What is a brain dump?
A brain dump is writing down everything that's going round in your head, without sorting or judging it first. Getting it out of your head and onto a page makes it easier to see what's actually there. This sorter adds one step: deciding what belongs to tonight, tomorrow or nobody right now.
How is a brain dump different from a to-do list?
A to-do list is tasks you've already decided to do. A brain dump comes first and takes everything: worries, half-ideas, replays of a conversation and things that aren't yours to fix. Sorting it afterwards is how a few of those thoughts become a list, and the rest get set down for the night.
What goes in “not mine to carry”?
The not mine to carry pile is for anything you can't act on tonight, or that isn't yours to fix: a replay of a conversation, someone else's mood, a decision that needs daylight. Putting a thought there doesn't mean it doesn't matter. It means you're setting it down for the night instead of holding it until morning.
Is there a printable brain dump template?
The brain dump template on this page prints on one sheet, with room to get everything out, three columns for tonight, tomorrow and not yours to carry, and a box for the one thing you want to remember in the morning. You can also download it as a PDF and print a few at once.
What if tonight feels like more than a busy head?
If what's going round includes thoughts of hurting yourself or not wanting to be here, a sorter isn't the right tool for tonight. In the US you can call or text 988 any time and talk to a person tonight. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
