Feeling Swamped?
How a ‘Brain Dump’ can save your sanity (and your story!)
Like so many writers, on any given day my brain is full of possible plot twists and minute character details. Brilliant ideas that come to me halfway through dinner and just before I fall asleep.
Then I add in 'can't forget' items for the next time I head to the grocery store (cornstarch is on the current list). And, of course, there are all the 'have to' tasks for my day job taking up valuable space in my mind.
Getting through the day when my brain is full is like trying to navigate a cluttered desk. I know the thing I need is there, somewhere, but the time I take to retrieve it could be spent on more focused work.
More productive work.
But all is not lost!
Productivity guru David Allen of Getting Things Done fame, is known for saying that your mind is for having ideas, not holding them. When you regularly clear out a cluttered mind, you create bandwidth for more creativity and better focus.
Instead of trying to remember what it was your spouse asked you to pick up at the store, you can turn your attention to figuring out how exactly your character got into the dumbwaiter. And why they're only wearing a tattered pink robe and blood stained purple bunny slippers.
So how do you get all those ideas and tasks out of your head?
Do a brain dump!
Go analog! Grab a pen and paper. When you are working in the digital space, it's very easy to delete words and second guess yourself. Pen and paper commit you to a thought.
Set a timer! This isn't an all day event. Give yourself 7 - 10 minutes to get everything down. Resist the urge (at least right now) to clarify or organize your thoughts.
Unleash the floodgates! Write down everything that is on your mind. This could be a must-do task, a grocery list item, or a plot twist. Don't filter yourself, and don't judge. The goal here is to get everything out of your head and off your mind.
Put your pen down and take a deep breath. You did it! Pat yourself on the back and take a moment to rest before you tackle the next phase - organizing those thoughts! (my favorite part)
Regularly performing a brain dump can keep your mind clear, your focus sharp, and your productivity up. When I am feeling stressed and overwhelmed, a brain dump is my first step.
Years of living the GTD life (Getting Things Done) have trained me to automatically record any idea worth remembering. This is where the Evernote and ToDoIst widgets on my phone come in handy. No matter where I am, I can dump that idea right out of my brain and into my digital 'vault'.
What about you?
Is there a build up in your mind that is slowing you down?
How can I help you clear the path?
Send me an email, or reach out through LinkedIn, and we’ll make a plan to get your creativity flowing!
