How to Close Mental Tabs and Reduce Overwhelm: Productivity Tips for Professional Women

If you’ve ever felt like your brain is overloaded with to-dos—half-written Post-it notes, scattered phone reminders, and a mental checklist that never shuts off—you’re not alone.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to mistake constant “doing” for actual productivity. But as my guest Vanessa Dawn, founder of Dawning Hope, shared on The Positively Joyful Productivity Show, there’s a better way to manage your mental load.

What Are “Mental Tabs” and Why They Drain You

“Mental tabs” are all the small, unfinished tasks running in the background of your mind—like open browser tabs on your computer. Every time you think “I need to do that later” without putting it into a reliable system, your brain keeps that task active. Over time, these mental tabs:

• Reduce focus and decision-making capacity
  
  

• Increase feelings of stress and overwhelm
  
  

• Make you feel busy without being productive
  
  

Vanessa’s Turning Point: From Overwhelm to Organization

Before she built her business, Vanessa was like many of us—managing work, home, and personal life with scattered notes and endless reminders. She knew she needed help when small, non-urgent tasks piled up and made it impossible to focus on bigger goals.

Her breakthrough came when she learned a key productivity principle: close mental tabs by putting tasks into a system you trust. This meant creating repeatable checklists, batching tasks, and letting go of the need to re-do everything from scratch.

The “Permission Slip” That Changed Everything

One of Vanessa’s big mindset shifts came from seeing productivity systems as human, not rigid. Instead of feeling “robotic” about scheduling tasks, she realized these systems gave her the freedom to be present in her day-to-day life.

Example:

• Before: Writing detailed babysitter notes from scratch every time.
  
  

• After: Creating a reusable “babysitter folder” she could update as needed.
  
  

This one change saved mental energy and freed up time for things that truly matter.

Why Nervous System Care Boosts Productivity

Vanessa’s work now focuses on nervous system healing—helping people become more present and resilient. When your nervous system is in overdrive, it’s harder to focus, make decisions, and enjoy simple pleasures.

Some of her non-negotiables include:

• Phone-free time
  
  

• Meditation
  
  

• Meal prep for the week ahead
  
  

• Exercise and rest periods
  
  

By integrating these habits into her schedule, she’s able to work from a full cup rather than running on empty.

Meal Prep as a Productivity Tool

One of Vanessa’s favorite practical systems is meal prepping. By planning a month of meals in advance (with flexibility for weekends) and prepping on Sundays, she eliminates the daily stress of “what’s for dinner?” This small shift saves hours each week and reduces decision fatigue.

Key Takeaways

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by mental clutter, start with these steps:

1. Capture every task in one place (planner, app, or notebook—just be consistent).
   
   

2. Create reusable systems for recurring tasks.
   
   

3. Schedule self-care like it’s a meeting—because it is.
   
   

4. Plan your week in advance to reduce daily decision fatigue.
   
   

When you close mental tabs and support your nervous system, you create more space for joy, presence, and productivity.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation with Vanessa Dawn here