Before I do my brain.fm review, does this sound like you?
You write a list as soon as you get up and try to plan your day, you think you have it all in order, then the phone rings and something throws you off…
A bunch of emails ping into your work inbox, your kid reminds you that today is the day they are baking bread at school and you need to buy ingredients before you even get the kids to school…
Your work day starts and you are frazzled, in a weird state of “what the hell is happening” Staring at your inbox, zoning out of Zoom calls, forgetting entire conversations and standing in the middle of the room not knowing why you are there.
Work piles up, you feel anxious and stressed and worry you may have some form of dementia.
Ah welcome to perimenopausal and menopausal brain fog!
Luckily there is some help out there, aside from HRT and my help came in the form of brain.fm.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this brain.fm review article may be affiliate links, meaning I get commission if you decide to purchase through one of those links, at no cost to you. Please read my Privacy Policy for more info.
What is brain.fm?
brain.fm is a website and app that has created music that is scientifically proven to improve focus.
The key difference here is that normal music is made to grab your attention but this music is designed to blend into the background so you can focus without any distractions.
These guys really have done their research and with the help of academic institutions, they have created something which really does help you stay focused. If you want to dig into the weeds of the research, you can do so here.
There is a free trial and then you can sign up for a monthly subscription which is £5.50 per month at the time of writing this. I have a discount code should you read this, love the trial and decide to give it a go. The code is menopausehelp.
When you sign up you have unlimited access to the music. There are three different categories to choose from, Focus, Relax and Sleep, I will be talking about Focus in this post, but I will definitely let you know how I get on with the other two categories when I try them.
So let’s take a look at my Brain.fm review of Focus.
Does Brain.fm Work For Menopausal Brain Fog? – My 6 Week Review
I want to start by saying that if you are struggling with menopausal brain fog I am here for you. It is the worst when you are a busy woman and your brain does everything it can to mess up your memory and attention capabilities!
But more importantly, I am here to say very simply, brain.fm is a game changer for focusing through brain fog.
Let me tell you my story
I am 44 at the time of writing this brain.fm review and have been perimenopausal for years but in the last 2 years my brain fog, anxiety, headaches and all other menopausal symptoms went through the roof. My work suffered terribly.
I would forget entire conversations with colleagues, forgot the names of my most valued clients, forgot my own name some days and I feared that I couldn’t stay in my job any longer, I was useless.
Now I am on HRT and that has helped so much, I feel a lot better than I have in a long time, but focusing on tasks has remained tricky. I start something and within 5 minutes I am thinking about something else I have to do, one task at a time was not an option for me.
Is brain.fm effective?
I signed up for the brain.fm free trial not expecting much to be truthful and clicked on the focus music, I set my Pomodoro timer and got to work.
For those who don’t know about Pomodoro and how helpful that will be, check this out. I will do a post on this soon.
So my brain.fm music started, I was in a good mental state and ready to face my task. Before I knew it, 25 minutes had passed and I had been in a deep focus mode without even realising it.
The task at hand was pretty much complete! I felt calm and in a creative flow state. This might sound a bit cheesy but it’s the truth.
I took my 5-minute break and went back to listening to the music feeling like I could work for hours and being honest, using my Pomodoro timer with the music, I achieved so much more than had in a given day for a very long time.
It is truly a game-changer.
Is It Good For Deep Work?
I feel like my deep work is nothing to be scared of now, I look forward to smashing out complicated work without feeling like I have been hit by a truck. My focus is on the task and hand and not what to have for dinner tonight.
I absolutely love brain.fm and as soon as my trial period was up I signed up instantly to the monthly plan and I am using it right now as I write this post. Currently on the Triple Threat track.
All of the tracks so far have been great, I think in 6 weeks I have only skipped two tracks that seem to annoy me, I couldn’t tell you why they annoy me but as soon as they come up, I skip them and go back to not even realising music is playing.
A question I have tried to figure out is how long it takes me to go from frantic to focused once the music starts and I have no answer, everything seems to just start to flow, and the work hours fly by. It is instant focus.
Closing Thoughts
I am so glad I decided to do this brain.fm review, it made me realise how much I have enjoyed the last 6 weeks.
Staying focused when you are struggling with brain fog can be helped in a number of ways but being solely focused on one job at a time can seem impossible.
brain.fm has helped me with coordinated activity, staying focused, staying in deep work, relaxing my way through difficult tasks and giving me hope that I can get through this tricky part of my life.
A science-first approach is always a winner in my book but brain.fm is amazing and if nothing else, please go for a free trial. If you love it, use my voucher menopausehelp to get a discount and let me know if it helps you!
6 weeks in and I see myself as being a loyal customer for a long time.
I will check back in with a 12 week brain.fm review and see if I am still in love!
I am excited to see how the Relax and Sleep categories work, I will feedback and let you know!
Kathryn x
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, herbal or physical therapist, and I am not educated in the menopause space. All opinions expressed on this blog are my own and should not be taken as medical advice. This blog is intended to share my personal experiences and insights, and should not be used as a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified medical professional, herbal or physical therapist for any health-related concerns. Additionally, I strive to keep things light and entertaining, but please keep in mind that the topics discussed on this blog may be sensitive or triggering for some readers.
