The Decision Filter That Finally Fixed My Creative Chaos

The surprising truth about your 'too many ideas' problem

Image by Substack

Previously, I asked you about your biggest challenges when growing your creativity.

The results? Kind of fascinating—and honestly, made me feel less alone.

Most of you said consistency was your biggest headache. Right behind that were “too many ideas” and “fear of failure.”

What struck me wasn’t just how common these struggles are, but their paradoxical relationship.

We’re living in what Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls an “attention economy” where creative energy is our scarcest resource—yet somehow we’re simultaneously struggling with too few finished projects and too many starting points.

This isn’t just bad luck; it’s a design flaw in how we approach creation itself.

Take 30 seconds right now to count how many incomplete creative projects you currently have in progress. I’ll wait. (This number alone might be eye-opening.)

On that note of incomplete creative projects, if you haven’t already, make sure to check out my survey! It includes a giveaway and right now there aren’t that many entrants, so your chances are pretty good! The deadline is tomorrow, so don’t delay! It’ll go a long way in helping me to build out Mitten Dad Minute, and if you become a paid subscriber, you’ll get double entries!

I’ve been wrestling with this contradiction in my own work, and I think I’ve found something worth sharing.

Whether you’re juggling family life while trying to build something meaningful, or drowning in creative possibilities without finishing anything… this might shift your perspective on what’s actually blocking you.

The Connection I Can’t Stop Thinking About

When I first read through your responses, something clicked.

The reason consistency kicks our butts isn’t usually because we’re lazy or undisciplined. It’s because we haven’t decisively chosen what deserves our limited attention.

Think about your own process: When you’ve got 12 different ideas bouncing around, you probably:

• Start a bunch of things but finish maybe one (if you’re lucky)

• Hop between projects whenever the initial excitement fades

• Second-guess yourself when things get tough (“Maybe that other idea was better…”)

The result? Spotty output, despite your best intentions and genuine effort.

And that fear of failure we all mentioned?

I’m pretty sure it comes from the nagging doubt that we might be pouring energy into the wrong project while the “right one” gathers dust in our notes app.

Unlike our creative ancestors who worked within natural constraints, we face virtually unlimited possibilities. The mind becomes trapped evaluating phantom futures rather than engaging deeply with chosen work.

When I look at my own creative heroes, I notice they often thrived by limiting their creative scope, not expanding it. Their constraint created the cognitive freedom to dive deep rather than skim across surfaces.

This whole thought process led me to cobble together what I now call my “Creator’s Decision Filter”—basically a way to stop the madness and actually finish something worthwhile.

The Weird Thing About Having Too Many Ideas

Having tons of ideas isn’t actually a problem—it’s a gift. I need to remind myself of this whenever I feel overwhelmed.

The real issue is not having a trusted way to sort through the pile and pick what’s worth pursuing right now.

Without some kind of filter, we default to one of two equally frustrating approaches:

1. The scattered approach: trying to nudge forward six different projects, ending up with six unfinished things

2. The overthinking trap: analyzing options until you’re mentally exhausted and just watch Netflix instead

Both roads lead to the same place: inconsistent output and that creeping feeling that you’ll never make anything that matters.

What if getting consistent isn’t about forcing yourself to work harder, but about being more decisive about what gets your attention in the first place?

This realization led me to develop a practical framework that addresses both problems simultaneously.

My Rough-and-Ready Decision Filter

When life is already full (kids, job, that weird noise your car is making), you need a quick way to cut through the noise.

Here’s the 15-minute process I’ve pieced together that’s actually helping me get stuff done:

1. Brain dump (2 minutes)

• Just get all those ideas out of your head and onto paper

• No filtering, no judging, just capture everything

• It doesn’t matter if some sound stupid—write them down anyway

This step leverages what psychologists call “cognitive offloading”—by externalizing your thoughts, you free up mental resources that were previously managing the load of remembering.

You’re essentially creating the preconditions for focus by reducing the mental static that prevents deep engagement.

2. Three quick questions (5 minutes) For each idea, gut-check:

• Does this energize me enough that I’ll stick with it when it gets hard?

• Does anyone actually need this, or am I just creating more noise?

• Can I realistically pull this off given my current life constraints?

If you can’t answer “yeah, probably” to all three, move it to a “Maybe Someday” list and stop feeling guilty about it.

3. Quick impact/effort check (5 minutes) For the ideas that survived, draw a simple grid:

• X-axis: How much time/energy this will realistically take

• Y-axis: How much impact this could have (for others and for your goals)

It looks something like this:

4. Pick your focus (3 minutes)

• Circle a couple ideas in the “High Impact/Low(ish) Effort” quadrant

• Force yourself to choose ONE to focus on first

• Block out specific time in your calendar to work on just this

This approach draws from what researchers call “satisficing” versus “maximizing”—accepting good enough rather than perpetually seeking the perfect option.

Satisficers are individuals who are pleased to settle for a good enough option, not necessarily the very best outcome in all respects.

A satisficer is less likely to experience regret, even if a better option presents itself after a decision has already been made.

If life suddenly forced you to eliminate 90% of your creative ideas, which one would you fight to keep?

A Real Example: How I Used The Filter

Last month, I was drowning in possibilities. I had notes for:

• A podcast series interviewing creators about their workflows

• An online course about productivity systems

• A paid community for accountability

• This newsletter framework about decision-making

• A masterclass on content repurposing

All seemed promising, but I was making inch-deep progress on all of them.

When I ran them through my filter:

1. Brain dump: Got all five ideas (plus about seven more) out of my head

2. Three questions: All passed the first question, but the masterclass and community failed on “can I realistically do this now?” given my current schedule

3. Impact/Effort grid: The newsletter framework landed solidly in “High Impact/Lower Effort” because I already had most of the thinking done

4. Final decision: I committed to the newsletter framework first, blocking three 2-hour sessions to get it done

The result? Instead of five half-started projects, I finished this framework in two weeks. The sense of completion alone generated more creative energy than I’d felt in months.

Think of it like decluttering for your creative mind—you’re not just reducing ideas, but ensuring each one you keep has earned its place in your limited attention space.

Common Roadblocks (And How To Overcome Them)

Even with a solid framework, you’ll hit obstacles. Here’s how to handle the most common ones:

1. Decision paralysis: If you’re still stuck between two ideas after using the filter, commit to the first one for just two weeks. This temporary commitment creates momentum without the pressure of a “forever decision.”

2. Backsliding: When new ideas try to seduce you away from your chosen focus, add them to your “Maybe Someday” list without breaking your current commitment. I keep mine in a dedicated digital notebook that I review monthly.

3. Perfectionist delays: Remember that execution trumps perfection. Getting something finished, even if imperfect, creates forward momentum that perfectionism often blocks.

When I applied this framework to my own creative chaos, everything changed. The clarity didn’t make the work easier, but it made the decision about what to work on easier.

I realized I was fighting the wrong battle.

The biggest lightbulb moment wasn’t that I needed more time or discipline—it was that I needed to choose better in the first place.

Tools That Make Implementation Easier

I found that having the right support systems in place made all the difference in actually sticking with my chosen focus. As I worked through my own idea overwhelm, I discovered several tools that became essential parts of my creative workflow.

My digital brain dump happens in Kortex, which has become my external memory system.

What makes it different from other note-taking apps is how it helps connect related ideas together—almost like mimicking how your brain naturally forms associations.

I notice that when I capture everything there, my mind stops that anxious cycling through ideas, knowing they’re safely stored and connected.

If you’ve been looking for a system that works the way your brain does, their free trial might be worth exploring through my link.

For those moments when my car inevitably breaks down during a critical project deadline (why does this always happen?), having AAA Membership has saved my creative momentum countless times. If you don’t have a membership, be sure to check out the link here to get half off.

Nothing kills project focus faster than unexpected emergencies, which is why having systems that quickly handle life’s disruptions has become part of my creative process.

Once I’ve chosen my focus project, the last thing I need is decision fatigue around meals. This is where Hello Fresh has been a game-changer in my household, along with their 10 free meals via the link there.

On days when I’ve used my best thinking energy on meaningful creation, having pre-planned, simple meals waiting in the fridge means I don’t waste mental bandwidth on “what’s for dinner?”

Those extra cognitive resources go straight back into my chosen creative work instead.

The framework I’ve shared today comes to life in the Niche Navigator GPT (use promo code SUBSTACK30 for 30% off, or become a paid member and get free access today) I created—it’s essentially this decision filter process but enhanced with AI to help identify which creative projects align best with both your strengths and market needs.

If you’re someone who constantly battles the “too many ideas” problem, it applies these same principles to help narrow your focus based on what your audience actually needs and where your unique strengths lie.

I built it after seeing how many fellow creators were stuck in the same overwhelming cycle I was.

This Week’s Question

If you got something useful from today’s exploration, I’d be super grateful if you’d recommend Mitten Dad Minute to others on Substack. Takes like 10 seconds but makes a huge difference in helping more overwhelmed creators find these ideas.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Head over to your Substack dashboard on the upper-right hand corner of the homepage.

2. Click the “recommendations” button.

3. Click “Add Recommendation.”

Search for “Matt Tilmann” or “Mitten Dad Minute”. Either is fine!

Also, I started up a referral program with some extra goodies - make sure to check the details out below in the footer!

Here’s to making things that matter—one decision at a time.

Talk soon,

Matt

P.S. I’m curious which part of this decision filter trips you up the most. Your answer will help shape what I explore next week: