Our brains are already overloaded with information throughout the day, irrespective of whether we receive it intentionally or not. As Dr Jagannathan pointed out, “More scrolling, videos, and notifications do not give your brain rest. They keep attention engaged when it is already overloaded.”

Walking is not just beneficial for physical health, but for our mental health as well. A quiet walk is an exercise in mindfulness. According to the neurologist, “Walking lowers the cognitive demands placed on your brain. Even 10 to 20 minutes (of walking) without calls or podcasts can help your attention recover.”

The surroundings have a major role to play in how we perceive our tasks. If an individual stays in the same place for a long time, their brain can feel connected to unfinished tasks. According to Dr Jagannathan, “Moving to a quieter room or going outside helps create a mental break.”

Getting something done, no matter how small it is, always feels better than keeping everything unfinished. Doing one simple physical activity, such as cooking, showering, stretching or folding laundry, banks on this. “Simple physical actions give your brain structure without demanding heavy decision-making,” noted Dr Jagannathan.

Whenever a task remains unfinished, the tab stays open in our minds. In the words of Dr Jagannathan, “Your brain keeps returning to incomplete tasks so you do not forget them. Writing them down reduces the need to keep mentally rehearsing them.”

“Mental exhaustion often creates the urge to stay up and reclaim your time,” pointed out the neurologist. “But delaying sleep usually makes attention, mood, and decision-making worse the next day.”