Ever feel like your brain has too many tabs open? That’s not just you — science shows our brains aren’t built to hold everything at once.

In fact, according to cognitive psychologist George Miller, our short-term memory can only hold about 7 ± 2 items at a time. That means once you’re juggling more than a few tasks, your brain starts to feel overwhelmed fast.

The Power of Writing Things 
Down

• It clears mental space:

  When you write things down, you’re offloading that mental load. This gives your brain permission to stop juggling and start focusing. It’s like giving your mind a break without slowing down.

  
  

• Smaller steps feel less overwhelming:

  Big projects can be intimidating. But when you break them down into clear, simple tasks, you activate something called chunking the brain’s natural way of processing information more efficiently.

  
  

• Progress feels good (literally):

  Each time you complete a task, your brain releases a bit of dopamine, the chemical linked to reward and motivation. That’s why checking off even small items feels so satisfying it keeps you going.
  
  

• It helps you stop overthinking:

  The Zeigarnik Effect explains why unfinished tasks stick in your mind. Creating a clear task list helps resolve that mental tension, so you can move through your day with more clarity and calm.

How to Apply This

1. Group tasks by context or category (e.g. Work, Study, Chores). This reduces decision load when switching between areas of life.

2. Break projects into clear, specific steps to avoid ambiguity.

3. Hide completed items to limit visual clutter and reduce distractions.

4. Use tags to add clarity and structure whether it’s by priority (high, low), energy level (deep work, quick win) or mood (creative, focus). Tagging helps you filter and tackle tasks that match your current mindset, time, or energy.