Do you ever feel like your brain is like a cluttered desk, complete with scattered thoughts, to-do lists, and random reminders? If so, a brain dump might be a perfect way to clear your mind and kick-start your productivity. This simple yet powerful tool will help organise your thoughts, reduce stress, and make the most of your planner.
What is a Brain Dump?
A brain dump is a free-flowing exercise where you write down everything that’s on your mind. There’s no structure or organisation required—just get your thoughts out on paper (or a digital note). The goal is to declutter your mind and create clarity, making it easier to prioritise and take action.
Now some people aren’t a fan of the term Brain Dump so I asked Chat GPT to give me some alternatives and it came up with:
- Mind spill
- Thought unload
- Mental download
- Thought purge
- Knowledge transfer
- Information dump
- Idea storm
- Thought flow
- Freewriting
- Creative flow
- Mind Unload
- Thought Release
- Idea Capture
- Brain Unclutter
- Mental Clear-Out
- Thought Vault (I love this one)
- Free Thought Space
- Clarity Session
- Reflection Log
- Mind Sweep
Benefits of a Brain Dump
- Helps reduces stress: Putting everything on paper helps you quit thinking about it and can help reduce mental stress.
- Increases productivity: With all your tasks in one place, planning and doing become easier.
- Improves focus: A clear mind helps you concentrate better on the tasks to be done.
- Promotes creativity: Emptying your brain helps bring out fresh ideas and insights.
How to Use a Brain Dump in Your Planner
Now that you know why a brain dump is helpful, let’s talk about how you can make it a part of your planning habit.
- Set Aside Time
Choose a time where you can sit down without any distraction. Most individuals like to do a brain dump at the beginning of the week or end of the day to clear the thoughts from their mind. - Write Everything Down
Grab your planner, or a blank piece of paper, and start writing. Don’t worry about making it neat or tidy—just let yourself flow – but make sure it is readable. Write down tasks, worries, reminders, ideas, and anything else that’s floating around in your head. - Categorise Your List
Tasks & To-Dos: Actionable items that need to be accomplished.
Appointments & Deadlines: Important dates to keep track of.
Ideas & Notes: Creative ideas or projects.
Reminders & Errands: Miscellaneous tasks that need to be completed.
Other: Add your own categories. Don’t add too many though or you can get overwhelmed. - Prioritise & Plan
Now that your mind has been cleared, transfer your important tasks into your planner. Use time-blocking, to-do lists, or a priority system to plan out your calendar. Make sure to tackle urgent and important tasks first. - Repeat Regularly
A brain dump is not a one-time solution—it’s a habit. Develop a routine to do this exercise on a weekly basis or when your mind is full.
How I Brain Dump
This year I’m splitting my year into quarters. I’ll do a Brain Dump and a Reset Week (I’ll be doing a post about this soon) at the start of each quarter. Since we’re coming up to quarter two, I’m sharing my process.
I make sure I’ve got a some blank paper in my planner and I just write a list of anything that is in my brain. Once I’ve done that I go back and mark each point with a coloured dot that corresponds with my key.
The areas I’m using for my key are:
- mental health
- physical health
- household
- personal development
- social
- partner
- family
- uni
- work
Anything that has a due date or event date goes in my year at a glance or monthly if it is soon. Some of the remaining items will go in my Future Me Problems spread. I’ll check this spread too to see if there is anything upcoming that needs to be dealt with.
A brain dump in your planner is a game-changer for productivity and mental clarity. When you regularly get things out of your head and into their place, you will feel more on top of your goals and tasks. Give it a try and experience the relief that a de-cluttered mind brings!
Do you brain dump as part of your planning? I’d love for you to share with me in the comments!