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Brain Dumping

Brain Dumping

This week someone told me they did a "brain dump" a term that I had not previously heard of.

A brain dump is similar but different to a journal. It is a simple technique to help you declutter your mind and thoughts - writing down all the thoughts you are having, in no particular order in a journal and then using that information to help you organize your time and efforts. Meaning you usually are much more productive and calmer.

I like this explanation:
A brain dump is simply the act of dumping all the contents of your mind onto paper as one might dump the contents of a purse onto a table. You are spilling out stressors, your nagging thoughts, your pesky annoyances, jobs you need to do, goals you have. Simply open up a valve in your mind and let all those thoughts flow out of your hand and onto some paper. Write until you feel like the pressure inside of you is lessened and you can take a deep breath. Then you will have achieved a brain dump.

A brain dump gives you the raw data for processing into meaningful action.

When I understood the premise of brain dumping it reminded me of something that a friend does at the beginning of each year - writing down 100 things they might like to achieve that year. These included changes in her personal life, things to do round home, places she would like to go. It was something I was inspired to do before Mr Darcy became unwell. My friend who had been doing it for years said at the time of our conversation the best she achieved was 76. I don't know that I ever got passed 50 but finding one of these lists after a couple of years was interesting. I was able to cross off a number of things as being done, but also saw there were many things that we had not done that no longer held interest.

Brain dumps can be a once-in-a-while thing, or they can be a regularly scheduled, and very helpful, part of your weekly or monthly task management.

In the following two posts I will give a basic step by step guide as to the basics of what brain dumping. What I have written is only skimming the surface of what is another tool when it comes to looking after ourselves and if it appeals, you may want to give it a try, I plan on doing so.

As always I will remind you that whilst self help can be beneficial that sometimes the guidance of a therapist/ counselor can be beneficial and/or necessary.

In these first few posts I have quoted from these sources:

https://waylos.com/how-to-brain-dump/

https://littlecoffeefox.com/brain-dump/#:~:text=What%20is%20a%20Brain%20Dump,nagging%20thoughts%2C%20your%20pesky%20annoyances.
https://diaryofajournalplanner.com/brain-dump/

https://www.kneifelcounseling.com/blog/2019/4/29/feeling-overwhelmed-try-a-brain-dump#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20best%20tools,timer%20for%2010-15%20minutes.

https://www.morningcoffeewithdee.com/brain-dump-exercise/#:~:text=A%20brain%20dump%20can%20be,Center%20and%20ground%20you

28 replies

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In response to: Brain Dumping

Re: Brain Dumping

Very true @Eve7 @Former-Member

Yes I will have to have my book with me , it sure does well but sometimes I forget to write it

In response to: Brain Dumping

Re: Brain Dumping

Not really @Former-Member @Shaz51

This is the first time I’ve put everything down that was swirling around my head.

Trying not to think about what I’ve written is the hard part.

In response to: Re: Brain Dumping

Re: Brain Dumping

Hi All.

First time I've heard the term "brain dump", but it is something I have done from time to time. Sometimes writing out a page of more or less connected thoughts to help get them in order, sometimes writing down the "must remember" things so that I don't have to keep churning them over in my head to remember them.

I don't think I could face trying to do an "all at once" version @Former-Member . Too much, too overwhelming. I think taking just one or two questions from that list you put up would do me for quite a while.

Oddly, I just did a kind of mini-dump on social media, as a "post-Christmas-debrief"... inspired by the discussion on @Determined's thread. Trying to sort out what works for our family, and what doesn't, and inviting other people to do likewise. And doing it on social media means I have a friends list to keep me accountable.

In response to: Re: Brain Dumping

Re: Brain Dumping

As with all coping tools, what works for one might not work for another @Smc .

I certainly found that accountability is really helpful for myself, using this forum to report in my declutterering progress was ever so helpful.

In response to: Re: Brain Dumping

Re: Brain Dumping

Am thinking of doing another brain dump with a particular focus on the 8 dimensions of wellness. I have had quite a few thoughts around a few of these and feel that it might be a helpful exercise.

In response to: Re: Brain Dumping

Re: Brain Dumping

Sounds good @Former-Member 😀:ok_hand:

In response to: Re: Brain Dumping

Re: Brain Dumping

Am thinking of doing another brain dump with a particular focus on the 8 dimensions of wellness. I have had quite a few thoughts around a few of these and feel that it might be a helpful exercise.--- great idea my awesome friend @Former-Member , only do it when you yourself is ready xoxo

revisiting here to refresh my mind

Hello @Smc , @Eve7 , @WIP , @Sophie1 , @Mrsjones , @Appleblossom , @BlueBay , @Daisydreamer

In response to: Re: Brain Dumping

Re: Brain Dumping

Thanks for tagging me @Shaz51 and great idea @Former-Member 🙂

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