Do you try to restrict yourself to a specific number of to-dos, like the top 3? I’m assuming you do end up discarding a lot of the stuff in the brain dump, focusing on the few highest priorities. But would be curious to get your thoughts
Great question, Peter! Yes, I do. Constraints spark creativity. A long to-do list is the enemy of productivity—it can be overwhelming and discouraging. I focus on the three tasks that will make the biggest impact. Once I write everything down, most things lose their importance. I also keep my to-do list on my desktop where I can see it.
Thanks! Could talk about this stuff for a long time, as I often feel tension between the fact that I take notes on everything & have a lot of ideas with the need to prioritize and the reality of finite time. Definitely think letting most of it go is the key.
Oh yeah this hits home Peter, that's the biggest realization I've had recently, you have to let go, you don't need yo do everything to feel happy and fulfilled. 4000 weeks, use them wisely.
That means a lot Eric! I'm not as advanced as you into my meditation practice so I usually have to brain dump first otherwise my head is too full of thoughts. They're like mosquitoes when you go camping, not letting you relax. :)
Using an offline brain dump is very lovely. I should try it.
But for now, simply writing notes on my phone helps me enough. I pretend like I’ll check them later and maybe make some content from them, but usually, I don’t come back to them.
Fair enough Jurji, to each their own! I usually use my brain dumps as a filtering system and I only transfer to my devices those things I know I will act on, they have to be so good I can't ignore them.
True! writing down on a paper has a soothing effect,helps to get clarity on the to -do list of the day!it works even when we are hurt or angry & throws us a logic that was not seen earlier!
Very well said, there's something freeing about using paper, digital tools are a bit too rigid. When I feel angry or hurt I definitely do more of them.
Ohhhh I love the visual representation of this. I've recently been reading this book, mind management not time management (by David Kadavy) and it explores this very same concept of a time in the morning to "brain dump" or time to do some divergent thinking (coming up with many options/methods as opposed to finding the best option). So cool to see you talking bout the same thing as I'm reading this book. Not too sure if you've read it before ☺️
Hi Clare! Thank you so much, your comment goes a long way. I haven't read the book you mention but the timing was perfect, it must be a sign! Appreciate you.
Must be a sign to continue reading it 🤣 Do you find yourself reviewing brain dumps or it's really just an outlet? The book has this interesting idea of divergent and then convergent thinking (with a tiny visual of that 🤭) So brain dumps to output all variants possible and then convergent to kind of trim the ones that you don't need.
That's so interesting Clare! I mostly use them for a quick outlet so I can see all my ideas and pick the ones i care about the most, then I shed them to brain dump to pieces hehe.
This reminds me of my wife’s grandpa saying:
“A short pencil is worth more than a long memory”
Nice article!
Thank you for sharing your wife's grandpa saying with me, it's wonderful. I might turn it into a visual. Appreciate you Marc.
I’ve often repeated a variant of this - the faintest pencil is better than the strongest memory.
1. How is all this wonderful wisdom only 385 words, Ash? Visually beautifully distilled as usual.
2. You tear up your brain dump sheet? That is a brave new idea!
You’re so kind Karena. Thank you! I do my best.
I tear it up because my brain dump serves as a tough outline, I clean it up on a simple list before doing so. :)
Do you try to restrict yourself to a specific number of to-dos, like the top 3? I’m assuming you do end up discarding a lot of the stuff in the brain dump, focusing on the few highest priorities. But would be curious to get your thoughts
Great question, Peter! Yes, I do. Constraints spark creativity. A long to-do list is the enemy of productivity—it can be overwhelming and discouraging. I focus on the three tasks that will make the biggest impact. Once I write everything down, most things lose their importance. I also keep my to-do list on my desktop where I can see it.
Thanks! Could talk about this stuff for a long time, as I often feel tension between the fact that I take notes on everything & have a lot of ideas with the need to prioritize and the reality of finite time. Definitely think letting most of it go is the key.
Oh yeah this hits home Peter, that's the biggest realization I've had recently, you have to let go, you don't need yo do everything to feel happy and fulfilled. 4000 weeks, use them wisely.
Thanks for highlighting this, Karena.
Loved the visuals and the invitation to brain dump on a page.
The “freeing” you described, Ash, is just like how I feel when I meditate. My ideas flow and after a meditation I jot down what’s important.
That means a lot Eric! I'm not as advanced as you into my meditation practice so I usually have to brain dump first otherwise my head is too full of thoughts. They're like mosquitoes when you go camping, not letting you relax. :)
I hear you!
It's good to notice the different ways in which we arrive at the same campsite whilst avoid the mosquitoes as much as possible.
Great advice – creative people need brain dump so much! 👏
Good to see your face Jarek, do you ever do brain dumps or anything similar?
Using an offline brain dump is very lovely. I should try it.
But for now, simply writing notes on my phone helps me enough. I pretend like I’ll check them later and maybe make some content from them, but usually, I don’t come back to them.
Fair enough Jurji, to each their own! I usually use my brain dumps as a filtering system and I only transfer to my devices those things I know I will act on, they have to be so good I can't ignore them.
This is really good. Thanks for sharing
That means a lot Peter. Thank you for reading it!
I learnt about brain dump, I think I'll be using it more often from today.
That's great to hear! I hope it helps you in your journey. :)
True! writing down on a paper has a soothing effect,helps to get clarity on the to -do list of the day!it works even when we are hurt or angry & throws us a logic that was not seen earlier!
Very well said, there's something freeing about using paper, digital tools are a bit too rigid. When I feel angry or hurt I definitely do more of them.
Ohhhh I love the visual representation of this. I've recently been reading this book, mind management not time management (by David Kadavy) and it explores this very same concept of a time in the morning to "brain dump" or time to do some divergent thinking (coming up with many options/methods as opposed to finding the best option). So cool to see you talking bout the same thing as I'm reading this book. Not too sure if you've read it before ☺️
Hi Clare! Thank you so much, your comment goes a long way. I haven't read the book you mention but the timing was perfect, it must be a sign! Appreciate you.
Must be a sign to continue reading it 🤣 Do you find yourself reviewing brain dumps or it's really just an outlet? The book has this interesting idea of divergent and then convergent thinking (with a tiny visual of that 🤭) So brain dumps to output all variants possible and then convergent to kind of trim the ones that you don't need.
That's so interesting Clare! I mostly use them for a quick outlet so I can see all my ideas and pick the ones i care about the most, then I shed them to brain dump to pieces hehe.
Woahhh. I like that process haha. Keep doing what you're doing Ash 💪
As a GTD fan, I liked it very much
Nasuh! Thanks a lot for the kind comment, I'm glad you liked it.
The importance of a second brain!
Brilliant! I always tell my daughter that I can’t store the mundane in my brain
I learnt about brain dump, I think I'll be using it more often from today.