How Can I Improve My Brain Function?

As a trusted clinic for brain health in Tampa, we meet patients every day who are dealing with various neurological issues. 

Maybe you’re waking up exhausted, forgetting where you left your keys (again), or struggling to find the right words in conversation. Maybe brain fog, dizziness, or chronic fatigue has become so common that it’s your new normal.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and more importantly, you’re not stuck. There are ways to improve brain function, and we’re here to help you uncover what’s missing.

7 Ways To Improve Brain Function

Here are some of the foundational steps you can take:

1. Get Curious About Your Symptoms

The first step toward improving brain function is recognizing that persistent symptoms like:

• Brain fog
• Trouble focusing
• Poor memory
• Mood swings or irritability
• Low energy

It can actually be a result of poor brain health and not necessarily just from thyroid, hormones, or gut health. These symptoms from your brain and body indicate that something is out of balance. If you are unsure about your symptoms, you can take our neurological testing at our clinic to identify if that’s why you are struggling with these symptoms.

2. Prioritize Sleep 

Better sleep = better brain. Your brain is constantly working, even while you sleep. In fact, during deep sleep, your brain is busy clearing out waste, consolidating memories, and recharging for the next day.

If you’re not sleeping well, your brain can’t repair, detoxify, or reset. Poor sleep has a direct impact on memory, decision-making, and mood. If you’re relying on caffeine to push through and crash mid-afternoon, your brain is telling you something.

Here’s how to improve sleep and help your brain function better:

• Aim for 7–9 hours per night.
• Keep a consistent bedtime—even on weekends.
• Limit screens and blue light at least an hour before bed.
• Try magnesium or melatonin under professional guidance if falling asleep is difficult.

If you happen to sleep enough, but still wake up tired, that’s okay. We routinely help people who feel that way. The harder individuals to help are those who only get 2-3 hours a night.

3. Feed Your Gut with Healthy Food

If you are thinking of how to improve brain function naturally, take care of your gut. The food you eat directly impacts your brain. Inflammation from processed foods, sugar, and gut imbalances can lead to brain fog, fatigue, and mood issues. Beyond inflammation, the food provides fuel for your brain to operate on. Are you supplying your brain with the fuel it needs for the health you want?

Start by reducing or eliminating processed foods, excessive sugar, artificial sweeteners, and alcohol (especially in the evenings).

Instead, load up on brain-friendly nutrients:

1. Omega-3s (from wild salmon, flaxseed, walnuts)
2. Antioxidants (from berries, leafy greens, dark chocolate)
3. Healthy fats (like avocado, olive oil, nuts)
4. B vitamins (for focus and mental energy)

While those foods are great for the brain, don’t forget about your gut microbiome. A diet high in fiber and fermented foods (like sauerkraut, kefir, and yogurt) can support gut health. It would be best if you start following personalized nutrition plans to calm inflammation, heal the gut-brain axis, and fuel mental performance. 

4. Address the Root Causes of Brain Fog

If you’re doing “everything right” but still struggling to think clearly, there may be deeper issues. So, it’s important to figure out the actual causes and there can be more than one thing preventing you from gaining the clarity you desire. At Peak Brain and Body, we often uncover hidden root causes of poor brain function, including:

1. Past head injuries or concussions (even minor ones)
2. Hormonal imbalances (like low thyroid or sex hormones)
3. Nutrient deficiencies (especially B12, iron, and vitamin D)
4. Gut dysbiosis or leaky gut
5. Autoimmune activity or chronic inflammation

Using advanced diagnostics, we help patients pinpoint exactly what’s off and create a targeted plan to restore clarity, energy, and focus. So, if you are in Tampa or beyond, you can connect with us.

5. Don’t Ignore Stress

Chronic stress is toxic to your brain. It shrinks the hippocampus (the part of your brain responsible for memory), increases inflammation, and floods your body with cortisol, making it hard to focus, sleep, or stay emotionally balanced.

The solution isn’t to eliminate all stress (that’s not realistic) but to build better coping strategies and remove unnecessary stressors. 

Try:

1. Breathwork or deep breathing
2. Journaling
3. Therapy or support groups
4. Nature walks
5. Creative outlets like art, music, or writing

Even five minutes a day of intentional stress relief can calm the nervous system and improve brain performance. We weren’t meant to be on the hamster wheel of life all the time.

6. Movement & Exercises 

Regular movement and exercise improve blood flow to the brain, support the growth of new neural pathways, and release feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. However, you don’t need to run marathons. Even a brisk 30-minute walk 4–5 times a week can make a big difference.

Try to include exercises that improve brain function:

• Cardio (walking, swimming, cycling)
• Strength training 
• Balance and coordination activities (like yoga, dance, or tai chi)

The best option is to include a blend of these, as there isn’t one best approach for everything.

7. Train Your Brain 

You don’t need fancy apps to strengthen your brain. Every day activities can boost cognitive function naturally:

1. Learn a new skill or hobby like knitting, embroidery, drawing, dancing, etc.
2. Play a musical instrument
3. Do crossword puzzles or Sudoku
4. Play chess, checkers, and video games
5. Visualize and create mental images
6. Read challenging books
7. Practice mindfulness and meditation
8. Socialize with friends
9. Build your vocabulary

These are good generic approaches, but there are more specific things that can be done, which have a more profound impact.

In the End: Get the Right Support

At Peak Brain and Body, we believe you. And we believe you can get better.

We’ve helped thousands of patients who had lost hope. People with lingering concussion symptoms, POTS/dysautonomia, autoimmune flares, chronic fatigue, and brain fog finally found answers when we looked beyond basic labs and connected the dots between the brain and body.

At our clinic, we specialize in complex cases—people who’ve seen multiple doctors, tried every supplement, and still feel off. Through natural brain fog treatment, functional neurology, functional medicine, and peptide therapy, we help our patients get to the root of their brain-related symptoms and reclaim their lives.

Whether you’re struggling with fatigue, memory loss, mood changes, or post-concussion symptoms, know this:

You’re not broken. You’re not imagining it. And you can get better.

If you’re in the Tampa/Wesley Chapel area, we’d love to help. Call 813-838-4005 or request an appointment on our website.