Looking For Clarity? This Might Help

I have a challenge for you.

Don’t worry, it’ll be quick…kinda.

Before you commit to any more reading, do what I’m about to tell you.

Step 1: Grab A Pen.

If you don’t have one, as long as you have something to write with, anything works.

We want to avoid using any electronic devices so that we can give our brain a digital detox.

Why?

Look at your screen time.

Yeah, exactly.

We could all do with less screen time.

Step 2: Grab A Blank Piece Of Paper.

You could even do this on the backside of your birth certificate.

Just kidding, don’t do that lol.

As long as you have something to write on, that’s what matters.

Step 3: Set A Timer.

I’ve been doing at least 15 minutes, but you can start out with 5.

You could skip this step altogether if you wanted to.

However, I’ve noticed that setting a timer makes it feel like I have this made up deadline.

Which leads us into our next step.

Step 4: Jolt It Down.

Just farted?

Write that down.

Feeling stressed about work?

Write that down too.

We all have thoughts and ideas swimming around like Michael Phelps.

The only problem is that some of us never write them down.

The goal here is to transfer every thought or idea floating around in your head and put it on paper for you to see.

This style of writing is not pretty.

Don’t worry about spelling errors, grammar, onomatopoeia, etc.

None of that.

If you are using step 3, just keep writing until that timer goes off.

Side note: You can lift your pen off of the paper. But as soon as you get a thought, start writing again.

Now unto the last step.

Step 5: Reflect.

How do you feel?

If you used a timer, once your timer is up, take a minute or two to go back and read what you wrote.

Anything stick out?

If so, what I like to do is circle or underline the ideas that keep grabbing my attention.

You don’t have to do this, but feel free.

If you circled or underlined anything, you can ask yourself questions like…

“What if I kept working on this idea”?

“I wonder why I was thinking this?”

“What does that mean to me”?

“Why did I underline that”?

And in doing this, it’s literally like having your own therapy session.

Except, it’s way cheaper, and you can do it at home.

When you combine all 5 steps together, you have what’s called “brain dumping”.

Or at least my version of it.

Don’t get mad at me, I didn’t come up with the name.

On a more serious note, brain dumping has been a game changer for me, and maybe it can be that for you.

What do you got to lose?

5 minutes and a blank piece of paper?

If you didn’t like the process, never do it again.

If you did, you can do what I do and keep a brain dump journal.

So what are you waiting for?

Grab a pen.

Bust out a piece of paper.

Set a timer for 5 minutes.

Write and let your thoughts and ideas come to life on that paper.

Finally, reflect by underlining or circling those thoughts that keep calling your name.

Let your brain relax and let it have the detox it needs.

Let me know how it goes.

You can reach me on Twitter/X @AlexisGLuna.

This is Alex signing out.

Adios.