The COVID-19 pandemic has created new, incredibly demanding ways of life. Many of us are suddenly working from home , grappling with unimaginable stress . Those with kids are either adding home-schooling to the mix, or coping with sending them back to classrooms. For their part, many children are forced to adapt to remote learning.

Its never been harder to focus on daily tasks, yet its never been more important that were able to do so.

Our diets can help. What we eat and drink has a significant impact on how well adults can concentrate, and the same goes for children who need to be able to learn at the kitchen table. The first, most basic step is an overall healthy approach.

We look at [different] foods as theyre good for this or that, but if you dont have a general healthy lifestyle, eating one food is not going to be the cure-all for your concentration, said registered dietitian Natalie Rizzo. Make sure you get enough sleep seven to eight hours a day and youre not drinking tons of caffeine and crashing.

The next step is to target specific parts of your diet that may need some help. Experts agree on certain nutrients that are especially crucial for brain function.

Complex Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are our brains primary source of fuel, said holistic nutritionist and health coach Shanon Whittingham. However, this refers to complex carbohydrates like vegetables and whole grains, not simple carbohydrates like baked goods and chips.

Simple carbohydrates, or sugars, are made up of shorter chains of molecules and are quicker to digest than complex carbohydrates, Whittingham explained. Because simple carbohydrates break down in our body at a faster speed than complex carbohydrates, when we consume them, we will feel an immediate energy boost. However, this reaction literally spikes our blood sugar levels, so the energy boost will only fuel us for a short period of time.