Do you ever have those days where you feel you have a million thoughts swirling through your head? Yeah, me too. Most days if I’m honest.

There’s one simple trick that really helps me get on top of that overwhelm.

It’s called a Brain Dump.

Of course, this isn’t a new idea, and it may even be something you regularly do, or have tried before. Perhaps today I’m just here to REMIND you to how easy it is to find calm by simply taking what’s in your brain and transferring it to another place. By another place, I mean writing it out on paper, or your computer or an app on your phone.

Personally, I prefer pen and paper because just the act of writing things down can be therapeutic, and is known to help you retain information. However, digital is great if you prefer to keep records that way. What’s important is that you’re freeing up valuable space by moving the excess thoughts into a different storage medium. Ahh, now you’re on your way to CLARITY.

The brain dump process is very simple:

Set aside some quiet time.
Write down everything that’s in your head.
Keep going until you can’t think of anything else.
Write (or type) out all the random thoughts in no particular order or format.
Pause every once in awhile and take a few deep breaths…more thoughts will surface.
Don’t worry if you feel there’s more but you can’t grasp it, you can always come back later and add to it any trailing thoughts.
Now you can SEE all those thoughts and can organize them in a way that makes sense.
I like to get a new paper and categorize all my thoughts into these columns:
Do Soon / Can Wait / Delegate / Let This Go (you’ll come up with your own categories that work best for you).

You’ll find you feel more refreshed and can think more clearly after your brain dump session. Woo-hoo!

Here’s how a Brain Dump can help:

• It clears your head, kind of like a computer cache.
• It gives you a sense of control by seeing the info in front of your eyes.
• It allows you to sort through the information far easier when you can see it written out.
• It makes it possible to organize the brain chaos into a format that makes sense.
• It opens up space so your brain can function better.
• It creates more options and ideas.
• It helps you to process things and to make plans.
• It makes those thoughts more readily managed.
• It makes it easier to gain focus and to be more productive in your work flow.
• Your thoughts and ideas are now organized…not swirling.

How Often?

Some people do this on a weekly basis, but you may find you need it more or less often. For more peaceful sleep, I actually keep a notebook on my bedside table and write down any “need to do” thoughts before going to bed each night. Knowing those nagging thoughts have been dumped, and that I’ll see them on my list the morning gives me permission to relax and go to bed with a calm mind.

What’s in your head right now?
Maybe it’s time to take a little break for a Brain Dump!