What is a Brain Dump & Why do you need it?

I mentioned in an Instagram story a few weeks ago about doing a Brain Dump and had so many of you ask what is what that I knew I had to share. A Brain Dump is your friend!

So first, what is a brain dump?

This is simply a list of all the tasks, projects, and upcoming events that are in your brain. This can vary from your child’s birthday that is coming up next month to a task to wipe out the microwave to a new database you need to create for your clients at work. 

How do you do a Brain Dump?

I highly recommend grabbing a pen and fresh notepad. Yes, you can do this on your phone (I keep a running list there for when I think of things) but for a big Brain Dump, I have found it is best to start with a notepad and a pen. 

Start writing. Write down all the things that are in your brain.

• Grocery list items

• Tasks - big and small

• Upcoming events

• Reminders

• Ideas

It is literally dumping all of your thoughts from your brain on a piece of paper. 

Next, what do you do with this list?

1. Categorize
   Create a grocery/shopping list with the things you need to purchase.
   If the list is large enough, move things into categories: work, home, etc.

2. Prioritize
   What are the most important things on your list? Only move the things to your planner for the week that must be done that week. If it’s a future event, write it where it goes. This list isn’t meant to be a to-do list for your week. But this will help you to see what you need to do and what can be done in the future.

3. Eliminate
   There will be some things on your list that you do not need to do. I had a week recently that has some unexpected events. I had wanted to make something for an upcoming charity auction at my daughter’s school. I decided to eliminate it from my list and instead make a donation.

4. Delegate
   Is there something you can have someone else do? I recently had a brand new mom ask me about house cleaning with a new baby. While I firmly believe that my weekly and deep c cleaning routine is doable for anyone, I also know that life is in seasons. And in the season that my second child was brand new, we hired someone to come once a month and help with deep cleaning. Delegation is a powerful tool! Look for creative ways to use this tool.

Why do you need this in your life? 

You might not even need to ask this question at this point. A brain dump feels like a giant exhale. Many times I feel the pressure of all the things on my to do list and it can feel overwhelming. When I take the time to write it all down and prioritize the necessary. I have created a doable plan. 

This is one of the many reasons I love my Full Focus Planner. It allows me to prioritize a Big 3 each day. What are the 3 most important things I need to accomplish today? If you don’t have one, I encourage you to try this planner. You can buy one HERE. And if you are reading this blog post before October 31, 2021 is over, you can save 10% by using the code SHELLEYFALL10 at the check out!

If you haven’t tried it, do a Brain Dump today! Categorize, Prioritize, Eliminate, and Delegate and add margin to your life for the good things!