I’ve been thinking about how cognitive overload shows up for multipotentialites like me. Here’s what I’ve noticed:

Sometimes I get stuck in decision paralysis because there are just too many good options. I can’t decide what to do, so I freeze or get caught up in planning. I end up doing nothing.

When I context switch between different kinds of work, like coding in the morning, painting in the afternoon, and podcasting at night, it wears me out. Each shift drains a little more energy and focus.

And the weirdest part? The curiosity that usually fuels me can start to feel like pressure. When every interest turns into a to-do list, the joy disappears.

What’s helped is keeping things simple. I try to stick to one main project a day or even just one per week. I jot down new ideas into a “parking lot” in my notebook, and I let them site there for a while before I chase them. I set aside time to explore and play without expecting results.

And when I start feeling foggy or tired, I try to see it as a signal to slow down and take a break.

Even Leonardo da Vinci had this problem. He didn’t finish most of his work, not because he was lazy, but because he had too many ideas. His notebooks are full of sketches and thoughts on everything from anatomy to flight. Most of it was unfinished, but it still changed the world.

So if your brain feels full, you’re not broken. You’re just doing what curious people do.