Remember when you could answer emails while on calls,
switch between projects without losing focus,
and still have mental energy left for your family and friends?
Those days are over.
If you're over 40, you've noticed it for sure.
You start reading an email, get distracted, and completely forget what it was about. You walk into a room and stand there wondering why you went there. You feel mentally drained after a day of "simple" tasks.
You're not losing your mind.
Your brain is ageing. And after 40, your ability to multitask noticeably drops [1].
But here's what nobody tells you: this decline isn't something you have to accept.
Your Multitasking Abilities Are Disappearing (And It's Happening Fast)
Let's be honest about what's happening to your brain right now.
After 40, every time you try to switch between tasks, It takes longer than it used to [2].
Research shows that task-switching becomes noticeably slower with age, meaning what once felt effortless now takes longer and feels more draining.
Think about yesterday. How many times were you:
-
Working on something important, then get pulled into a WhatsApp group
and lost focus completely? -
Trying to focus during a meeting while also checking emails,
and realize you missed half the conversation? -
Feel completely exhausted by 3 PM even though you didn't do any "hard" physical work?
This is your brain's processing speed slowing down.
What Actually Happens When You Try to Multitask
Every time you shift from one thing to another, your brain has to:
-
Stop what it's doing
-
Switch context and has to refocus again
-
Restart the new task
In your 20s and 30s, this happened almost in an instant.
As you grow older, each switch takes much longer.
Because your brain connections slow down.
Regions of your brain that support memory change due to age.
Your ability to filter out distractions gets weaker.
What used to feel effortless now feels like trying to run through mud.
This Gets Worse Every Single Day (And Most People Make It Worse)
Most people over 40 try to fight this decline.
They drink more coffee. Work longer hours. Try harder to "power through."
This makes everything worse.
You're Exhausting Your Brain Daily
Every failed attempt at multitasking drains your mental energy reserves.
By 3 PM, you're running on empty. By evening, you're too tired to engage with your family or do things you actually enjoy.
You start planning your day around when you'll hit that mental wall.
Your Stress Levels Go Through the Roof
When your brain can't keep up with what you're asking it to do, it treats this as a threat.
Stress hormones flood your system. This makes your thinking even cloudier. It's a cycle that gets worse every day.
You feel like you're falling behind at work. Simple decisions become overwhelming. You start questioning whether you're still "sharp enough" for your job.
Your Confidence Takes a Massive Hit
When you can't think as sharp as you used to, doubt creeps in everywhere.
You avoid speaking up in meetings because you're worried you'll lose your train of thought.
You double-check everything because you don't trust your memory anymore.
You start wondering if people notice you're slowing down.
This mental decline doesn't always end up affecting your work alone.
It can affect your relationships, your sense of self, and your confidence about the future.
And if you keep trying to force your aging brain to multitask, it only gets worse.
The Smart Way to Work With Your Changing Brain
Here's what you have to do.
Stop Multitasking Completely
Your 40+ brain works best when it focuses on one thing at a time.
This isn't giving up. This is being smart about your mental resources.
What to do:
-
Close all browser tabs except the one you're working on
-
Put your phone in another room during focused work
-
Work on one task until it's completely done, then move to the next
-
Use time blocks: 90 minutes of focused work, then a 15-minute break
Use Your Peak Mental Hours
Most people over 40 think clearest in the morning.
Schedule your hardest mental work during these hours. Save boring tasks for when your brain naturally slows down in the afternoon.
Stop trying to do important thinking work when your brain is already tired.
Support Your Brain's Basic Needs
Your brain is an organ. Like your heart or liver, it needs specific things to work at its best
As you age, these needs become more critical:
Blood flow:
Your brain uses 20% of your total blood supply.
When circulation slows down (from sitting all day, poor posture, lack of movement),
your brain gets less oxygen. This is why you feel foggy after sitting at a desk for hours
We always suggest a 10 minute walk after each meal to make sure your brain gets enough blood.
Cellular energy:
After 40, your cells get worse at producing energy from that fuel. It's like your car's engine getting less efficient over time
This happens because NAD+ levels (the coenzyme that powers cellular energy production), decline due to age,
And this may contribute to lower cellular energy.
Consider supporting your cellular energy with compounds like NMN that help restore NAD+ levels.
Required Reading → How NMN and Resveratrol Can Improve Your Energy Levels
How The Oak Age Helps
We understand what happens to your brain after 40. We know the daily challenges you face when your mental energy isn't what it used to be.
Your brain doesn't have to decline at the speed most people accept as "normal."
Start with the basics: single-tasking, protecting your peak mental hours, and making sure your brain gets the nutrients it needs through good food and quality supplements.
Small changes compound over time. The choices you make today determine how sharp you'll be through the rest of your life.
Most people accept that their brain will get slower and foggier as they age. They think it's just part of getting older.
You don't have to be one of them.
Start making changes today. Your future self will thank you.
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