The Mental Detox You Know You Should Do But Aren't Doing

Write things down.

You know that it's a good idea, but it's just so much easier to try and remember everything.

That is until it all starts slipping away.

Days, weeks, or even years can go by with you never acting on some of the ideas, goals, and tasks that could’ve changed your life for the better.

Why? Because your brain is overloaded and because you probably forget them.

You're causing chaos in your head from trying to remember all of these different things and they paralyze you from doing anything at all. Kind of like when your phone storage is full and it just stops working as it should until you clear up some space.

Your brain storage is full and so you feel overwhelmed.

What's worst is that the mental clutter will eventually start to weigh you down to the point where you can't be present for the people and moments that matter most.

But here's the thing. Just writing things down won't magically solve everything.

Sometimes, that can also feel like you're simply just building a seemingly endless lineup of things to do, solve, and be responsible for–piling up tasks before you ever feel like you’re allowed to enjoy life (I'm too guilty of this and I'm learning this the hard way).

So, like with anything, there has to be a balance.

At some point, you have to decide what matters most and let go of the rest.

Writing things down isn’t about building an endless to-do list that traps you.

It’s about freeing your mind from unnecessary mental clutter and setting aside the things that doesn’t need your focus.

Writing things down is not just to help you remember, but to also help you forget and let things go.

I have started journalling more and more again recently, but I admittedly don't journal as often as I should in times when I don't think I really need to. When I do though, I find that writing down the hard stuff is healing and gives me the clarity to move forward without the unnecessary weight.

I don't take enough advantage of the benefits of writing things for my well-being as much as I do for productivity. So, I'll start with the productivity benefits.

//The Benefits of Writing Things Down for Productivity

Writing things down is one of the simplest ways to jumpstart productivity.

1. Sense of Progress and Momentum

Writing down tasks or goals gives you a concrete starting point.

By simply writing tasks, they immediately start to feel real and achievable, and every time you check something off, you’re building momentum.

It’s rewarding to see that progress, and each small win motivates you to keep going.

2. Clarity and Focus

When you write out the things that you need to do and break them down into multiple smaller actionable tasks, you give yourself a clear path to follow.

With your tasks and subtasks laid out in front of you, you set yourself free to focus on what matters most rather than wasting energy on mental juggling.

3. A Record of Achievement

By keeping a to-do list, you’re building a tangible record that you can look back on to celebrate.

On days when you feel unproductive especially, looking back at your progress can remind you of how far you’ve come, motivating you to keep moving forward.

And these are the reasons why I created Doaily. It's a gamified to-do list app that respects the basic and simple nature of what a to-do list is. It just streamlines the process of adding tasks, substasks, and notes on a list without much hassle.

There are basic game elements such as streaks and leaderboard to help keep you going, but not at the cost of adding unnecessary complexity to a simple task management system.

Try Doaily out!

//The Benefits of Writing Things Down for Well-Being

And at some point, I plan on adding a way to reflect on the tasks you've completed in Doaily because writing things down isn't just for productivity as I've mentioned earlier.

Writing things down can also be used as an outlet for mental clarity and just overall well-being.

1. Release and Relief

When you’re holding onto worries, frustrations, or heavy emotions, they can definitely cloud your mind and weigh you down.

Writing these things down is a one of the few ways to let go of all that baggage.

I used to think journalling is just some dear diary BS, but it's actually therapeutic.

Try it out.

2. Self-Awareness and Growth

When you reflect on thoughts, experiences, and feelings, you start to understand your patterns.

It gives you a chance to look inward, recognize behaviours, thoughts, and choices that shape your life.

Over time, you start to notice the why behind your actions. Why certain things trigger you, why you react a certain way, and or why certain goals keep coming back up.

All of the answers you get from journalling helps you connect with your values, goals, and boundaries that make it easier to align your daily actions with the person you truly want to be.

You also find questions that you need to ask yourself too.

3. Perspective

Just like how writing tasks down help them feel manageable, seeing your worries or struggles on paper also makes them feel smaller and less overwhelming.

Journalling helps you gain perspective, allowing you to approach challenges more objectively.

And as you process, you may even start to recognize solutions or new ways of moving forward.

//2 Writing Habits to Try Out

If you’re ready to make writing things down a daily habit, here are some straightforward routines to try out to help you get started.

1. Set Your Priorities for the Day

Figure out 1-3 tasks that you absolutely must do today.

Writing them down helps you stay focused for the day by giving you something to aim for.

This is my favourite writing habit and is one of the first things I try to do.

2. Weekly Review and Reset

Once a week, on a Sunday or Monday (whatever makes sense for you), look back on the past week.

Review and reflect on the things you've done, learned, and what matters most going forward.

This weekly habit can be motivating and grounding, helping you realign with your goals and values.

Again, whether it’s gaining momentum on your daily tasks or finding ways to release, writing things down is a small habit with big rewards (if you just stick with it).

So, try these habits out.

I'm trying to be more consistent with journalling myself.

Just try it out and let's keep going.

It's worth it.

– Renz