Below, you’ll find the show notes for Episode 018 of The Made by Motherhood Podcast. The Made by Motherhood Podcast is a warm, encouraging space for moms building businesses while raising families — with gentle guidance for business, home, and motherhood. Subscribe on Spotify Podcasts, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe anywhere podcasts are available.
If your brain ever feels like a pop-up window that just won’t stop opening, this post is for you.
Motherhood brings plenty of mental load on its own — and when you layer in running a business, the decisions, reminders, and invisible to-dos can make your brain feel full before the day even begins.
Let’s talk about how to clear the mental clutter — to create space for clarity, creativity, and calm, even if life around you still feels messy.
The Mental Clutter We Carry
Some days, it feels like our minds are a tornado of tabs. You’re thinking about dinner plans, your toddler’s shoe size, the email you forgot to send, and whether your latest Instagram post even made sense.
This is the mental clutter no one talks about:
- The appointments you need to schedule.
- The groceries you’re tracking in your head.
- The client requests waiting in your inbox.
- The birthday gift you keep forgetting to buy.
It’s not just “being busy.” It’s the invisible, ongoing hum of responsibility — and it’s exhausting.
The Power of a Brain Dump
When I feel scattered, one of the simplest practices makes the biggest difference: I grab a notebook and write everything down.
Not a curated to-do list. Not a color-coded planner spread. Just a raw, free-flow list of anything taking up space in my head.
I’ll include:
- Business tasks.
- Household chores.
- Random reminders like “buy almond milk.”
- Emotional clutter, like worries or frustrations.
Getting it out of your head and onto paper gives your brain room to breathe. It helps you see what’s real versus what’s just swirling.
Sometimes, simply writing it all down is enough to feel lighter.
The Rule of Three
After a brain dump, I choose just three things to focus on:
- One for my business.
- One for my home.
- One for me.
This keeps me moving forward without drowning in chaos. It’s a way of saying: I’m still showing up, just more gently.
And on some days? My “thing for me” is simply drinking more water — and that counts.
Create a “Later List”
Another practice that helps is creating a “later list.” It’s where I park ideas, tasks, and goals that don’t need my energy right now, but that I don’t want to forget.
Instead of letting them clutter my mind or distract me, I remind myself: Not now, but later.
This has been a game-changer for staying present, because not everything is urgent — and not everything deserves your energy today.
Quieting the Noise
When my brain feels full, it’s often not just from doing — but from consuming. Podcasts. Reels. Emails. Advice. Opinions. Tips.
Even helpful content can turn into noise when it piles up.
That’s when I take breaks from consuming so I can hear my own voice again. My own ideas. My own next right step.
If that resonates with you, maybe this is your reminder to mute the noise and return to your clarity.
Your Permission Slip to Pause
You are allowed to pause — even if nothing is “done.”
You’re allowed to work slower.
You’re allowed to prioritize your peace.
You’re allowed to breathe before moving forward.
Because when your mind is full, it’s hard to hear your own voice — and your voice is what makes your business yours.
Final Encouragement
If your brain feels full today, I hope you’ll try a simple brain dump, choose your three priorities, or make a “later list.” Sometimes, the smallest shifts bring the biggest peace. You are Made by Motherhood — and you were made to lead with clarity, even when your world feels full.
