I don’t know about you, but some days I’m unstoppable—dialed in, focused, ready to conquer anything. Other days? I’m like a leaf caught in a windstorm.
Those productive days are usually the result of a few things:
The night before the night before
This is something I learned in college. Before a big race, it was better to ensure that you got a GREAT night’s sleep two nights before. For example, if our race was on Sunday morning, then it was most important to sleep well on Friday night. (Of course a good night’s sleep on Saturday was important, but we swore by the night before the night before.)
– I kick my day off with a great workout.
– I get dressed, grab coffee, and sit down at my desk.
Things I don’t do on those productive mornings:
- Have in-depth conversations
- Look at my phone
- Check my email
- Wonder what I’m planning to accomplish—I know what my focus is for the day because I’ve decided on it the night before.
When Everything Feels Scattered
But for those times when I’m scattered—like a leaf caught in a swirling windstorm—I need something else. I need:
- Clean desk, nothing on it, nothing to distract me, and, if possible, a wall to look at.
- A pen and paper, preferably my notebook.
- A timer—analog is best, my watch or the alarm clock on my shelf. It cannot be my computer or my phone.
Then I write a list of the TOP three things I want to accomplish. Work, business, or life. And it’s specific to that day. We’re not talking long-term goals, just the immediate, what needs to be done.
The Three-Page Brain Dump
If I’m still not sure what my focus should be, I write.
I write for three pages, or for 10 minutes. Three pages is more of a commitment—but more often than not, it’s exactly what I need. Here’s how it works:
- Grab my pen (I keep it tucked into my Leuchtturm notebook for easy, fast access).
- I make a commitment: Write for three pages, without stopping, without editing, just stream of consciousness.
- Keep on writing, don’t look up, don’t look at the time, just keep going. (This is super hard, like when you have an itch and NEED to scratch it, but you don’t, and finally, it goes away, and you get into the flow, and then suddenly, three pages is complete).
The goal is to guide that swirling leaf down to a protected spot on the ground—push the debris aside and focus.
What do I write?
I usually start with “Well, here I go, three pages of writing, I’m glad the pages aren’t full-size legal pages, I’m glad my pen works…..” and before I know it, my feelings, thoughts, fears start to flow. From there, I’ll start to write about today: what do I want to do, what’s most important? How does it tie back to my overarching goals, dreams? And on and on.
If I hit a blank and don’t know what to write, I’ll just write, “don’t know what goes here, just writing to write, I said I’d do this and I have another two pages to go,” and on and on like that. Until I’m back on track and wrapping up the time.
When I get to the end of page three, I usually have:
- A hand cramp
- Deep indentation on my middle finger from holding the pen so hard
- An appreciation of how I made it through, and look—I have something to show for my morning!
- A clear idea of what to do next
Then, I make my list of top three priorities.
More often than not, I’m ready to get cracking.
Why Does This Brain Dump Work
- I just did the hard thing.
- I have a significant accomplishment to start the day.
- I looked procrastination in the face and produced something.
- I allowed my mind to swirl, I removed all the extra, and aligned my actions and priorities.
The Science Behind It
Research from the National Institutes of Health backs this up with science:
Mental decluttering – Writing clears the cobwebs and zig-zags throwing you off track. Getting it on paper removes it from your mind.
Active problem-solving – As you write, your mind shifts from overwhelm to organization, naturally working through what comes next.
New perspectives– Writing opens up fresh approaches to aligning tasks with your goals.
Thinking out loud– Moving thoughts from head to paper is like talking to a friend. Your pages become the friend who reaches out to help you balance three cups of coffee while you dig for your keys.
Connecting the dots (my favorite) – Writing lets your mind link the seemingly random, chaotic noise running through your head.
Getting Started: Prompts to Try
If you’re new to journaling, or struggling to find something to write—here are some prompts I’ve used to help me get flowing:
- What made me laugh yesterday?
- What is something I’m grateful for? Why?
- If I were to design my bathroom, what color would I start with? Why?
- What is something my dad used to say to me?
- What first attracted me to ______ [my partner, my career, my hobby]?
- What would it be like to live on a mountaintop?
- What would my mom say about my proudest memory?
- Describe how this page will feel once I’ve finished writing.
- Why do I hate [bananas, spiders, humid days…] so much?
Ready to Commit, Create, and Celebrate?
Still struggling to get things done? Maybe all you need is an accountability buddy. That’s exactly what I do—I help successful women executives and leaders stay focused on their goals so they can finally tackle that side hustle or next career chapter they’ve been dreaming about.
Let’s talk about how I can help you commit, create, and celebrate your wins.