A balanced diet, quality sleep, low stress levels, and proper hydration are some of the things you can do to ensure your brain functions optimally. But if you are doing all of these and your focus and productivity levels are low, then it is time to look into your hormone levels.
The brain-hormone connection
Hormones produced inside and outside the brain affect your productivity levels. One such hormone is the human growth hormone (HGH) produced in the pituitary gland. Here is how human growth hormone influences mental clarity:
- Supporting brain cell regeneration. New brain cells are generated in the hippocampus, a part of the brain that is responsible for learning and memory. This process of brain cell regeneration is supported by insulin-like growth factor 1, which HGH produces. That is why high levels of HGH are essential in replacing worn-out and damaged brain cells.
- Enhancing mental clarity and focus. Human growth hormone promotes optimal brain signalling by increasing neurotransmitter activity and blood supply to the brain. This is beneficial in accelerating how you process information, maintaining attention, and improving clarity in decision-making.
- Maintaining stable energy levels. HGH is known to aid in maintaining the metabolic rate by compelling the body to burn stored body fat into usable energy. This steady source of energy boosts your brain muscles and prevents midday fatigue and crashes.
- Improving sleep. HGH can only be released when you are in deep sleep, which aids in brain tissue repair and restoration. During these restorative cycles, your memory is consolidated, and you become more alert.
Signs your productivity slump may be hormone-related
Hormones may not always be the reason you are losing focus. However, some symptoms highly indicate the issue is being brought on by low human growth hormone levels. These symptoms include:
- Difficulty concentrating on tasks. Sometimes, even when there are no distractions, you may find that you are repeatedly reading one paragraph and still not understanding it. This is one of the prominent symptoms of human growth hormone decline.
- Forgetfulness. A lack of enough human growth hormone will reduce your ability to recall information, even if it is something that happened the previous day.
- Fatigue even after a full night’s sleep. It is highly unusual to wake up feeling exhausted even after you have had 7 to 8 hours of sleep. This could be because your body was not able to produce the right amounts of human growth hormone required to keep you alert and refreshed.
- Feeling unmotivated. The human growth hormone aids in dopamine production, which keeps you motivated as you go through your day. When dopamine is not up to the required levels, you may find it difficult to do even the simplest tasks.
- Mood swings. Neurotransmitters involved in mood control may be affected by hormonal imbalances, such as low human growth hormone, causing irritability and rapid mood changes.
Natural ways to boost HGH for better focus
Some of the steps you can take to boost human growth hormone levels naturally include:
- Prioritise deep sleep. Ensure that your room is dimly lit and free from noise. Get in bed early and stay off your phone or TV an hour before sleeping. This will help you get the deep sleep you need to allow the production of human growth hormone.
- Exercise. Cardio, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and resistance training boost blood circulation to your heart and brain, which refreshes the mind and promotes focus.
- Intermittent fasting. Fasting for a few hours each day allows your body to use up all the food you have eaten and has been shown to improve alertness. Intermittent fasting raises human growth hormone production to five times the normal levels.
- Cut sugar and refined carbs. Consuming foods with excessive sugars and highly processed carbs results in an insulin spike and also hinders human growth hormone production.
- Stay mentally stimulated. Learning new skills and doing activities that stimulate critical thinking helps keep your mind sharp and improves your mental abilities.
When natural strategies aren’t enough
Medically prescribed HGH injections are often used for individuals with clinically low growth hormone levels, when the natural ways don’t work well enough. This aids in:
- Improved energy and mental alertness
- Faster recovery from mental fatigue
- Enhanced motivation and daily productivity
Improving HGH levels naturally or medically is one way to get the mental clarity and focus you need to conquer the day.
Ellen Diamond, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.