The Art of an Empty Mind: Writing It Out of Your Head

This time of year, we are all being pulled in so many different directions. Year-end is a stressful time, and our state of mind is known as...overwhelmed.

There are countless personality types in this world—but when it comes to lists, there are really only two kinds of people: those who love them, and those who absolutely do not.

My wife falls firmly into the first category. She is a list lover in the truest, most enthusiastic sense of the word. She’ll even add simple tasks to her list—things she’s already done—just for the satisfaction of crossing them off. That single swipe of a pen delivers a little jolt of accomplishment that fuels her into the next task. For her, lists are an energy source.

I, on the other hand, am the opposite kind of creature. I write things down, sure—but then they disappear into a pile on my desk, which later gets relocated into a box, where it will live a long, quiet life until the end of time. Maybe it’s because the sight of all those tasks stresses me out. Maybe the physical act of writing something down makes it stick in my brain and I don’t feel the need to revisit it. Either way, my task management system has long needed an upgrade.

Discovering the Power of Emptying Your Head

Like many people trying to get their life in order, one idea that truly changed the way I work is simple: Your brain is a terrible storage unit. We cram it with reminders, loose tasks, half-built ideas, errands, obligations, and mental sticky notes. This “brain clutter” drains mental bandwidth and slows down our ability to think clearly. According to Allen, the act of capturing these thoughts—getting them out of your head and onto paper—frees your mind to focus on deeper, more meaningful work. Instead of trying to remember every little thing, your brain can do what it’s meant to do: process, create, solve, and imagine.

Clutter isn’t just messy—it’s expensive. It costs us energy, focus, and productivity.

People recommend carrying a notepad and simply jotting down ideas as they come. And for many people, that’s enough. But then there are people like me…

Kevin’s Pro Tip: Your Brain Only Trusts What Feels Safe

Emptying your mind only works if the place you put those thoughts is truly a safe place—somewhere your brain believes you’ll return. For list lovers, that’s simple: Once it’s written down, it’s as good as done. They’ll revisit that list faithfully.

For me? A notebook is where ideas go to die. I started with my iPhone’s Reminders app. The logic seemed solid: if the phone reminds me, I won’t forget. And technically, that part worked. But the sheer volume of reminders became a blur. I ignored them all.

Eventually, I found something surprisingly effective: a massive whiteboard in my office.

No bells. No whistles. No apps.Just a blank space big enough to organize my thoughts visually, without burying them.

The whiteboard became a living dashboard of my brain—visible but not overwhelming, flexible but not cluttered. I can erase, rearrange, connect ideas, and physically see progress. It’s as if the whiteboard holds the tasks so my brain doesn’t have to. And for the first time, my mind started to feel…empty—in the best possible way.

The Surprising Benefits of a Clear Mind

While this process boosts productivity, one unexpected benefit has been the ability to evaluate ideas more clearly. When everything is swirling around in your head, every idea feels equally urgent or important. Once it’s written down, though, the shine often fades—and that’s a good thing.

An idea outside your head is easier to judge.

Sometimes you look at it and realize it’s brilliant. Other times, you realize it isn’t feasible, or that it doesn’t align with your goals. Either way, it no longer drains your mental energy.

A clear mind becomes a better filter:

• You separate noise from value.

• You recognize priorities faster.

• You stop chasing every random spark and start focusing on meaningful ones.

  
  

Turning Thoughts Into Action

Writing your thoughts down—whatever system you use—creates a structure your brain can follow. Instead of getting lost in the daily tornado of “stuff,” you begin to see actual action items.

Ask yourself along the way:

• What should I be doing right now?

• Is this truly a priority?

• Does this idea deserve my time?

  
  

New ideas will continue to pop up, but now they have a place to live outside your mind. Over time, you start to see a path forming—a way forward that feels organized, intentional, and achievable.

Creating the Conditions for Focus

Once you get the clutter out of your head and into a trusted system, your mind finally has room to breathe. Stress decreases. Creativity increases. You start working with your brain instead of against it.

You create an environment where focus can thrive—and once you experience that, you’ll never want to go back to mental storage mode again. Because the real magic isn’t the whiteboard, the notepad, or an app, it's the freedom that comes from giving your mind the space it needs to perform at its best.

When you stop relying on your brain as a storage unit and start using tools that truly work for you, everything changes. You think clearly, act quicker, and move through life

with intention rather than overwhelm. Empty your mind, trust your system, and watch your productivity—and your peace—grow.