Brain Too Full? Level Up EF With Voice‑Dump + AI

When your mind feels like a browser with 50 tabs open—and none are labeled—you don’t need another list. You just need a way to catch the thoughts before they vanish. That’s where the combination of Otter.ai + ChatGPT comes in: a simple, flexible workflow that turns messy brain-dumps into actionable clarity.

Especially helpful for executive function challenges around task initiation, organization, and prioritization, this process lets you speak first and figure it out later. I use Otter.ai, a transcription tool that I’ve found to be user-friendly and accurate.

On a recent morning drive to work, I opened the Otter.ai app on my phone and started talking about a thousand different topics on my mind: work, wedding planning, hobbies, you name it. Here’s a snippet of what I said:

“...I want to go through the list of people who haven’t RSVPed on The Knot and update it, and send reminders. I can’t remember if I invited K… I need to send T an invitation. At least text her the link and let her know it’s been a little jumbled. Oh yeah, and I need to send P an invitation…”

Later, I pasted my entire 26-minute voice dump transcript into ChatGPT with a simple prompt asking it to identify tasks and structure them clearly. Here’s what it came back with for that portion of the transcript:

🧠 ChatGPT Summary & Action Items

Event Tasks (Wedding-Related):

• Review RSVP status on The Knot

• Check whether K received an invitation

• Text T the wedding invitation link with a brief message

• Send P an invitation

Suggested Next Steps:

• Block 20 minutes today to update RSVP records

• Send two pending texts during lunch break

• Add a “wedding to-dos” column in the shared planning spreadsheet

• Set aside one evening this week to batch guest list follow-ups

I didn’t script that voice dump, I just spoke freely in the moment. And later, I had clear next steps and a structured view of what had been swirling in my mind. This is the power of pairing Otter + ChatGPT: it’s not about planning perfectly. It’s about starting where you are and letting clarity emerge after the fact.

Next, I’ll walk you through exactly how to do this step by step, so you can try it too.

Step 1: Voice‑Dump into Otter

Open Otter, tap record, and just start talking; no editing, no structure, no pressure. Reach for Otter when you’re on a walk, brainstorming, reflecting at day’s end, overwhelmed and stuck, or commuting to work. Be as messy and confused as you really are.

When you hit the square "stop" button and finish recording, Otter will process your transcript and even use its own AI to digest themes:

But the real magic happens when you port the transcript over to ChatGPT.

Step 2: Export the Transcript as a TXT to Bring into ChatGPT

Once your Otter recording is complete, tap the ••• menu (top-right). Choose “Export” or “Share” and select the Text (.txt) format. Export it how you want, by emailing it to yourself or downloading it. Then you can open the file and copy the full text of the transcript. The next step will be pasting it into ChatGPT.

💡 Messy formatting? Perfect. That’s what the AI is for.

Step 3: Paste into ChatGPT and Ask It to Sort the Chaos

With your transcript copied, open ChatGPT and paste. Then give it one of these prompts to structure your thoughts:

• “Summarize this transcript into themes, key takeaways, and action items.”

• “Find any time-sensitive items I mentioned and suggest next steps.”

• Or something comprehensive like this: “Categorize this transcript (work, personal, planning, reflection), pull out any urgent or time-sensitive items, and suggest 2–3 next steps per category."

Example Outputs You Might Get:

• A tidy to-do list that reflects what you were actually thinking

• Thematic breakdowns (e.g. creative ideas, admin tasks, self-care)

• Clarity on what needs attention today vs. later

• Hidden emotional or reflective insights unearthed by AI

This process helps take you from fuzzy mental clutter to organized clarity. I’ve often continued the conversation in ChatGPT, and further processed specific projects & tasks right in the chat.

Level Up Your Brain

How can this level up your executive function skills in daily life? Here’s some inspiration for using this workflow to support Executive Function:

📚→✅ A stressed student vents about midterms → ChatGPT makes a study checklist

🧑‍🍼→📅 A busy parent spills out logistics and frustrations → AI identifies smart calendar reminders and self‑care ideas 

🧑‍💼→📋 Someone brainstorming a nonprofit event while driving → AI helps shape a basic outline and next‑step plan 

This workflow can support folks facing all kinds of Executive Function challenges:

Common EF Challenge	How Otter + ChatGPT Helps
Starting a task feels hard	You just talk, no setup, no perfection
Overwhelming mental load	Externalize ideas to process later
Organizing feels paralyzing	AI creates order and groups for you
Prioritizing feels foggy	AI pulls out timing, urgency, & next steps
Reflecting is hard	Voice-dumps capture hidden patterns

Build It into Your Daily or Weekly Rhythm

Consistency beats perfection. Try weaving this routine into your week:

☀️ A Sunday-night dump to plan mentally for the week ahead

⏰ A midday check-in when things feel scattered

🚗 A commute voice note for those creative pops that happen while driving

🚶 A walk‑and‑talk brainstorm when you need fresh air and ideas

🤔 A reflection ritual to notice themes or blockers from past sessions

Wrap-Up

You don’t need a perfect productivity system, you just need one that works for how your brain actually works. This Otter + ChatGPT combo lets you speak first, then get clarity second, without extra effort or self-pressure. 

Have you used AI for EF? Are you willing to do a little experiment 🧪🔬 and try it this week? If you give it a try, I’d love to hear what your voice dumps uncover and whether the process feels helpful. Drop me a note at efcoachfaith@gmail.com anytime. 

This post was created in collaboration with AI.