Business
How my on-air ‘brain fog’ moment sparked a big debate
Zoe KleinmanTechnology editor
BBCWhen I rather nervously shared a personal post about dealing with brain fog at work on the social network LinkedIn last week, I had no idea that it would have such an enormous impact.
It’s been viewed hundreds of thousands of times. Women have stopped me on the street to talk to me about it.
I’ve been overwhelmed by hundreds of messages from people sharing support and their own experiences of it.
Usually I cover technology news. But given the response, it felt important to talk about this as well.
“Brain fog” isn’t a medical term. But you may well know exactly what I’m talking about.
That moment when you suddenly can’t remember the word for something really obvious, or you’re mid-sentence and you lose your train of thought. It’s infuriating, and it can be embarrassing.
Where was I?
Ah yes, for me, as a woman in my 40s, it’s coincided with perimenopause – the stage in my life where my hormone levels are changing. There can of course be other neurological conditions for which brain fog can be a symptom too.
If you’re in a job where public speaking is part of what you do, it can be particularly terrifying.
“I’ve spent 30 years being professionally articulate,” wrote Janet Edgecombe, an internal communications expert.
“All of a sudden I’m forgetting the words for basic things. ‘That grey thing in the thingy that we cook chicken on’. My husband replies ‘oh, the baking tray in the oven’. Hmm. ‘Yeah, that thing’.”
Getty ImagesI also heard from teachers, start-up founders having to present pitches for money to investors, women running workshops, delivering speeches – and fellow journalists trying to report live on-air, like me. But of course it can also hit mid-conversation, in a more intimate but no less frustrating way.
My post was about my decision to hold a page of notes on the BBC News at Ten. A story had broken late in the afternoon, following an already busy day, and by the time we reached 10pm, I knew I was getting tired and I could feel the brain fog.
I was going to talk about an outage that was affecting dozens of websites and apps, and I planned to use the technical jargon for it, as given by the company affected, and then explain what it actually meant.
But I just couldn’t get the phrase to stick in my head and I knew that without it, I wouldn’t manage the rest of what I needed to say.
I was reporting live from Glasgow. Like many of my professional peers, I do not have, and I’ve never had, autocue. And so, for the first time, I decided at the last minute to hold a page of notes with the offending phrase on it.
It felt to me at the time like an admission of failure. I have been trained never to use notes – unless there’s a specific legal reason why the wording of a statement, for example, has to be precise, or there are a lot of figures to remember.
Even then, I have prided myself on having a good enough short-term memory to get me through.
Using notes is discouraged in the world of public speaking. They are not permitted to anyone giving a 12-minute TED talk. The speaker is expected to memorise their speech.
Looking down the barrel of the camera and clutching that paper, live on TV, felt tough.
But around 10% of women report leaving their jobs due to menopause symptoms, according to the Fawcett Society. And research by insurance firm Royal London found that half of women going through it have considered giving up work. I don’t want to do that – and so I stuck with my solution.
To my intense relief, some people said they thought my paper looked authoritative, that they just assumed it was a breaking story and the page contained fresh information. Others asked why I hadn’t used a device instead – I suppose I thought the potential of having to fumble with a screen would feel even worse.
“Let’s start a movement: Hold your notes,” wrote Elisheva Marcus, vice president of communications at the venture capitalist firm Earlybird.
And so, the hashtag holdthenotes was born.
“Have you ever checked your testosterone levels?” menopause expert Dr Louise Newson asked me.
She says testosterone – despite its reputation for being a male hormone, and its association with sex drive and libido, is actually an essential brain chemical for both men and women, and levels fall in both genders. One of the results is brain fog.
“It’s like you’ve been drugged,” she says. “It’s really scary, a lot of people worry they’ve got dementia.”
“I remember when I had my levels done 10 years ago, and I was like ‘Thank God, at least I know why I’m feeling so awful’.”
She adds that there are studies dating back to the 1940s indicating that testosterone can improve brain function and wellbeing in women as well as men, but the randomised control studies, where participants are given either a placebo or the product itself in order to see whether it really works, have only focused on improvements to libido.
NHS-prescribed Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT, is traditionally a combination of oestrogen and progesterone. Testosterone is not routinely included.
Instead doctors can separately prescribe testosterone to female patients, at lower doses than given to men.
Getty ImagesThere are also a myriad of menopause supplements which claim to ease symptoms including brain fog. Estimates vary but it’s a multi-billion dollar industry and its booming.
Women spend an average of £147 per year on supplements to try to alleviate their menopause symptoms, according to a survey earlier this year by the nutrition news website NutraIngredients.
“They might help a bit,” says Dr Newson.
“I do yoga every day, and that helps my brain become clear and focused, but I have a hormone deficiency, I can’t eat my way out of it, or exercise my way out of it.
“A lot of women spend a fortune trying to improve symptoms of a hormone deficiency with something else.”
Dr Joshua Chen is part of the Harvard Medical School-Massachusetts General Hospital Photobiomodulation Research Group. The team is looking at how frequencies of red light can change the mitochondria inside the brain to improve focus.
He describes it as “like a face mask, but for the brain”. It can also, he says, be applied to the Vagus nerve on the neck to reduce stress.
He has founded a company called Niraxx which markets a headband called a neuro espresso, which is designed to be worn for up to 20 minutes a day. He claims the results are instant. It has to be plugged in – there are no batteries in the device for safety reasons.
NiraxxAngela Marsh is a registered nurse and a menopause coach. She says her clients often describe brain fog as feeling like they are “living life in soft focus”.
“I don’t think brain fog is taken seriously enough at all,” she says.
“Many women feel deeply unsettled by the changes they experience. They think there’s something wrong with them or they’re ‘losing it’ when in fact there’s a clear biological reason.”
As for me – well, I’ve booked a blood test to check my hormone levels. I’m going to try some red-light therapy. And you are probably going to see me holding notes a bit more often.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) surged to a fresh all-time high on Tuesday, with market participants showing positive sentiments following the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) approval for a $1.2 billion loan for Pakistan.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index settled at an all-time high of 169,456.38 points, up 1,153.14 points, or 0.69%, from the previous close of 168,303.24. The index climbed to an intraday high of 169,601.03, gaining 1,297.79 points.
The market rally strengthened further following the IMF’s approval of nearly $1.2 billion under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and an additional $220 million under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
The move has kept the combined $8.4 billion programme on track and significantly lifted investor confidence.
The surge was largely fuelled by strong and consistent buying from local mutual funds, which helped sustain positive momentum throughout the session. Major index contributors collectively added around 640 points to the benchmark’s gains.
Trading activity also remained robust. Total volumes crossed 1.02 billion shares, while overall turnover rose to Rs51.1 billion. K-Electric (KEL) dominated the session as the volume leader with 86.7 million shares traded.
With solid liquidity, improving macro indicators, and renewed confidence, the record close reinforces the bullish trend steering the market forward.
The IMF will release $1bn under the EFF and $200 million under the RSF, bringing total disbursements under both programmes to $3.3 bn.
“Today, the Executive Board of the IMF completed the second review of Pakistan’s economic reform program supported by the EFF and the first review of Pakistan’s program supported by the RSF,” the IMF said in a statement.
This decision, it said, allows for an immediate disbursement of around $1 billion under the EFF and around $200 million under the RSF, bringing total disbursements under the two arrangements to about $3.3 billion
The IMF has described the implementation of the ongoing loan programmes as “strong” and has assured the government of continued support for its economic reforms. The release of $1.2bn is expected to further bolster Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves.
.png?width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800 "Save on Christmas gifts for the whole team with Amazon Business")
As office party season reaches its peak and Christmas jumpers across the country are dusted off for their annual outing, it’s time to get gifts for the team sorted. Whether you own or run a business, showing those you’ve worked with this year that you appreciate them has never been easier thanks to Amazon Business. With quantity discounts, deals and promotions available over a wide range of categories, finding the perfect thank you is only a few clicks away. Keep reading for ideas on what to buy your employees and clients this Christmas.
Shop for Christmas gifts at Amazon Business now
Food and drink
Nothing says Christmas has arrived quite like eating, drinking and being merry. From indulgent cheese and wine sets to classic single malts from Scotland’s finest distilleries, there are hundreds of beautiful options to choose from if you want to give a touch of decadence this festive season.
Tech and gadgets
For the more tech-savvy amongst your team, why not give the gift of a gadget? From Kindles to smart watches, headphones to speakers, Amazon Business is your one-stop shop for electronics.
Wellness and self-care
After a year of hard work, Christmas is the perfect time to focus on self-care. Give your team a head start on the January wellbeing drive with a pampering gift that’s just for them. You can’t go wrong with an essential oils bath set, or a luxurious men’s wash set with a stylish washbag to boot.
Shop for Christmas gifts at Amazon Business now
Home and kitchen
Score a home run with your Christmas gifting with useful gadgets for the kitchen and round the house. From savvy robotic vacuum cleaners to chic electric corkscrews, Amazon Business has everything you could possibly need to make life at home a little easier.
Toys and games
Discover gifts that keep on giving with brilliant family games that will bring joy for years to come. With great prices on original games like Herd Mentality, Gullible and Six Second Scribbles, Amazon Business shows that corporate gifting doesn’t have to be stuffy and serious.
Sports and outdoor
For outdoorsy types, there’s no limit to how creative you can get with gifting. These hand warmers make a perfect Secret Santa gift for early morning runners, whilst this stylish flask is a great companion for keen hikers.
Gift cards and vouchers
Stumped on what to get for your clients this Christmas? You cannot go wrong with a gift card. Simply select your chosen amount and enter the email address of the lucky recipient. With inboxes overflowing in the lead up to the Christmas break, this is one email they’ll be very happy to receive.
Buy more, save more
Christmas can be an expensive time of year for business owners, but with some savvy shopping you can avoid accruing a receipt longer than Santa’s list. Unlock quantity discounts from just two units with Amazon Business, so you can get your gifting sorted while enjoying savings with business-exclusive pricing.
Find out more about Quantity Discounts
Shop for Christmas gifts at Amazon Business now
Get access to business-exclusive discounts today
Sign in to your Business Account to access business benefits and special pricing. Don’t have an Amazon Business account yet? Don’t worry. All you’ll need is to create a free account, which you can create in a few simple steps:
- Go to business.amazon.co.uk or download and open the Amazon Business app on your device.
- Click the “Create free account” button and fill in details such as your name, work email, and create a new password.
- Click “Create your Amazon account” and then verify your new account via email or phone by entering the one-time password sent to you.
- You’re ready to shop! Once Amazon verifies your business, you’re ready to start shopping and saving.
Visit business.amazon.co.uk to get your Christmas gifts sorted today.
Last Updated:
Pankaj Chaudhary confirmed 50.14 lakh central government employees and 69 lakh pensioners will benefit from the 8th Central Pay Commission.
8th Pay Commission Implementation
8th Pay Commission: Pankaj Chaudhary, minister of state in the Ministry of Finance, clarified that the total number of government employees currently stands at 50.14 lakh, and there are approximately 69 lakh pensioners, who will get the benefits from the 8th Pay Commission.
In a written reply to Lok Sabha dated December 8, 2025, the minister said “the number of central government employees is 50.14 lakh, and the number of pensioners is 69 lakh approximately.”
When asked the date of implementation of the 8th CPC, the Minister clarified that it will be decided by the government that the commission will make its recommendations within 18 months from the date of its constitution.
The minister was asked plans for allocation of funds for the 8th CPC in the 2026-27 budget, the MoS said it will make appropriate provision of funds for implementing the accepted recommendations of the 8th CPC. It will devise methodology and procedure for formulating its recommendations.
The finance ministry has stated that the 8th Central Pay Commission will submit its recommendations on key matters such as pay, allowances, pensions and other related issues. Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary clarified the government’s position in response to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha from members Javed Ali Khan and Ramji Lal Suman, who had asked whether a revision of pensions for central government employees is being considered under the 8th CPC.
No Proposal To Merger DA, DR With Basic Pay
Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary had said earlier the central government has notified the constitution of the 8th Central Pay Commission, and there is no proposal as of now to merge the existing dearness allowance (DA) or dearness relief (DR) with the basic pay.
“No proposal regarding merger of the existing dearness allowance with the basic pay is under consideration with the government at present. In order to adjust the cost of living and to protect basic pay/ pension from erosion in real value on account of inflation, the rates of DA/ DR are revised periodically every six months on the basis of the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW) released by Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour and Employment,” Chaudhary said in response to a query in the Lok Sabha.
He said the government has notified Resolution dated November 3, 2025, for the constitution of the Eighth Central Pay Commission. A copy of the Notification is enclosed at Annexure-1.
Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. December 09, 2025, 17:45 IST
Read More
Swinger to make 70 staff redundant, loss of Versace orders proves decisive
OpenAI, Anthropic, and Block Are Teaming Up to Make AI Agents Play Nice
Ayeza Khan stuns fans with vibrant saree looks
-
Sports1 week agoIndia Triumphs Over South Africa in First ODI Thanks to Kohli’s Heroics – SUCH TV
-
Entertainment1 week agoSadie Sink talks about the future of Max in ‘Stranger Things’
-
Fashion1 week agoResults are in: US Black Friday store visits down, e-visits up, apparel shines
-
Politics1 week agoElon Musk reveals partner’s half-Indian roots, son’s middle name ‘Sekhar’
-
Tech1 week agoPrague’s City Center Sparkles, Buzzes, and Burns at the Signal Festival
-
Sports1 week agoBroncos secure thrilling OT victory over Commanders behind clutch performances
-
Business1 week agoCredit Card Spends Ease In October As Point‑Of‑Sale Transactions Grow 22%
-
Entertainment1 week agoNatalia Dyer explains Nancy Wheeler’s key blunder in Stranger Things 5