Have you ever heard of the term “brain dump”? I know it sounds a bit funny, but it’s actually a very useful technique that you should consider adding to your daily planner routine.
What is a Brain Dump?
A brain dump involves taking all the thoughts, ideas, to-dos, and everything else that is crowding your mind and getting it down on paper. The goal is to clear your mind of clutter and free up mental space for more important things. Don’t worry about the details, like how long it will take to accomplish these things. Don’t be tempted to start making lists and plans for the items that come up in your mind – just write it all down. I would even suggest not even stopping to correct your grammar or punctuation! [Try writing everything down on our free baby otter notepaper]
How to Do a Brain Dump?
A brain dump should be a regular part of your daily planner routine to ensure nothing that is important to you slips between the cracks. Find a quiet space, take a deep breath, and start writing. Set a timer for 10-15 minutes, and let everything flow out of your mind and onto the paper. You can use a notebook, a journal, or even a scrap piece of paper. It doesn’t matter as long as you can easily refer back to it later. Don’t worry about organizing your thoughts or ideas, or about what anyone else might think. This is your own private space to capture everything that’s been taking up valuable mental space.
What to Do With Your Brain Dump?
Once you’ve completed your brain dump, the next step is to review and process it. I keep a list like this in my planner and every time I have a review, I go over the list and see what I need to do, what I want to do, and what things don’t really have to be done at all. I “process” this list by putting these items in specific places. Remembered appointments go in the calendar, the fact that I need to get the cobwebs out of my bathroom closet goes on my master task list, some items go in my “goals” section, and some go on my “next actions” list (things that need doing but there is no due date or specific time to accomplish them).
Why Should You Do a Brain Dump?
A brain dump is an effective way to declutter your mind and improve your productivity. It helps you prioritize and organize your thoughts, ideas, and to-dos, so you can focus on what’s important. By doing a brain dump regularly, you will become more aware of what’s taking up your mental space and be able to manage it better. You’ll also reduce stress and anxiety by freeing up your mind from the constant barrage of information and tasks.
So go ahead, give it a try! Set aside a few minutes each day to do a brain dump and see how it can transform your daily planner routine.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio
