Bullet Journal Addict - How To Brain Dump To Untangle Your Mind

Do you feel overwhelmed by the things you need to do? That feeling can bring negative consequences to our lives. But, a technique has helped me overcome this feeling – The Brain Dump! All the responsibilities and social roles we have these days will get us quickly overwhelmed. We keep pushing our brains to remember all the work, tasks, appointments, etc., which can turn into a huge messy pile of chores. These chores will lead to feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and lots and lots of stress! And this will eventually lead to a pretty dangerous state of mind – a mental breakdown, which is obviously not at all good. However, using a brain dump is a great way to keep your sanity and deal with the overload. But what actually is a brain dump, and how is it helpful in keeping your brain calmer and more productive? Let us get know about this today!

What Is A Brain Dump?

Put simply, a brain dump is writing all the things that have been bouncing around you’re brain on some paper, so you can sort out what is really important. Brain dumping also enables you to organize your efforts and time, making you calmer and more productive. As all the bullet journalers know, using a pen and paper is a great way to get things done faster and easier. The art of brain dumping, which clears your mind, is no different.

How To Do A Brain Dump?

In a brain dump, all you got to have is a notebook or a piece of paper and some pens. I actually prefer brain dumping inside my bullet journal using a brain dump spread. Brain dumping in my bullet journal helps me in acknowledging the task I need to complete. I can also look back on the spread and see if there are any habits and patterns I need to take care of. Write everything that is on your mind. It can be your friend’s upcoming birthday, an appointment you have, a party you have to plan, the groceries list, a massive work project, that leaking tap you need to get fixed, and the list goes on…. Don’t hurry; take your time while doing this. I wrote all of it irrespective of how small or insufficient it looks! And remember, the spread need not be pretty or organized. If you want to make it a visual one, you can try a mind map or add some doodles. Your ultimate goal is to do whatever feels natural to you and what helps you squeeze your brain to the fullest. Oh! You are not over yet. Here comes the fun part. After dumping all your thoughts, it is now time to start working through all these things. For that, go through all your listing and ask yourself the following questions.

Which are the most urgent and essential things you need to do?
Which are the things that make you worried?
What are the few things that you can finish right away?
Are there any tasks that are irrelevant and can be forgotten altogether?

I hope you get sorted out after answering all these questions.

Why Does Brain Dump Work?

You might think, how can listing out your problems and anxieties on paper possibly solve anything? It sounds silly, right? Drain dump is effective because it allows you to capture abstract thoughts and make them corporeal. We all have a tornado of ideas swirling in our heads when we are stressed or overthinking. The cows are flying, the winds are whipping, and nothing seems to be captured. A nagging worry might swing into our conscious one moment and then a different thought, then a different thought. Eventually, the first worry will swing back again, continuing until we pin them down. Capturing all these worries and thoughts without a tool is like trying to see air with your eyes. A pen and paper can nail things down in absolutes. Once you write something down, it will not leave you easily. Once you work on your thoughts and pin them down one by one in your paper, it will no longer take another cycle in your brain tornado to haunt you again and again. You will stop chasing after the half-formed ideas as you put them in the inescapable form (the written word).

Brain Dump Prompts

Are you feeling stuck with your brain dump exercise? The following are some brain dump prompts that get you thinking again.

What are you being worried about lately?
What are the things you keep forgetting to do?
Is there anyone you keep thinking of contacting but couldn’t?
What makes you happy?
Did something go unexpected in the week or day?
What is the best thing that happened today or this week?
What are the tasks that seem never to get done?
Is there anything you didn’t get enough time to do?
Are there any maintenance tasks that have to be done around your home, car, or other areas?
Is there any act of kindness you are willing to do to someone special?

Are there any goals that would make a big difference to your life, but you keep putting them off? For instance, maybe you want to join Yoga classes and start a new fitness routine or want to lose a few pounds.
Is there anything that you enjoy learning?
Is there any part of the routine that isn’t working as expected?
Do you have to plan any event, vacation, or party?
Is there any corner in your home that you like to rearrange or redecorate?
Do anyone getting on your nerves?

Recommended Products To Set Up Your Bullet Journal Brain Dump Spread

Before we dive right into some excellent inspiration for bullet journal weekly spreads, I want to mention the tools I use in my bullet journal quickly. If you are a beginner, these are the tools I wish I had purchased when I started bullet journaling instead of those overpriced books and markers that others recommended.

To be entirely honest with you, I only use stencils and washi tapes when I have time to decorate or only when I set up new spreads. However, the bread and butter for bullet journaling is simply a blank notebook and a pen you carry with you every day. So, don’t get too crazy in the beginning, first figure out what pages you need and what doesn’t work for you. Start bullet journaling, learn your style (whether you like minimalistic, aesthetic, artistic, etc.), and slowly upgrade your supplies according to your style.

Brain Dump Bullet Journal Ideas To Inspire You

Of course, I need to gather some inspiration on creating a brain dump spread for the bullet journal lovers like us! The following are some gorgeous spreads I have found on the internet. Have a look and let me know which ones you are recreating in the comments section below!