To clear your head, you can start by writing what comes to mind before sorting it: a task, a question or an idea. This is sometimes called a brain dump. It gives you notes to return to without requiring you to turn every thought into an action.
What is a brain dump?
Write a few words without immediately building a schedule. “Call the garage”, “an idea for the holiday” and “which document is missing from the application?” can share the same page.
The name does not add any special rules. A sheet of paper, a notebook or a digital note is enough. The practical aim is to find things again and decide afterwards which need a next step.
A worksheet if you prefer a starting point
The “What's on your mind?” worksheet gives you a paper format to use. A blank page is fine too if the boxes do not help.
Download “What's on your mind?” (PDF).
Keep it somewhere you can find it again. You do not need to fill every box for a note to be useful.
Try it in four steps
- Write what comes to mind. A few words per subject, in whatever order they arrive.
- Look back over your notes. Notice what needs an action, an answer or simply a place to keep it.
- Give one note a place. Today, later or something to leave aside. The other notes can stay unsorted.
- Choose what comes next. An action specific enough to begin, or a time to return to the note.
“Application” could become “find the letter and check which documents are required”. The holiday idea can stay as it is. The two notes do not need the same treatment.
Do I need to write everything down?
No. Note what you want to find again. Trying to capture every thought may make the exercise longer than it needs to be. You can stop after one line.
If you would rather dictate a note or talk to someone, you do not have to force yourself to write. Choose a format that suits the moment and what you want to keep.
What happens to the notes afterwards?
Keep real deadlines wherever you normally check them. For the rest, choose somewhere you will find again: a page to reread, a list for later or an action for today.
If a note is still too broad to act on, find its first action. If it needs no action, it can stay an idea. Writing does not resolve the issues you note or guarantee that the thoughts will stop returning.
If you would rather use Molleva
In Molleva on Android, write the notes, choose up to three essentials in Today and keep the others in Later. Basic task breakdown and small wins are also free.
Notes you confirm are saved on Molleva's servers, so an internet connection is needed. Text you are still entering is not a saved note until you confirm it. Guest mode lasts 14 days. A free account lets you keep your notes and continue using Molleva after guest mode ends.
See how to capture notes in Molleva. Paper is enough if you just want to try the exercise.
Questions about a brain dump
How long does it take?
There is no required duration. Begin with something you want to remember and stop when you have what you need. Suggested times on a worksheet are only a guide, not conditions for doing it correctly.
Should I do it every day?
No. You can write when an idea returns, when several issues get mixed together or before planning a day. The worksheet does not require a particular frequency.
Will it get rid of stress?
That is not guaranteed. The exercise keeps notes and helps you decide on a next action. It cannot, on its own, resolve a worry, a lack of time or a health difficulty.
To begin
Take a sheet of paper or open a note. Write one thing you want to find again. You can decide what to do with the rest afterwards.