6 Steps To A Successful Braindump
“99 different things in my head, 99 different things, take one out, write it down, 98 different things in my head…”
Okay, so that’s not how the song goes, but I bet you might have sung it...no? Okay, moving on.
Have you ever had a moment in the day where you’re trying so hard to complete something, but you just can’t concentrate or you realize you’ve started 4 things in the last 15 minutes.
Mmmhmmm. Been there a time or two or 65.
When this happens I love to do a braindump.
Yes. It’s a real word and it’s a “system” I love to do personally and have my clients do.
Step 1: The Dump
It’s exactly what it sounds like. You literally take every single thing that is in your head and you write it out. You can write it on a dry erase board, piece of paper, napkin, or your fancy letterhead. Doesn’t matter where, it’s just actually doing it.
It doesn’t have to be strictly business, it can literally be anything that is taking up brain space:
- T-shirts for Disney
- Email marketing campaign
- Pay the mowers
- Go buy the baby shower gift
- Etc.
Just let it all pour out and when you think you’re finished go ahead and write out the last 5 you just thought of.
Step 2: Categorize
Once I have it all out of my head I like to create categories that all the things will fit into:
- Home stuff
- Shop projects
- Emails
- Marketing
- Misc. (this one helps me with those random to-do’s that may not fit anywhere else)
I take the tasks I had listed out and assign them to the category they best fit in (this sounds way fancier than it needs to, so don’t overthink it!). Some of the categories may include a big project that has many tasks within it. Sometimes I fully map that out at this time or I do another braindump for just that specific project.
Step 3: Prioritize | Delegate | Remove
Once I put all the items into their category I determine what is a priority, what I can delegate (yes, I give your permission to delegate!), or completely erase because it’s just not important right now.
Sometimes I will still feel a little overwhelmed because of the amount I put on my list...I want it all done and want it all done, right now When I recognize this feeling, I go through it again and truly look at what’s needed to be on there and what I can remove.
Step 4: Take a deep breath!
I am usually amazed at how much “lighter” my brain feels at this point, so I take a deep breath and sit for a second and pat myself on the back for taking this time to unload. It’s the little wins, right?!
Step 5: Plan it out
I take the items I deemed a priority and schedule them into my upcoming weeks so that I can stop thinking about them so much. The things I wanted to delegate get texted to Sean or whoever can do it, and the things that got removed get put on another list of things to “do later”.
Step 6: Get about your business
Alright, now that my head is more clear and I can see all the things, I tend to feel like I can conquer them one at a time. I like to physically cross them off as I go because I thrive on momentum and seeing things move along!
And that, my friends, is a little behind the scenes of how I try to keep my sanity
Do you love braindumps as much as I do or is this a new thing to you?!