The impact of stress on your memory, tips from Dr. Libby Weaver

Do you find yourself regularly forgetting where you put the keys? Or do you often walk into a room only to forget what you were going in there for?

When we’re experiencing stress, our memory can suffer, and it might feel a bit like a cloud is hovering over your brain—you can’t quite think clearly or retrieve information from your memory as efficiently.
Here are four things to try:

Focus on what you can control
Focusing on the things that you can control, rather than those outside your control, can help you to better manage your stress. Bring awareness to how you respond to stressful situations, and whether your actions are really supporting you or not.
Nourish yourself
Often when people are under a lot of stress, their food choices tend to be less than ideal. This is problematic because the body requires even more nutrients when we’re churning out stress hormones. Focus on including more real, whole foods in your day. A good aim can be to add an extra serve of green leafy vegetables each day.

Breathe
Breathing diaphragmatically is a powerful way to activate the calm arm of your nervous system. Commit to 20 long, slow breaths at a certain time (or several times) each day.
Prioritise sleep
When we’re highly stressed, our sleep quality can often suffer—and along with it, our memory and mood.
Adults require seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Try to listen to your body. Is it telling you that you need more rest than usual? While it can be tempting to stay up late to get more things done, prioritising your sleep can help you to be more productive in the long run.

IN BRIEF
Dr Libby Weaver (PhD) is a nutritional biochemist, a bestselling author, and founder of Bio Blends food supplements.