Hello we are Margarita Albarracin and Igor Lucic, a cognitive beharioral psychoterapist and a sport psychologist, and we are a Self-Sustainability Team.
THE INSIGHT
Mental clutter is not a personal failure. It’s environmental.
Mental clutter is often mistaken for a personal shortcoming, but in reality it’s a natural response to an overstimulating environment. We live surrounded by constant notifications, information overload, social expectations, and pressure to be permanently available conditions the human nervous system was never designed to handle. When focus fades or the mind feels crowded, it’s not because of weak discipline or lack of motivation, but because the environment is continuously pulling attention in too many directions. Recognizing this shifts the focus from self blame to self care mental clarity doesn’t come from trying harder, but from intentionally shaping surroundings, boundaries, and inputs so the mind has space to rest, process, and recover.
Your nervous system treats unfinished thoughts like open browser tabs.
Every unresolved task, unanswered message, or unmade decision quietly stays active in your nervous system. Even when you’re not consciously thinking about it, your brain keeps checking those open loops for potential threats or missed responsibilities. Just like too many browser tabs slow down a computer, unfinished thoughts drain mental energy, increase background stress, and make it harder to focus on what’s right in front of you. This isn’t overthinking it’s your nervous system trying to keep you safe by remembering what’s incomplete. Mental relief begins when those loops are acknowledged, externalized, or gently closed, allowing your system to shift from constant vigilance back into a calmer, more sustainable state.
Clarity isn’t a discipline problem. It’s an environment problem.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
One daily mental unload
Do this today: take 5 minutes and get everything out of your head onto paper or your notes app. Tasks, worries, ideas, reminders, unfinished thoughts – no structure, no prioritizing. Once written, stop. You don’t need to act on it right now. The nervous system relaxes when it knows nothing important will be forgotten. This small daily ritual reduces background stress and prevents thoughts from following you into the evening or your sleep.
One weekly input fast
Do this this week: choose a specific window (for example Sunday morning or one evening) where you intentionally reduce inputs. No news, no social media, no podcasts, no constant messaging. Let boredom happen. This isn’t about discipline, it’s about recovery. With fewer external signals, your mind naturally processes what’s already there and clarity starts to return. Even two input free hours can noticeably reset your mental state.
One decision you stop revisiting
Do this today: pick one decision you’ve already made but keep reopening. Write it down. Underneath it, write “Decision closed for now.” Commit to not mentally renegotiating it for a defined period (for example 30 days). If the thought comes back, remind yourself that clarity comes from commitment, not constant re-evaluation. Closing one loop immediately frees up energy for focus and forward movement.
Stop blaming your mind for reacting to an environment designed to overwhelm it.
REFLECTION QUESTION
What is taking up mental space right now without moving your life forward?
If you’d like to explore this further, we’ll be unpacking mental clutter together in an upcoming Self-Sustainability session, both online and in person.
No lecture. No pressure.
Just shared reflection, simple exercises, and space to think clearly again.
You’re very welcome to join us.
