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Or, how using a brain dump list can set you free.
I’m a big believer in lists.
I actually probably place too much faith in lists, as if I can cram all my hopes onto a piece of paper and somehow magically the day will expand so I can actually get all those things done.
While I know lists aren’t magic, and my adding thing after thing doesn’t mean I’ll actually get them all done, there’s one kind of list where the length is actually a good thing.
Meet the Brain Dump List
A brain dump list is exactly what it sounds like: a list of whatever you can think of that needs doing.
It’s not a daily to-do list, but includes items you know need doing that never seem to make it to your daily list (making that phone call you’ve been putting off, putting away the Halloween decorations, chores you never seem to get to). You might also call it a master list.
Mine includes blog post and project ideas, a mental walk through of my house where I listed things that need to be done in each room, book ideas, errands and more.
It is four pages long.
The Life-Changing Magic of a Brain Dump
And while the immensity of all those things to do can feel overwhelming, an amazing thing can happen when you write it all down.
You don’t have to think about it so much.
I don’t know if other people’s thoughts mostly consist of a running to-do list of things you need to do, want to do and what you’re doing next, but that’s my brain (hello, anxiety!).
Having a brain dump doesn’t completely eliminate the checklist in my brain, but if I know it’ son my list I have a little comfort in knowing it’s been recorded and I don’t have to dwell on it.
Somehow things don’t have as much energy and power when reduced to a single line on a list.
Making the List Things Happen
The other key for me is moving items from the brain dump list to my daily list regularly, and making sure I actually do them.
I don’t want the brain dump to become the repository of lost dreams. I actually want to get these things done.
So maybe for me that’s one chore and one project making it to my list every day. Or maybe a bigger project like cleaning out the attic makes the list every day for a week or until it is done.
How you want to tackle it will depend on your list and the time you have to devote to it. But I think you will find just writing it all down motivates you to want to cross some things off.
I wrote my list on a Sunday and crossed off five things that same day. The next day I made no progress, but that’s OK.
Every day I can choose a couple of things and try again. It’s way better than picking from the giant jumble in my head.
Do you use a brain dump list? I’d love to hear about it.
2 Comments
Who the hell are you and why are you spamming me?
I don’t care whether or not someone submitted my email address by accident or even on purpose. It is your job to check and see if the email is correct and if the user actually wants emails from you.
So VERIFY the email address. Being the dumbshit that you are you are probably asking yourself, “How can I verify an email address?”
Well dumbshit, you send an email to the address in question and request that they verify the email address and also verify that they wish to receive emails from you. If you don’t receive an answer, then don’t add them to your email list. If you receive an email calling you a dumbshit…and remember dumbshit…this is important…then you do not add them to your email list.
If you don’t verify the email address and you send spam to someone like me, then you might just find that the someone like me has used your email address to register at hundreds of web sites that are just like you and they don’t verify the emails on their email list.
You have ONE chance to stop spamming me.
Bye dumbshit,
Sincerely,
Not a Dumbshit Like You
I find that if I don’t write something down, it’s gone. I’ve started using several note-taking tools to do exactly what you’re describing. It’s amazing how much more I’ve been able to get done simply because I’m no longer relying on my memory alone.
Every entrepreneur and marketer needs to either carry a notebook or use a reliable note-taking apps. It helps productivity so much.