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Home » What is a Brain Dump Page?

What is a Brain Dump Page?

March 1, 2022 Leave a Comment

What is a brain dump page in a bullet journal? Forget the bullet journal. What is a brain dump? I’ll review what it is and how to use it in the post below. I started using this method of clearing my head in high school. Especially when trying to sleep, all the thoughts keep running through my head. But I also love mining for treasures. Many good ideas are running through my head, and I create something more significant when cultivated.

What is a brain dump page? | ChocolateMusings.com

Table of contents

  • What is a Brain Dump Page?
  • Is it the Same as Brainstorm?
  • When to Do a Brain Dump
  • How I Get Rid of All Those Thoughts When I Can’t Sleep
    • When Thoughts Repeat
  • How I Use A Brain Dump During the Day
  • After the Pen
  • Ways to Review
  • Do I Have to Call it a Brain Dump?
  • Do You Use a Brain Dump in your Bullet Journal or Planner?

What is a Brain Dump Page?

In simple form, a brain dump page is commonplace to collect stray thoughts, worries, plans, ideas, etc., that don’t fit into any one category. I use a dedicated page in my bullet journal to compile my thoughts throughout the month.

Different names for brain dump: This Month it's an Idea Bush - Keeping with my leaves theme, but I love the lightbulb bursting with leafy ideas. Bullet journal spreads & Ideas | ChocolateMusings.com
Brain Dump Floral Wreath - Don't get boxed in - grow your way out Bullet Journal Spread | ChocolateMusings.com #bujo #bulletjournal #braindump
Alternate names for brain dump - Shadowy Thoughts & Reflections | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #braindump
Brain dump alternate name: Delectable Ideas | ChocolateMusings.com #braindump #creative #watercolor
Space-Themed Bullet Journal Braind Dump Page "Out of this World Thoughts" | ChocolateMusings.com #space #braindump
Yellow Airplane with Cloud Text Brain Dump Page | ChocolateMusings.com #bulletjournal #braindump #headerideas
Bullet Journal Ideas: Idea Tree Instead of Brain Dump | ChocolateMusings.com #braindump #bulletjournal #ideas

Is it the Same as Brainstorm?

Brain Dump vs Brain Storm | ChocolateMusings.com

It’s different from a brainstorming because a brainstorm is when you think of a specific idea and expand on it, coming up with more similar concepts in the same vein of thinking. You could create a brainstorming page based on the ideas from your brain dump page or a unique brainstorming page to branch out different ideas. A brain dump is when you have ideas without a home and need to get them out of your head, remember them, or keep them for a later brainstorming session.

When to Do a Brain Dump

Any time is a good time to record thoughts from your head. Especially if they’re distracting you from doing other tasks. Here are some suggestions:

  • When you have a recurring thought or problem
  • When you have an idea but are in the middle of another task, jot it down quickly and return to it so you don’t forget it.
  • If you need to remember a sequence of events.
  • If you’re having trouble sleeping.
  • Before a planning session or starting a project to help clear your mind and focus.
  • Any time you are having trouble focusing.
Floral Doodles Bullet Journal Theme - Brain Dump Page | ChocolateMusings.com #floral #doodles #bulletjournal #braindump

How I Get Rid of All Those Thoughts When I Can’t Sleep

Taking the advice of a psychology course, I decided to keep a pen and paper by my bed. When my thoughts started running wild, I write down every single idea that came into my head, no matter what. Most of the time, these thoughts are silly or have no direction, but I record them anyway.

When Thoughts Repeat

Sometimes at night, when trying to clear my head, my mind would start repeating itself after a few minutes of writing. “Nope! I tell myself. I’ve got that thought here!” Then point to the place where I wrote down the incoming thought. Surprisingly, my mind moves on to the next idea. Soon all those thoughts running wild, keeping me up at night, calmed, and with a clear mind, I ease into sleep.

How I Use A Brain Dump During the Day

I also use my brain dump page to quickly jot down a stray thought while in the middle of another activity or task. It’s a great place to keep random ideas together, then quickly review them.

After the Pen

Reviewing your brain dump can provide some truly amazing ideas and insights when you might otherwise forget them.

Most of the time, however, I don’t review the recorded thoughts that keep me awake at night. I find that they are just worries or nonsense. Yet, I have found a few gems hiding in the dark of the night.

But it’s usually the brain dumps during the day, those stray, distracting thoughts begging for more attention and the real nuggets of awesome. These little gems start as a diamond in the rough. Time will tell if they become that bright, shiny treasure.

Ways to Review

Here are a few ways to review your brain dump. Use your journaling/planning time at night or in the morning when you have a few quiet moments to dedicate to your thoughts.

  • Grab a highlighter (this would be a great place to use your Zebra Fine Liners). You can dedicate a color to group different types of thoughts together. Such as:
    • Family
    • Home
    • Kids
    • Business Ideas
    • Things to Do etc.
  • Review the thoughts you wrote down, and highlight anything that might grow to a bigger idea. (Remember, these are just seedlings – so the plan can develop if you let it).
  • Write down ideas you want to cultivate on another page or a dedicated column. (Think of it like weeding out the weeds and keeping only the right seeds to plant).
  • If you have time, brainstorm or write down more ideas associated with the excellent concepts you highlighted to further flesh out the idea. (Then make it into a mini-mind map or an idea tree).
  • If you don’t have time to develop the idea, schedule a time to review your highlighted concepts and return to it.
  • Start each big idea on a dedicated page or keep them in a collection of like ideas.
  • Add any time-sensitive items to your to-do list or schedule.

Hint: create a page in your bullet journal or planner and take some notes – write down what you can do to use a brain dump. That way, it will be easier to start doing when you need to extract your thoughts from your head.

Pro Tip: Create a cute header for your notes page (here’s a header idea below!). Whenever I create a cute header for a page in my bullet journal, I find & refer to that page more often.

Do I Have to Call it a Brain Dump?

I see so many people who don’t like the name ‘brain dump.’ And if you’re one of them, the answer is no. You don’t have to call it a brain dump. In fact, I came up with 150+ different names for brain dump. So you can choose your alternative name for a brain dump. The pictures above all feature brain dump pages; each one is named something else.

I switch the name every month and create a brain dump page to suit my monthly theme.

Do You Use a Brain Dump in your Bullet Journal or Planner?

If you use a brain dump in your bullet journal or planner, when do you use it and review it? Do you use one at night? I’d love to know in the comments below. I’d also love to know what you call your brain dump page or use any alternate names to describe your brain dump page.

Find out When and How to use a Brain Dump Page + tips and tricks & times to review | ChocolateMusings.com
What is a brain dump? And how can you use it in your bullet journal to help clear your mind | ChocolateMusings.com
  • 150+ Different Names for a Brain Dump
  • Random Thoughts and Great Ideas Collection | Bullet Journal Brain Dump
  • Planet Themed Bullet Journal Set Up
  • Pirate Theme February 2019 Planner Preview
  • Easy Watercolor Wash Background – Plan With Me

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  • One of my favorite ways to disguise my brain dump page is to call it by a different name. I called this one “Blooming Thoughts,” highlighted by a faux calligraphy title and mason jar with carnations.
  • February Challenge is here!⁠ Please join me! You can letter this words or create them in any way! Doodle, paint, letter a whole sentence, let those creative juices flow!⁠ The goal is to be creative everyday!⁠ ⁠ Share with your friends and followers and remember to tag me @chocolatemusingscreates and use #FindYourCreativeMuse. Blog post below⁠ ⁠ https://chocolatemusings.com/creative-challenge-flower-names/
  • Doodle page! Don't have time to make a whole page? Make a doodle page and do just a little each day! Need ideas? Check out my garden flower words challenge!
  • This month’s creative challenge is all about flower names! Use these everyday floral names to expand your creativity throughout this month. Check out the challenge list below, and if you’re having trouble with creative ideas, keep reading. I have lots of ideas to share. Handlettering these words is fun if that’s what you always do. […] The post Creative Challenge: Flower Names appeared first on Chocolate Musings.
  • If you have always wanted to try calligraphy (or handlettering or modern calligraphy) give my basic strokes workbook a try! (link in bio or story)
  • Sometimes you need a guide to start up those creative juices! Give this cute mushroom a try!
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Chocolate Musings by Tricia Murdock
YouTube Video UCefWa0NWVt5a_q9LWofOWhw_yIQ4ggBQBsg From the Archives: Fun & Whimsical Bullet Journal Set Up - Ideas and Plants - Loose floral wreaths
Lots of spring-inspired doodles with pastel colors. I changed it up this month with horizontal weekly layouts.


____________________

Brain Dump Names: https://chocolatemusings.com/different-names-brain-dump/

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Website: http://ChocolateMusings.com
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____________________


Products I Used: 
Daniel Smith Watercolor: https://amzn.to/3Ip8xbD
Princeton Velvetouch Paint Brushes: https://amzn.to/42IVnPQ
Archer & Olive A5 Dot Grid Notebook: https://archerandolive.refr.cc/triciam
Helix Circle Maker Tool: https://amzn.to/49kx5xY
Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen: https://amzn.to/42MogKR



Video Set-Up:

Photography Lights (I use these for my everyday drawing). They're amazing https://amzn.to/2shdb4j
Canon PowerShot G7x Mark III Digital Camera https://amzn.to/3yt2lb4
Blue Yeti - USB Microphone https://amzn.to/2SNwb6a
Scissor Arm Mic Stand https://amzn.to/2CcGgm0






Contains affiliate links - if you use them, I may receive a small commission at no charge to you.
00:00 Introduction
00:12 Sneak Peek
00:33 Welcome Page
01:26 Monthly Calendar
02:42 Brain Dump
03:34 Weeklies
05:35 Journal
06:17 Habit Tracker
06:55 Flip Through
From the Archives: Fun & Whimsical Bullet Journal Set Up - Ideas and Plants - Loose floral wreaths
Lots of spring-inspired doodles with pastel colors. I changed it up this month with horizontal weekly layouts.


____________________

Brain Dump Names: https://chocolatemusings.com/different-names-brain-dump/

Social Links - Let's be Friends!
Website: http://ChocolateMusings.com
Shop: https://chocolatemusings.com/shop/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChocolateMusings
Instagram: http://Instagram.com/chocolatemusingscreates
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ChocolateMusings/

____________________


Products I Used: 
Daniel Smith Watercolor: https://amzn.to/3Ip8xbD
Princeton Velvetouch Paint Brushes: https://amzn.to/42IVnPQ
Archer & Olive A5 Dot Grid Notebook: https://archerandolive.refr.cc/triciam
Helix Circle Maker Tool: https://amzn.to/49kx5xY
Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen: https://amzn.to/42MogKR



Video Set-Up:

Photography Lights (I use these for my everyday drawing). They're amazing https://amzn.to/2shdb4j
Canon PowerShot G7x Mark III Digital Camera https://amzn.to/3yt2lb4
Blue Yeti - USB Microphone https://amzn.to/2SNwb6a
Scissor Arm Mic Stand https://amzn.to/2CcGgm0






Contains affiliate links - if you use them, I may receive a small commission at no charge to you.
00:00 Introduction
00:12 Sneak Peek
00:33 Welcome Page
01:26 Monthly Calendar
02:42 Brain Dump
03:34 Weeklies
05:35 Journal
06:17 Habit Tracker
06:55 Flip Through
From the Archives: Fun & Whimsical Bullet Journal Set Up - Experimenting with Watercolor Leaves in my Bullet Journal. Featuring 2-to-a-spread weeklies and a loosely painted watercolor theme - I hope this planning session inspires you to paint or to try something new.


00:00 Introduction
00:15 Welcome Page Wreath
01:41 Monthly Calendar Page
03:04 Habit Tracker & Monthly To Do Pages
05:47 Gratitude + Week 1
06:35 Weeklies
06:52 Brain Dump
07:15 Journal
07:42 Whoops! Adding a Page
09:06 Final Flip Through


____________________

Social Links - Let's be Friends!
Website: http://ChocolateMusings.com
Shop: https://chocolatemusings.com/shop/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChocolateMusings
Instagram: http://Instagram.com/chocolatemusingscreates
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ChocolateMusings/

____________________


Products I Used: 
Daniel Smith Watercolor: https://amzn.to/3Ip8xbD
Princeton Velvetouch Paint Brushes: https://amzn.to/42IVnPQ
Archer & Olive A5 Dot Grid Notebook: https://archerandolive.refr.cc/triciam
Helix Circle Maker Tool: https://amzn.to/49kx5xY
Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen: https://amzn.to/42MogKR



Video Set-Up:

Photography Lights (I use these for my everyday drawing). They're amazing https://amzn.to/2shdb4j
Canon PowerShot G7x Mark III Digital Camera https://amzn.to/3yt2lb4
Blue Yeti - USB Microphone https://amzn.to/2SNwb6a
Scissor Arm Mic Stand https://amzn.to/2CcGgm0






Contains affiliate links - if you use them, I may receive a small commission at no charge to you.
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About Me


Hi! I'm Tricia, the creative behind ChocolateMusings.com, I know how it feels to lose your inner muse. After years of darkness (which I call the dark ages of my life), I found my inner muse hiding in the forgotten corners of my soul, I vowed never to lose sight of her again.

Bullet journaling helped reignite the passion for art and living life again while organizing my days. I also discovered modern calligraphy and watercolor. Since then, my use of the bullet journal system has evlolved and I call it 'creative planning'. Here on the blog, I show you how to use your planner to ignite your inner muse and explore creativity and art while staying beautifully organized and living a joyful life.

I invite you to grab some good chocolate and dive into my musings. Let’s ignite your inner muse.

Read more on the about me page. You can also find my policies and disclosures here.

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