Whenever I cook my eggs, brew my coffee, or need to remember doing something at a specific time - I set a timer.
A simple kitchen timer.
It tells me exactly when I need to get off my ass from my computer and do something.
And then I forget about it. It works like magic. I'm often surprised by the sound of my timer because I completely forgot I set it. It's like somebody else took care of things while I was working or learning.
It allows me to completely drop the task from my mind and sink into the zone with all of my mental resources focused on what I’m doing now.
This matters because of how working memory works.
“Working memory is the brain’s temporary workspace, holding and actively manipulating a limited amount of information for immediate use in complex tasks like reasoning, learning, and problem-solving.”
In simple terms: it’s your brain's capacity to work with things now. Like your computer's RAM. And it's tiny. You can only hold so many things in your mind.
I do the same thing with calls.
If I have meetings later in the day and want to do deep or creative work beforehand, I set an alarm for when it’s time to prepare.
No mental background noise.
No low-grade vigilance and agitation.
No “don’t forget, don’t forget, don’t forget.”
One of the reasons this works so well to reduce cognitive fatigue by the end of the day is simple:
Your brain can do its actual job with ALL the resources, instead of having to keep the rest of your life in mind.
Imagine holding a dumbbell in one hand while trying to cook.
You could do it.
But you’d be slower, clumsier, and a lot more tired by the end of the day.
That’s what holding reminders in your head does. Keeping your brain loaded with unessential stuff. Whilr trying to "cook something up"
There’s fascinating research from the University of Chicago showing that just having your phone visible, even silent, even on airplane mode, measurably worsens cognitive performance compared to leaving it in another room. (Brain Drain Study)
Out of sight.
And quite literally, out of mind.
The same principle explains why one of the most effective, research-backed tools for better sleep works so well:
Write down your to-do list for tomorrow.
Everything that’s on your mind.
The more detailed, the faster you'll sleep.
Why does it help you fall asleep?
Because it gets things out of your head.
This is also why the world-known productivity system Getting Things Done works so reliably well.
It teaches you how to keep things out of mind, while working on what comes first.
As David Allen famously put it (and trademarked it):
“Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.”
I could go on and on with the evidence.
But here’s what not carrying everything in your head actually gives you:
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Clearer thinking and deeper focus
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More creativity and better problem-solving
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Faster execution with less end-of-day fatigue
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Less overwhelm and easier prioritization
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Sharper learning and better decisions
Do any of these matter to you, dear reader?
One of my own very practical habits, especially helpful for my very human (and very ADHD-leaning) tendencies, is what I call a "Thought Note"
When I’m working on something important and want to stay focused, I keep a notes app open.
Every time an idea pops up, I write it down.
And then I go straight back to the task.
It stops my brain from chasing rabbit holes out of fear of “losing” an idea.
The curiosity gets honored, just not right now.
I schedule my rabbit-hole time for less productive afternoons.
Curiosity stays alive.
Essential work gets finished.
Over to you, dear reader,
What’s one thing you could take out of your head today?
