Have you ever sat down to work, ready to be productive, but your brain just won’t cooperate? You stare at the screen, shuffle through emails, maybe even open and close a few spreadsheets, but nothing clicks. You’re trying to push through, but it just feels like you’re spinning your wheels.

I get it. As accountants, we have deadlines, client work, endless emails, and meetings—plus all the other to-dos swirling around in our heads. Some days, it feels like our brains are running a hundred tabs at once. No wonder it’s hard to focus.

But what if you had a reset button for your brain?

Picture this: Instead of feeling mentally cluttered and overwhelmed, you could clear out all that noise, refocus, and actually get things done without exhausting yourself. Sounds pretty great, right?

Here’s the thing—you don’t need to push harder or do more. In fact, it’s the opposite. A small shift can help you drop all that mental weight so you can show up as your best, most focused self.

Think about a time when you were completely in the zone, when your mind was clear and you were knocking things off your list like a pro. It felt amazing, didn’t it? Now, imagine if you could create that feeling on purpose, whenever you need it.

The truth is, mental clutter slows us down. It’s like trying to run a race with a backpack full of bricks. At some point, you’ve got to drop the extra weight if you actually want to move forward.

So what if productivity isn’t about doing more, but doing less with more focus? What if the real game-changer is learning how to clear the mental chaos that’s keeping you stuck?

Most accountants believe they need perfect conditions to focus—no distractions, an empty inbox, or a perfectly structured day. But what if that’s not true? What if you could reset your brain in just a minute or two without waiting for the stars to align?

I know it sounds almost too simple, but sometimes the simplest things make the biggest difference. And if you’re curious about how to reset your mind and finally get some clarity, you’re in the right place.

The Biggest Block To Peak Productivity

Let’s talk about why it’s so hard to stay productive—mental clutter. It sneaks in, drains your energy, and makes everything feel harder than it needs to be.

You know that feeling when you sit down to work, but your brain won’t stop jumping from one thing to the next? You try to focus, but your mind is all over the place, running through emails you need to send, deadlines you can’t forget, and that random thought about whether you paid the electric bill. It’s exhausting, and it makes getting anything done feel impossible.

I’ve been there. The truth is, our brains aren’t designed to juggle everything at once. It’s like having too many tabs open on your computer—at some point, everything slows down or crashes. And when your mind is overloaded, even simple tasks feel like wading through quicksand.

The tricky part is that we get so used to this mental clutter that we don’t even realize how much it’s holding us back. It just feels normal. But imagine what it would be like if you could turn down the noise, even for a little while.

What if you didn’t have to carry every thought, every to-do, and every worry with you all day long? What if you could actually get more done just by giving your mind a little breathing room?

Because here’s the thing—productivity isn’t about cramming more into your day. It’s about focusing on what actually matters. And you can’t do that when your brain is overloaded.

So if you’ve ever felt stuck, behind, or completely drained, you’re not alone. But maybe the problem isn’t that you have too much to do—maybe it’s that your brain is too full.

The good news is that if mental clutter is the problem, clearing it is the solution. And it’s way easier than you might think.

Let’s talk about how to do that, without overhauling your life or adding another complicated system to your plate. It’s a simple shift, so let me show you how it works.

The Easy Reset Trick You Can Use Anytime

So how do you clear out mental clutter? The answer might surprise you—it’s not about working harder or pushing through. It’s about giving your brain permission to let go, even for a minute.

Dr. Maxwell Maltz, in Psycho-Cybernetics, called this “clearing the calculator.” And once you hear it, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been doing it all along.

As accountants, we’re very familiar with the ins and outs of using calculators.  Which is why this trick is especially helpful for us.

Think of your brain like a calculator. Before solving a new problem, you have to hit the clear button. Otherwise, everything gets jumbled, and you won’t get the correct answer. 

For example, have you ever been using your calculator to solve a problem and once you get the answer you’re like “That doesn’t look right.”  Then you realize you never hit the clear button from the previous equation.

Your brain works the same way—when it’s overloaded with stress, to-dos, and worries, focusing becomes almost impossible.

The good news is that you can hit clear anytime. Just imagine putting all your swirling thoughts into a mental box, placing it on a shelf, and coming back to it later. You’re not ignoring them—you’re just organizing them so they don’t hijack your day.

And here’s the best part—you don’t need an hour to reset. Sometimes, just a minute or two is enough to start fresh. Ever taken a deep breath or stepped away from your desk for a second to reset? That’s the same idea.

Once you get the hang of it, you can use this trick anytime:

Feeling overwhelmed? Hit clear.

Getting distracted? Hit clear.

Stuck on a problem? You guessed it—hit clear.

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about giving your brain the space to think clearly and work smarter. And let’s be real—what accountant doesn’t need more of that?

You might be wondering why such a small shift makes such a big difference, so let’s talk about what’s happening in your brain when you clear the clutter.

The Brain Science Behind Why This Reset Works

Let’s talk about why this reset actually works. It’s not just a feel-good trick—there’s real brain science behind it.

As accountants, we rely on our brains to handle complex work, juggle deadlines, and make decisions all day long. But here’s the thing—our brains have limits. 

When too many thoughts, worries, and to-dos pile up, it’s like an overloaded computer trying to process too many tasks at once. Everything slows down, and even the simplest things start feeling harder than they should.

This overload creates something called cognitive load—it’s like carrying too many grocery bags at once. You might be able to manage for a while, but eventually, something’s going to drop. 

Your brain works the same way. When it’s weighed down with too much information, it struggles to focus, make decisions, and get things done efficiently.

And then there’s the stress response. When your mind is all over the place, your brain thinks you’re in danger and kicks into “fight or flight” mode. 

That’s great if you’re being chased by a bear, but not so helpful when you’re just trying to finish a tax return or respond to a client email. Instead of making progress, you feel tense, scattered, and even more overwhelmed.

But when you clear out the mental clutter, you send a different signal to your brain—it’s safe to focus. You shift from a reactive, stressed-out state into a calmer, more productive mindset where you can actually think clearly and get things done.

Then there’s decision fatigue. Every lingering thought, worry, or unfinished task is like an open loop your brain is constantly trying to process. 

The more of these you carry, the harder it becomes to concentrate. But when you reset your mind, you free up space for what actually matters.

And you’ve probably experienced flow state before—that feeling when you’re completely locked in, making real progress, and maybe even enjoying your work. Resetting your mind helps you get there faster by clearing away distractions that pull you in different directions.

Pretty interesting, right? Science proves that clearing your mind isn’t just a nice idea—it’s essential if you want to work at your best.

And the best part is that you don’t need fancy tools or hours of prep to do it. You just need a few simple steps.  Next I want to talk about how to actually use this reset in your day. It’s so much simpler than you think, and the results might surprise you.

How to Use This Reset in Your Day-to-Day Life

The good news is that it’s not complicated. You don’t need extra time, special tools, or a perfect setup. It’s quick, simple, and something you can do anytime you need a mental reset.

1. Pause for a Minute

That’s it—just stop. Take a deep breath and give yourself permission to pause. You don’t have to fix everything or figure it all out right now. Just take a moment to reset.

2. Box Up the Mental Clutter

Imagine taking every thought that’s swirling around in your head—every worry, to-do, and random distraction—and placing it in an imaginary box. Picture each one going in, one by one. When the box is full, mentally place it on a shelf.

You’re not throwing it away—you’re just setting it aside for now.

3. Choose One Thing to Focus On

Once your mental clutter is boxed up, pick one thing to focus on. Just one. Maybe it’s finishing a report, replying to an important email, or making progress on a project.

You’ll be amazed at how much faster and easier you can get things done when your mind isn’t trying to juggle everything at once.

4. Give Yourself Permission to Let Go

The whole reset can take as little as 60 seconds. The key is to be intentional—really allow yourself to let go of everything else, even if just for a little while. Your brain will thank you.

5. Come Back to the Box When You’re Ready

That box of thoughts isn’t going anywhere. When you’re done, you can take it down, open it up, and deal with whatever’s inside. But here’s the funny thing—by the time you come back to it, some of those things won’t feel as urgent anymore.

This reset might feel a little weird at first, but once you see how much lighter and more focused you feel, you’ll wonder how you ever worked without it.

So next time you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or pulled in a hundred directions, try it:

Pause.
Box up the clutter.
Focus on one thing.

It’s a small shift, but it can make a huge difference in how you work—and how you feel at the end of the day.

Because let’s be real, don’t we all need a reset sometimes?

Try It Out: A Challenge for You

Alright, now it’s your turn to give this a try. Don’t just think about it—actually do it. I promise, it’s easier than you might expect.

Here’s what I want you to do: Before you start work tomorrow, take one minute to clear your mental calculator.

1 – Pause for a moment. Take a deep breath.

2 – Picture boxing up all the thoughts, worries, and to-dos floating around in your head.

3 – Imagine placing that box on a shelf. It’s not going anywhere—you can come back to it later.

Once you’ve done that, choose one thing to work on. Just one. Maybe it’s a project, an email, or even something small like organizing your desk. Whatever it is, commit to giving it your full attention, knowing that everything else is packed away for now.

At the end of the day, take another minute to reflect:

How did it feel to focus on one thing at a time?

Did you notice a difference in how productive or calm you felt?

Was it easier to work without that constant mental tug-of-war?

This little reset won’t magically fix everything, but it’s a start. And sometimes, just starting is enough to create momentum.

The best part is that you can use this technique anytime. Feeling overwhelmed in the middle of the day? Hit pause, clear your mental calculator, and reset. Stuck on a problem that feels impossible? Box it up, step away, and come back with fresh eyes.

You don’t have to do this perfectly. It’s not about perfection—it’s about progress. Even if you can only clear your mind for a few minutes, that’s still a win.

So, are you up for the challenge? Try it this week and see how it feels. You might be surprised by how much lighter and more focused you feel with just a small shift like this.

Becoming a Smarter Accountant: How a Simple Reset Changed Everything

I once coached a senior accountant at a mid-sized firm who felt like his brain was in overdrive 24/7. He’d start the day already behind, scrambling to answer emails while trying to prep for client meetings. No matter how many hours he worked, his to-do list only seemed to grow.

Even at home, he couldn’t shut it off—he’d be at the dinner table half-listening to his family while replaying a conversation with a difficult client in his head. At night, he’d lie in bed staring at the ceiling, his mind spinning with everything he still had to do. He told me, “I feel like I’m always working—even when I’m not at my desk.”

One of the first things we worked on was the “clearing the calculator” technique. At first, he was skeptical. “This sounds too simple,” he said. But after a particularly stressful week, he finally gave it a try.

Each morning, he took just one minute to pause, mentally box up all the lingering thoughts about unfinished tasks or worries, and then chose one thing to focus on for the next hour.

Within a couple of weeks, he told me, “I actually feel like I’m running my day instead of my day running me.” He started each morning with a one-minute reset—boxing up his mental clutter, choosing one priority to focus on, and giving himself permission to let go of the rest.

The difference was huge. Instead of constantly feeling scattered, he found himself completing tasks faster and with fewer mistakes. He wasn’t second-guessing every decision or playing mental ping-pong between projects.

And the best part was that by the time he got home, his brain felt lighter. He could actually enjoy dinner with his family without mentally answering emails in his head. He was still getting everything done—but now, he wasn’t carrying it all with him 24/7.

That one simple daily reset became his go-to strategy—not just for work, but for creating more balance in his life.

It’s proof that sometimes, the smallest shifts can lead to the biggest results.

So before we wrap up, I want to leave you with one key takeaway and a simple action step for the week ahead.

Key Takeaway and Action Item

The key takeaway is that clearing your mental clutter with the “clear the calculator” technique is one of the simplest and most effective ways to boost your productivity and reduce overwhelm. It’s not about doing more—it’s about giving your mind the space to accomplish more in less time and with less stress.

For this week, ask yourself, “What am I carrying in my mind right now that I can set aside, even just for a little while?”  This question helps you pause and take stock of all the mental clutter you’re holding onto. 

Often, we carry worries, tasks, or thoughts that don’t need our attention in the moment. By identifying those things, you can mentally “box them up” and make room for what actually matters right now. 

It’s not about ignoring your responsibilities—it’s about prioritizing your mental energy.

The bottom line is that sometimes, all it takes is a small reset to turn your day around. Clearing the mental clutter is simple, but it can make a huge difference in how productive, calm, and focused you feel. 

I want to encourage you to give it a try.  You might be surprised by how much lighter your mind feels. 

After all, the clearer the calculator, the better the results.

Well, that’s what I have for you today. Thank you for joining me as I explained the simple reset accountants need for peak productivity. I hope you’re walking away with some awareness that might change how you manage your workload.

As I always say, you’ve worked hard to become an accountant; it’s time to make it easier to be one.

If you’d like to discuss how to better manage your time or anything you’re currently struggling with, you can schedule a free 30-minute call with me at  https://thesmarteraccountant.com/calendar/. 

And don’t forget to check back each week for more tips and strategies to help you go from being a stressed accountant to a Smarter Accountant.

Also, if you haven’t already, make sure to take The Smarter Accountant Quiz at www.thesmarteraccountant.com to see if you’ve been underutilizing your accountant brain. It’s a great starting point to see where you are and how you can improve.

Lastly, if you’ve found today’s episode helpful, I’d really appreciate it if you could spread the word to other accountants. The more we get this message out, the more we can change the narrative in the accounting profession and help accountants everywhere.

The truth is that you’re already smart, but this podcast will show you how to be smarter.