Mental Clutter Is Killing Your Focus
Here’s How to Clear It
When I think about my time, energy, and focus … I know they’re not created equal.
If you think that they are, you're in for a rude awakening (no offense)!
The only thing equal about them is that they aren't infinite!
You have limited time.
You don't always have energy!
You have times you're more focused than others.
Something else I’ve also learned:
If you're not clear, you're not focused.
Think about a camera, if the lens isn't clear, it's not going to be focused.
The same is true for you: if you aren't clear on what you're doing, then you won't be able to focus!
So if you’ve been asking yourself:
“Why do I feel so drained all the time?”
“Why am I always busy, but nothing’s really moving?”
Let’s talk about it.
Do you have the answers?
Because chances are, what’s draining you isn’t your calendar.
What's really draining you is mental clutter.
🧠 What Is Mental Clutter, Really?
Mental clutter is that never-ending swirl of thoughts, worries, to dos, half-finished ideas, reminders, mental checklists, and "what ifs" that are just bouncing around in your brain.
Mental clutter ...
It's waking up with thoughts.
It’s getting ideas in the shower.
It's that “I have so much to do but can’t remember what any of it is” feeling.
It’s driving to work and suddenly solving a problem you weren’t even thinking about.
These things hit us all at the most inconvenient times.
Our brain never sleeps or stops processing, not even in your sleep ...
At book club earlier today, we were randomly talking about exactly this: how ideas come to us at the most random moments.
Trying to make sure that you don't forget to pack that one item so that you can bring it with you.
One of the ladies said she gets her best ideas in the middle of the night, when she's sleeping, but then when she actually wakes up, she can't remember them.
I can only imagine how annoying that would be!
For me, sometimes as soon as I wake up, I have ideas, and I'm looking for some paper to jot it down on ...
Then, I had to start keeping a travel notebook in the car, so when a thought hits on my drive, I can jot it down, then transfer it to the right list later - whether it's a work thought, business idea, or something I need to do.
If I don’t get these ideas out of my head, it’s just mental chaos and turmoil, because I'm GOING TO FORGET and then be annoyed when I can't remember the thing ... Because it's normally some gem that pops up
📓 Real Talk: Your Tools Might Be the Problem
Even the tools that are supposed to help can cause clutter.
One of my coworkers showed me his notebook system. He used to keep everything (work and personal) in one notebook that he'd carry around with him all day.
But, when the weekend rolled around and he opened his notebook to plan some errands, he’d see work notes staring him in the face.
Instant stress. Instant overwhelm. Weekend ruined.
So what did he do? He got two notebooks: one for work, one for life.
Simple shift. Big relief.
When you have something that works: stick with it!
When you have something that needs to be modified: be willing to change it!
😵💫 The “Busy But Nothing to Show for It” Problem
You ever feel like you're running all day … But nothing actually gets done?!?
That’s more mental clutter.
That’s invisible burnout.
That's busy for the sake of being busy ...
Instead of being busy and being productive ...
We talk a lot about being “busy” vs. being “productive,” and here’s my truth:
I’m choosing being productive over being busy every. single. time.
When I’m busy, I’m reacting to everything, bouncing from thing to thing, but nothing feels finished.
When I’m productive, I’m focused. I’m intentional. I’m crossing things off and actually making progress.
And this week?
I was productive.
My focused work to do list got done.
So far, half of my business to do list? Done.
And my life to do list? I'm on track with that one too.
Why? Because I committed to sticking to the plan and blocking out distractions.
I'm preparing for a busy next couple of weeks, and the key to this preparation is the work that I got done this week - because it was my last full week that isn't booked.
Work travel.
Trials and hearing for work.
That's what the rest of this month looks like ...
🧹 Here’s Your Mental Clarity Game Plan
If you’re stuck in a swirl of overwhelm, you can use a simplified version of the LIST framework (let me know if you want me to break down the LIST framework) ...
I'm going to recommend you do my favorite things that I do on a weekly basis:
Brain Dump
Get it all out of your head and onto the paper. Don’t stop to think or judge it. Just keep writing until nothing else comes.
Turn It Into a To Do List
Take the big list and group the thoughts. What needs action? What’s a reminder? What’s just noise?
Schedule Your Priorities
Understand what are the top priorities and the most important tasks. Plug the tasks into your calendar, telling yourself when you'll do them.
That’s it.
If you take some time to do this at least once a week, you'll be better able to keep the mental clutter at bay!
It’s not fancy, it's not necessarily sexy, but it definitely works!
You’ll be surprised how much calmer you feel just from seeing it all in front of you instead of carrying it around in your mind.
🧾 Try This Quick Energy Audit
If you’re feeling anxious or scattered, try asking yourself this:
What’s been draining your energy lately?
What are you doing out of obligation vs. intention?
What feels heavy that you can release or reschedule?
Often, we don’t need to do more, we just need to clear space and give ourselves some breathing room!
✨ The Key Isn’t Doing More, It’s Doing What Works for You
Just like we all get our thoughts in different ways, we organize them differently too.
Your system doesn’t need to look like mine.
It just needs to work for you.
Whether that’s one notebook or five, sticky notes or a digital app ...
It doesn’t matter, as long as it helps you feel grounded, not scattered.
Because here’s the thing: When your system works for you, it becomes sustainable.
Like my coworker who realized he needed two notebooks to protect his peace.
That’s not “extra.” That’s clarity.
💬 Think About It:
“What’s been taking up the most space in your mind lately and what’s one thing you can let go of?”
Think about it.
Write it down.
Read it again.
Then let it go.
🚨 If You’re Tired of Spinning Your Wheels …
👉🏾 Book your Personalized Productivity Audit now and let's simplify, together.
👉🏾 Or grab your copy of Lee’s Laws of Productivity to learn how to build a system that fits your real life, not your ideal one.
You don’t need a whole new routine.
You just need a system that clears the clutter.
You need to give your energy a chance to breathe.
P.S. Let me know below if you want me to break down the LIST framework, so you have another tool to add to your toolkit