrative that I am turning into a Brain Fog Survival Binder

This is my holy grail. It will be what I wish I had thought of when I first started my medical journey. It will contain medical history, current meds, past appointments, symptom trackers, and checklists. When I can’t remember what happened at my last visit, this binder will remember for me. Plus, it will make doctor appointments way less stressful. (under construction).

Shared Google Calendar

My husband and I have a shared Google calendar so he can check on me and where I should be. I use reminders and clock alarms or leave myself little voice notes. “Hey Google, remind me to take out the chicken at 3 PM” has saved many a dinner and my sanity.

A Pill Organizer with pre-food and drink pill / AM / 2:30 PM / PM Slots

Let me be real. I still have days when I stare at my meds and go, “Did I take these already?” especially when I have a prescription that isn’t included in my well-oiled medication routine. A pill organizer with removable days helps me track what’s been taken without relying on my memory. I take out the new day and put it in a ziplock so there is no spillage, and then toss it in my purse. It’s simple, cheap, and saves me from a lot of anxiety, unless I forget the pill organizer for that day.

Hydration and Supplements

Turns out your brain needs fuel to function, go figure. I use unflavored electrolyte powder packets like Zero Spike and LMNT to help with hydration, especially since the flavored ones in stores don’t agree with me. I have to order them online, but they’re worth it. I also take supplements for my vitamin deficiencies, including Thorne’s Methyl-Guard for folate metabolism, vitamin C, and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) with calcium. When I’m hydrated and replenished, I can feel the fog lift just enough to keep moving.

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If brain fog has been messing with your life too, you’re not alone. These tools don’t erase it, but they give me back some control and that makes a big difference.

Got your own brain fog hacks? Drop them in the comments or send them my way. I’m always looking for new tools to add to the kit.