Brain dump

What It Means

A brain dump is a sitting where you write down everything that has your attention, from errands and deadlines to half-formed ideas and worries, as fast as it comes and without sorting. The sorting comes afterward. In David Allen's Getting Things DoneGetting Things DoneDavid Allen's productivity system, from his book Getting Things Done, for capturing everything on your mind and deciding the next action on each item. See more system the same practice is called a mind sweep, and it belongs to the first of the system's five steps, capture.

How People Say It

• "I need to do a brain dump before I can think straight."
• "Let me dump everything on paper first."
• "My head's too full, I'm writing it all down."

The Breakdown

How to do it

1. Take one page or one blank note and set a timer. Buhata's own suggestion is 1010,000 stepsA popular daily step goal that began as the name of a 1960s Japanese pedometer; later studies find health benefits begin well below it. See more minutes for a first try.
2. Write down everything that comes to mind, one item per line. The ground rule of GTD's mind sweep is to write each thought down without stopping to think about it.
3. When you run dry, use prompts. The official GTD site offers an Incompletion Trigger List, a printable set of reminders meant to stir up things you'd otherwise forget.
4. Stop when the timer rings or the page goes quiet.
5. Read the list once. For each line, decide whether it's something to do, something to keep for reference, or something to let go. That's GTD's clarify step.
6. Move each task to your task listTo-do listA written list of the tasks you plan to do, checked or crossed off as each one is finished. See more and each date to your calendar.

Prompts to get you going (Buhata's own examples)

• Calls and messages you owe someone
• Bills and forms with a due date
• Repairs around the house
• Birthdays and events coming up
• Things you promised to do for someone
• Work that's waiting on another person

Short version to try today. Before bed, spend five minutes writing down every open loop on one page. Sort it in the morning.

Good to Know

A brain dump helps only if you come back to the page. Getting Things Done treats capturing as the first of five steps, followed by clarify, organize, reflect and engage, so set a time to sort the list soon after you write it. In a guided mind sweep on the official GTD site, David Allen says that for many people, simply writing down more than they ever had before helps them sleep and focus better.

Related Terms and Categories

• Getting Things Done

  David Allen's productivity system, from his book Getting Things Done, for capturing everything on your mind and deciding the next action on each item.

• To-do list

  A written list of the tasks you plan to do, checked or crossed off as each one is finished.

• Weekly review

  A regular session, usually weekly, where you clear your inboxes, bring your lists and calendar up to date and decide what matters next.

Productivity methods and focus