Didn’t we already cover brain dumping? Well, we certainly tried.  

Brain dumping is the act of writing out the information in your head so you can clear your mind. This can be done using a computer or paper—whatever you prefer! Don’t let the dizzying twirl of a thought tornado stop you from focusing, and WRITE IT OUT. 

There are a number of reasons why you should brain dump. If you’re uncertain about this tactic, see if these apply to you before you throw away the idea:

Studying

girl holding open laptop in the dark, brain dumping using laptop
Photo by Victoria Heath on Unsplash

We’ve all been there, right? Struggling to cram as much information into our brains without them exploding everywhere (sorry for the visual, but you get it). Even hours before an exam we’re straining our eyes to stare at our notes, but how can you be certain that you’ve remembered it all?

This is one of the most common practices of brain dumping. From an educational point of view, brain dumping is a way of studying. When prepping for an exam, you might take a moment to write out as much information as you can about what you’ve learned to determine how much you know and if there’s anything more you need to study. If you’ve done this in the past, then you have already performed a brain dump.

The act of brain dumping before an exam has proven to be beneficial. Not only will this force you to write everything out in your own words, but it tests your memory and thought-process so you’re sure to remember the material better.

Traveling

Travel planning with a large map
Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

When you are getting ready to travel, there is much to consider: budget, travel time, destinations, sleeping arrangements, transit, activities, food, and, let’s-face-it, a stress-inducing amount more! It can leave us feeling tightly wound and ready to pop, which is not fun for anyone. (Aren’t vacations supposed to be relaxing?)

Take a moment to develop a list of what you need to get organized. Turn it into an outline and write everything you know off the top of your head such as costs, travel dates, rentals, whatever it is—free your mind by writing it out. This should help relieve stress so you can finish planning without wanting to tear your hair out. It makes planning feel more like a vacation and less like a chore.

To-Do Lists

monthly planner and to-do list flatlay
Photo by STIL on Unsplash

We all have a list of tasks we need to do in a day, a week, and a month. Sometimes it’s cleaning and work projects. Other times we have social commitments and family obligations (but it’s for family and we’re obligated to love them).

Most of the time, our to-do lists are comprised of mundane tasks like grocery shopping. Whatever you have in store, write out a to-do list. It clears your head so you can focus on what you’re currently doing instead of what you need to get to later. You even get the satisfaction of checking items off your to-do list as you complete them, which has been proven to release dopamines and keep you feeling motivated.

General Stress

woman sitting on bed while holding mug
Photo by Asdrubal luna on Unsplash

Maybe you’re feeling anxious but aren’t sure why. You have a lot of projects on-the-go but they keep piling higher and higher until suddenly it feels like you’re drowning under the weight of them. Will you ever resurface? The answer is yes, but WRITE IT OUT. Write about how you’re feeling and what you’re doing. See if there’s a common denominator. Sometimes transferring our thoughts onto paper allows us to see things differently so we can put things into perspective. Writing out our thought tornado and unsettled emotions can be enough for us to move on with our day.

If you have any questions about brain dumping, read The Ultimate Study Hack: Brain Dumping https://blog.studentlifenetwork.com/2018/10/04/the-ultimate-study-hack-brain-dumping/ Perhaps you’ll find the answers!