Feeling Foggy? You’re Not Broken - You’re Overloaded
There’s a moment many of us know far too well. You’re staring at your laptop, hovering over an email, or standing in the kitchen wondering what you walked in for. You feel like your brain has simply… stalled. And with that pause comes the sinking feeling: “What’s wrong with me?”
The truth is, probably nothing - except that you’re living in a world that demands too much, too often.
What we call “brain fog” is often a result of mental fatigue, stress, and overstimulation. According to a 2021 article published in Frontiers in Neuroscience, cognitive overload impairs our ability to focus, remember, and make decisions - even small ones like what to wear or what to eat. In our constantly connected world, this isn’t a rare occurrence - it’s becoming the norm.
We live with non-stop input: emails, news alerts, to-do lists, social obligations, financial stress, and internal pressures to “make something” of ourselves. Your mind isn’t broken. It’s just trying to process too much.
We treat this overload like a flaw - a personal weakness to be managed. So we drink more coffee, make another list, buy another productivity planner. But the solution isn’t to do more. It’s to create space.
At Aerie Living, we talk a lot about “space”. Not always physical space - though that helps too - but mental and emotional space. Because clarity doesn’t arrive when your brain is sprinting. It arrives in the pause. In the deep breath. In the quiet walk without a podcast or agenda.
If you’re feeling foggy, start with the simplest question:
What do I need less of right now?
Less noise? Less pressure? Less multitasking?
Then ask:
What can I give myself more of - without earning it first?
More stillness. More water. More gentle routines. More grace.
And it’s not just poetic advice… studies show that short, intentional breaks can restore cognitive function, reduce stress hormones like cortisol, and increase emotional resilience (see: Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 2017).
You don’t need to overhaul your life. You need a moment of presence. Maybe that’s sitting with a cup of tea and a journal. Or saying “no” to an event that drains you. Or just noticing, kindly, that your system is asking to slow down - and letting that be enough.
You’re not broken. You’re just overdue for some quiet.