The Habit of Unfolding Thoughts on Paper

When my mind feels cluttered, I lay out a sheet of paper and start writing. Even when it seems like my head is overflowing with worries, I often find that, once written out, there are really only three or four main concerns.

This may be due to the limitations of the brain. Our brains operate like single processors—when one worry is being processed and another arises, the first is temporarily set aside to deal with the new one. In the process, the context of the previous thought is often lost. As a result, even just a few concerns can take turns occupying our thoughts, making our minds feel like they’re constantly running without ever arriving at clarity.

That’s where paper helps. You don’t need a plan—just write down the thoughts as they come. By laying out your worries in front of you, you can use your eyes to help process them one by one. Once everything is sorted and you re-store it in your mind, it feels as though a mental defragmentation has taken place—leaving your thoughts clear and organized.