On Wednesdays We Journal // 09 - Brain Dump

A brain dump journal session is absolutely my go-to method for journaling when it’s been a while and/or I’m just overwhelmed. What differentiates a brain dump session from a regular session? In a regular session, I write about one thing, elaborate on it, and then move on to the next topic. In a brain dump session, I start with a bullet list of items that are on my mind. This is usually one sentence or less per thought. Maybe I come back and elaborate maybe I don’t. The main point of my brain dump is to acknowledge my swirling thoughts. It’s a way for me to tell my mind “I see you, thank you for bringing this to my attention.”

While pen and paper are BAE (specifically – Sharpie S-gel and Eccolo Notebooks), I find that the best way for me to effectively brain dump is a bullet list via my DayOne App. This gives me immense freedom to restructure my list as I see fit AND it’s faster and more efficient than handwriting all my thoughts. Also – when I’m brain dumping I don’t even bother setting a vibe. I just start ferociously typing. I’ve done this on the subway while commuting to work, on lunch break, late at night when I can’t sleep etc. It’s seriously been such a game changer for my mental health to have access to a journal on demand.

So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a few moments to acknowledge your thoughts with a quick brain dump. It doesn’t have to take long, just write about what’s on your mind – the good, the bad, and the ugly. And as always, one of the most beautiful things about journaling: no judgement. So mention it all. (iykyk)