Member Article

60% of people find concentration difficult around their period and suffer brain fog.

Research from Wear ‘Em Out, the UK’s leading reusable sanitary pad provider, finds that 50% of us find that our daily lives are impacted due to periods affecting concentration and sleep patterns. For example: Did you know 60.8% of us find it difficult to concentrate when we are on our period? 25.3% of people have restless sleep and find it difficult to get comfortable.

The survey from Wear ‘Em Out found that well over half of us (60.8%) struggle to concentrate during our period and report suffering from significant brain fog. This inability to concentrate affects every part of our lives, including work. The average person spends around 3,515 days at work throughout their lifetime. The average person who has periods will have around 3,500 menstrual days. This means that a large proportion of a woman’s working life could be affected by episodes of brain fog due to their menstrual cycle. The survey also found a quarter (25.3%) of us struggle with our sleep during our period. Many of us find sleeping difficult and are restless or repeatedly wake up while struggling to get comfortable.

Founder of Wear ‘Em Out Lauren Derrett says that “For many years periods and menstruation wasn’t talked about. Just like menopause, there has been a stigma attached to it. We are now talking more about menopause thanks to the intervention of household names such as Davina McCall and Lorraine Kelly raising awareness and sharing their struggles. However, it doesn’t feel like we are there yet with periods. We really do need to start the conversation because individuals who period are struggling daily in the workplace and going unsupported.“

The reason for this brain fog could be to do with hormones or anaemia. In the days leading up to your period your oestrogen and progesterone levels fall. This change in your hormones can affect your neurotransmitters and how alert you feel. Heavy periods can cause anaemia and low levels of iron. This affects the amount of oxygen carried around the body. If less oxygen is getting to the brain, the person may feel more sluggish.

Lauren continues: “For many of us, daily tasks become more difficult during our periods due to the hormonal imbalance yet many of us suffer in silence. I believe the more we talk about periods and how they affect us each month, the more likely we are to see acceptance and change in behaviours towards those having periods, both in the workplace and at home.”

Here are Lauren’s five top tips for improving concentration during that time of the month:

Go easy on yourself. We can find ourselves getting frustrated if our energy levels feel depleted or we struggle with motivation when it comes to certain tasks during a period, but we need to take time to prioritise self-care and stop giving ourselves such a hard time.

Stay nourished: In the week before a period, the individual’s body needs around 200 extra calories. Good carbs should be paired with protein and healthy fats to stop blood sugar spikes. But don’t deprive your body of treats. Water is also important for improving concentration by increasing blood flow.

Sleep well: Easier said than done but getting a good night’s sleep can make a world of difference. Take a hot bath before bed to help unwind, use lavender sprays to create a relaxing sleeping environment and opt for foods with high levels of magnesium such as cocoa to help with PMS symptoms and help fall asleep easier and have a restful night

Get active: Exercise releases endorphins which not only make us feel better but also reduce the perception of pain and can help improve period symptoms. Try to stay active - but also listen to your body and rest if it’s telling you to. Sometimes a curl-up on the sofa with a cup of tea is just what is needed.

Use comfortable period protection: Getting comfortable is easier said than done but using the right period protection can help. Reusable products avoid using harmful chemicals and toxins which can lead to discomfort. They are kinder and softer to your skin and better for the planet.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lucy Hood .