How I Use AI to Organize My Brain

Discover how to organize your thoughts and tackle mental overload with AI tools like ChatGPT and Notion AI. Learn practical ways to get clarity, stay focused, and boost productivity in this week’s edition.

April 09, 2025

Let’s be honest: the real productivity killer isn’t always distraction — it’s mental overload.

Ideas, reminders, decisions, questions, half-finished thoughts — they stack up fast.
And before you know it, your brain feels foggy, your to-do list makes no sense, and you’re just reacting to what’s urgent instead of working on what actually matters.

I don’t use AI to replace my thinking — I use it to unclog it.

This week, I’m walking you through the actual ways I use AI tools (like ChatGPT and Notion AI) to clear mental space, get organized, and turn fuzzy thoughts into focused action.

✍️ 1. AI as a Thought Organizer

When I feel overwhelmed, I don’t start with a to-do list.
I open ChatGPT and type:

“I’m feeling mentally cluttered and have too many competing thoughts. Can you help me sort them out? Here’s what’s on my mind…”

I dump everything — tasks, ideas, deadlines, emotions, questions — in one big mess.

Then I ask the AI to:

  • Group things by category (work, personal, urgent, creative, etc.)

  • Highlight time-sensitive items

  • Suggest next steps or clarify priorities

It sounds simple, but having a neutral partner that listens and reflects it back — cleanly and calmly — is surprisingly powerful.

🧠 2. Notion AI for Idea Mapping

When I’m stuck on a big idea (content plan, new project, client strategy), I use Notion AI to structure it.

Here’s what I’ll type:

“I want to explore an idea around X, but I don’t know where to start. Can you help me outline the main angles or sections I should think about?”

Notion AI will break it down into chunks, often suggesting a structure I hadn’t considered.

From there, I’ll ask follow-up prompts like:

  • “Give me 3 ways to simplify this for a non-technical audience”

  • “Which part of this idea might be unclear or confusing?”

  • “What would be the logical next step to move this forward?”

This process helps me move from fog to framework.

🔁 3. Looping AI Into My Weekly Review

Once a week, I do a quick “reset” in ChatGPT — where I review what happened, what worked, and what needs attention.

I’ll paste in a few messy notes and then prompt:

“Can you summarize my week and pull out what seems to be working well, what didn’t get done, and anything that looks like a recurring theme?”

Why this matters:

  • It surfaces blind spots

  • It helps me notice patterns (like avoiding hard tasks or overcommitting)

  • It gives me momentum for the week ahead

This has turned into a quiet ritual I actually look forward to.

🛠️ 4. Tools I Use Most

Here’s where each one shines for me:

💬 ChatGPT (Plus)

  • Best for real-time reflection and conversation-style problem solving

  • I treat it like a smart sounding board

  • I’ve added custom instructions so it thinks the way I like to think

🧠 Notion AI

  • Great for expanding, structuring, and clarifying thoughts inside a project workspace

  • It helps with “turning outlines into drafts” and organizing ideas with context

  • Bonus: I can instantly turn AI-generated content into task lists or calendar items

🗂️ Reflect or Tana (optional)

  • Both are note-taking tools that support “thinking in public” or building a personal knowledge base

  • You can loop in AI to connect themes, highlight patterns, and prompt follow-up questions

🧰 How I Use AI to Organize My Brain — At a Glance

Tool

What It Helps With

How I Use It

ChatGPT

Sorting thoughts, figuring out next steps

I tell it everything on my mind, and it helps me organize and prioritize tasks.

Notion AI

Organizing ideas, breaking things down into steps

I use it to turn messy ideas into clear, organized outlines.

Tana / Reflect

Storing ideas, keeping track of ongoing projects

I jot down notes and use AI to help me connect them and stay on track.

🔑 Final Takeaway

You don’t need to have “everything figured out” before using AI.
Sometimes, the best thing AI can do is help you see what’s already in your head — a little clearer, a little calmer, and a lot more organized.

Because when your mind is less cluttered, your work gets sharper.

See you next week,

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