Do you ever feel like your brain just refuses to keep up with the endless to-do lists, reminders, and tasks piling up every day? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. According to Dr. Wendy Suzuki, neuroscientist and Dean of New York University’s College of Arts & Science, there is a simple reason why the mind often struggles to focus: we are overloading it.
In her latest Instagram video, part of her #MindfulMondays series, Suzuki explained that the brain is “not meant to be a filing cabinet.” When we force it to juggle countless invisible reminders, our working memory—the part of the brain that manages immediate tasks—gets overwhelmed. The result is mental fatigue, stress, and the frustrating inability to concentrate.
The science behind brain fog
Suzuki highlights how working memory, located in the prefrontal cortex, has a very limited capacity. “Too many ‘don’t forgets’ overload your prefrontal cortex,” she said in her post. Once this happens, the brain slips into a foggy state where focus and productivity quickly decline.
The neuroscientist’s remarks resonate with what many experience in a world constantly buzzing with notifications, deadlines, and multitasking. Unlike a computer, the brain cannot keep adding tabs indefinitely. Instead, it burns out.
A quick fix: the “brain dump” method
So how can one regain focus when mental clutter takes over? Suzuki suggests a deceptively simple exercise: a “brain dump.” Taking just five to ten minutes to write down every task, worry, and idea on paper can help reset the mind.
“Write every task down, every worry and idea. Then write down the next action step and start,” she advised in her Instagram post. According to Suzuki, this clears up valuable working memory space, allowing the brain to switch from distraction to deep, focused thinking.
Why it works
The method works because writing transfers the burden from short-term memory onto an external tool—paper. This not only reduces cognitive overload but also provides clarity about what needs to be done first. Neuroscientific research has long shown that the act of externalizing thoughts helps reduce stress and increase mental control, which is why strategies like journaling and list-making are effective.
Sometimes, regaining focus isn’t about working harder but about working smarter—by clearing mental clutter before it clouds our ability to think. So next time you feel stuck in a mental haze, grab a notebook, jot everything down, and let your brain breathe. Science says it might just be the reset you need.
In her latest Instagram video, part of her #MindfulMondays series, Suzuki explained that the brain is “not meant to be a filing cabinet.” When we force it to juggle countless invisible reminders, our working memory—the part of the brain that manages immediate tasks—gets overwhelmed. The result is mental fatigue, stress, and the frustrating inability to concentrate.
The science behind brain fog
Suzuki highlights how working memory, located in the prefrontal cortex, has a very limited capacity. “Too many ‘don’t forgets’ overload your prefrontal cortex,” she said in her post. Once this happens, the brain slips into a foggy state where focus and productivity quickly decline.
The neuroscientist’s remarks resonate with what many experience in a world constantly buzzing with notifications, deadlines, and multitasking. Unlike a computer, the brain cannot keep adding tabs indefinitely. Instead, it burns out.
A quick fix: the “brain dump” method
So how can one regain focus when mental clutter takes over? Suzuki suggests a deceptively simple exercise: a “brain dump.” Taking just five to ten minutes to write down every task, worry, and idea on paper can help reset the mind.
“Write every task down, every worry and idea. Then write down the next action step and start,” she advised in her Instagram post. According to Suzuki, this clears up valuable working memory space, allowing the brain to switch from distraction to deep, focused thinking.
Why it works
The method works because writing transfers the burden from short-term memory onto an external tool—paper. This not only reduces cognitive overload but also provides clarity about what needs to be done first. Neuroscientific research has long shown that the act of externalizing thoughts helps reduce stress and increase mental control, which is why strategies like journaling and list-making are effective.
Sometimes, regaining focus isn’t about working harder but about working smarter—by clearing mental clutter before it clouds our ability to think. So next time you feel stuck in a mental haze, grab a notebook, jot everything down, and let your brain breathe. Science says it might just be the reset you need.
You may also like
This MP village bears Ravan's name, chants his chalisa
Sheffield Utd boss Chris Wilder sent off after angrily kicking ball that hit FAN
Stacey Solomon left sobbing 'I don't know what to do' over devastating family news
Vladimir Putin can be beaten by Ukraine using one key weapon says top US general
Man Utd fear Ruben Amorim will resign to save his managerial 'reputation'
