The Whys and Hows of A Brain Dump

[@gingerhails2561]

Every now and then I will come across a great planner video that is pivotal in learning how to better use my planner or manage my time. Your video may just be the most WONDERFUL and helpful video I've ever watched. After my first brain dump (6 pages long) I felt so mentally tired but so free at the same time. I feel like nothing will get lost in my brain now. I cannot thank you enough.

[@CarieHarling]

Ginger Hails This makes me so happy! Rhomany once said that a much-needed, properly-done brain dump should leave you needing a nap! :)

[@nancygray4426]

+Carie Harling brain dump fun done often it just didn't have a name

[@littlerain72]

Dear Carie, I sincerely thanks for all the uploading video you have been doing all these while. I started to use DIYfish thanks to all the youtubers comment and videos. and this time. the brain dumper. the link that you have shared help me a lot in doing my own brain dump. I have no clue in how to 'download' my ideas to my list. and now. TA DA!! 7 pages (A6 papers) full of ideas, notes, list to do and so on!! really happy about it! Thanks again!!! Kay

[@angelaroberts2882]

I can’t say thank you enough!!! I’m listening to the audio book and he began rambling this long incompletion triggers list and I instantly felt overwhelmed. Your video and the links helped to clarify what this actually looks like.. thanks again and I hope your GTD is going well! Have a blessed day 💕

[@jenk4518]

I am always thrilled when I see you've posted a new video. I really enjoy watching you and appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to help the rest of us! Thank you so much!

[@CarieHarling]

Jennifer Keller Thank you so much! I really enjoy making the videos and all of the interaction with other people.

[@charlean_sherrod]

I just started journaling in June of this yr.. Thanks to you and Miss Vicky Bee, I am in heaven. My bran dump is more in the line of feelings, emotions, and personal things. I'm retired no kids at home. I still have a very busy life and also love your forward planning and project management ... Thank you sooo much for your awesome videos.❤️

[@CarieHarling]

Charlean Sherrod Thank you so much! I've had a ton of fun working with these ladies... and there's more to come!

[@prettycraftytales]

It was so relieving to hear from you that we don't need to organize and colour code the brain dump notes!

[@amberdulay7238]

Could you be more genius?? I started taking notes while watching, and had almost an entire page filled before you even got to your TN!!! I have now watched all 3 videos (I shall now be referring to you, Rhomany and VickyBee as the holy trinity), and I now have a brain dump TN set up and in use. This fixes many problems. Maybe I'll be able to fall asleep before 1 am now, since I won't have THINGS running thru my brain!! :-) Thank you again!!

[@PlanClutivateCreate]

This is great! How have I never heard of these incompletion trigger lists?!? Game changer... settling in with some tea and the personal list right now :) Thanks so much for this!

[@carolgallupe2952]

Can not tell you how thrilled I was when I heard on Rhomanys video which I watched over the weekend the three of you were back again. Love these group information/habit exchanges. Easier for me on these videos than to figure out Facebook. Great video as usual.

[@CarieHarling]

Carol Gallupe There's more to come from the three of us yet!! :)

[@emmaszostok4799]

Hi Carie, I've just purchased a Chic Sparrow Traveling journal and I've been looking through quite a lot of videos of set ups and the lady in buying the journal from told me about your videos and I'd just like to say a big big thank you for this video ! My mind works a lot like yours in ways of dumping info and I'm constantly thinking of things I want to create as an illustrator or something I'd like to throw together for a swap stuff like that and I find myself writing them down on pieces of receipt roll. Which end up getting thrown away or washed and I completely forget about them. My memory is terrible due to the fact I get really bad migraines so I can think of something cool and then if I get a headache or migraine it's gone completely and I'll be kicking myself. This set up and putting everything in one place to go back to is something I can see working perfectly for me ! Thank you for the inspiration and help. Emma

[@carolynsfo]

Awesome video, Ms Carie! Thanks so much for the information and the inspiration! Peace and love, Carolyn

[@Oh_Cecilia]

I been an avid GTDer for years. The first time I did a brain dump I literally felt like I had lost 10 lbs! It is an amazing feeling to really let go of everything in your head. Thx for the great video! :)

[@CarieHarling]

Oh Cecilia Rhomany said it perfectly the other day... it hasn't been a brain dump done right if she doesn't need a nap afterward! :)

[@alexandrahill9176]

Watching your video (which I found via one of Becky's :3) had literally changed my entire view of planning to make life SO much easier for me!! I always thought I'd have to flip through my planner constantly with the different ideas and reminders that would pop up in my head, and it just felt like busy work for me and not as relaxing. And I swear we are the same person: I procrostinate so much and mental notes don't do anything for me either. I'll be watching the other videos you mentioned to get their perspectives as well. Thank you so much for doing this!

[@christinadibacco4513]

I love this video! Thank you for so clearly explaining your system. I would love to see a follow up video to see how you process after collecting/brain dumping...just an idea if you aren't already planning for that!

[@SOrsucci5]

Its like you were running around in my brain ... this will be so helpful!

[@RBbutterfly]

Thank you for the trigger list idea! I had been doing brain dumps and trying to organize them as I go and that was so not working for me! My brain would freeze up or I would get off track about everything else that needed organizing ether way it would stop the process. Since watching all they videos i have been doing it in a separate book and organizing it later and and that is really working for me. I know i am losing ideas, to do's and projects waiting tell my brain gets full every time. Going to try working with the trigger list over the next few weeks. Thanks again! :)

[@BonjourMama]

Love it. Came here from MissVickyBee and I love your style. I'm a new mom and entrepreneur and my brain is so full I feel crazy sometimes. Thanks for sharing what you do :-)

[@NanaWobin]

I've been attempting to brain dump all weekend so this was a very timely video for me. Thank You for that! love your videos...very inspiring ! Thanks Carie!

[@michellesavageau1369]

This is so like me and my brain. I need one place to just dump it all. Thank you for the wondering tips and in a easy to understand way. I will be checking out the links & subscribing. Looking forward to learning more great ideas. Blessings Michelle.

[@kan-zee]

13:47 *The Show and Tell of Bujo Brain dump Starts* I enjoy your talking hands in the video...LOL

[@nataschagretz7233]

I love, love, LOVE your videos because of you as a sympathic person and because of your ideas! You are such an inspiration!!! Thanks for sharing! (hopefully I could express what I meant because my english is not that good)

[@CarieHarling]

I think your English is great! Thank you so much for your kind, lovely words.

[@CoolCraftyCreations]

Great idea for the Getting Things Done

[@dombaldock698]

The first part of this video cracks me up. I love the cold but I live in Australia! I can totally relate to not wanting to feel blegh lol!

[@Robnznst1]

Great ideas. Thanks.

[@TracyReinhardt]

Carie Harling " I washed a lot of post it notes" LOLOL Yeah, I've washed a lot of grocery lists myself! too funny

[@marciturner4980]

When you are on the go, take and record your thoughts on a mini tape recorder. Record it all on tape and then get it onto paper later.

[@BodaciousWench]

Marci Turner I sometimes use Dragon Dictation (an iPhone app) and then sync it to Evernote like grocery lists if I'm making a quick stop.

[@b.schurman]

I feel like your comparison between brain dump and brainstorm is actually a spectrum. We write down ideas in brainstorming for the same reasons as a brain dump, so we don't have to worry about keeping track. A brain dump is the same thing, but in reverse. Your head has been populating these "to-dos" or ideas, so you write them down to deal with them in a better way, at a better time. The Incompletion List is on the middle of the spectrum. In a way, you are "brainstorming" your brain dump.

[@intentionalfaith4071]

Hi, thanks for sharing. Love your channel. I was intrigued by the "mobile office". Do you still use that? Can you elaborate on what's in it?how it's stored? Thanks for all you share. You improve lives.

[@CarieHarling]

+Intentional Faith What a great question! I do still use the mobile office, and it has changed. I'm adding that to the video list. Thank you for the fantastic suggestion!

[@acrookedline]

This was so helpful! Thank you. 💜

[@antonisantonakis950]

thank you so much i am like mad trying to fix perfectly my list,but this helps a lot !

[@deborahrose4943]

Thanks Carie for another delightful and helpful video! I have done brain dumping off and on, and am now inspired to do it weekly :-) And I have a question that you "sort of" already answered about the "Incompletion Trigger List" .... I looked at the links you included and probably another hundred.... and I find myself whining "I want one like Carie has!" (insert pouty face) .... So the question is... do you maybe have a pdf of the one you are using? Or is there any info printed on the page that might have a hint as to where to look to find that one? I love how it looks and how it has categories with space in between ... all the ones I see are too long and feel overwhelming ... I know I can futz with it myself and come up with something, but thought I'd ask! Thanks :-)

[@CarieHarling]

***** I know the one I have is from GTD Portal, but that's all that is on it. I hesitate to distribute it without knowing where it came from. If you find it online, let me know! I feel like I spelunked into every crevice of GTDPortal looking for it!

[@sansanfan83]

Could you (or have you done) a video on your reference book? Just what it is, what you put in it, how you use it etc.

[@Nats.N]

Great video! Great ideas to to my dump notebook!

[@bettifortier2]

I would love to more about the mobile office!

[@Marizeye]

Hi, what do you do with plans that you're not sure if you want to do or not but might do? Or also things you want to buy but some time in future? Thanks!

[@donnacorbett2441]

Carie,you are my hero! I love your videos,so many helpful ideas. Do you have any information on using Evernote with a brain dump? I appreciate it Donna

[@CarieHarling]

***** I will be posting a video covering all things Evernote (at least the ways I use it) in November. As far as using it for a Brain Dump, I do that just about every day. Any little random thing that might pop into my head when I can't write (like while I'm driving) goes straight into my default notebook in Evernote (if I'm driving, it's a voice memo). Every few days I skim through that default notebook and "clean it out," filing things where they belong and adding anything to my planner that needs to be added.

[@rhondawise9604]

Hi watched your video great but what was the name of the book, going to try the brain dump I need it thanks.

[@missmicchan]

Great video, I really need to start one of these and need to be proactive about it... The only thing that will be difficult is to not organize as I go lol Thanks for sharing this video :)

[@natashagoode501]

Hi Carie - where did you get that printed Incompletion Trigger List that's inside your MTN? Looks much more simplified than the links that you provided...... :)

[@jenk4518]

So do you only use brain dump for things you need to do? Where do you journal about things that have happened etc?

[@CarieHarling]

Jennifer Keller I have a regular journal that I write and draw in, and I also track my time using the system featured in these posts: www.carieharling.com/?p=2099 and www.carieharling.com/?p=2146

[@inge542]

I’m from the Netherlands, so my English isn’t so good (sorry) I love you’re video’s! Thanks for the tips and ideas. I’m going to start with a brain dump too.

[@b.schurman]

I am waiting on a FN size book and I want to use it for my brain dump and bullet journal together. Where do you get your FN books?

[@CarieHarling]

Crunchy Mama I use a few different types of books as inserts. Moleskine Pocket Cahiers are the same size as Field Notes notebooks, so they fit perfectly. I also make some of my own with my favorite graph paper that I've cut down to size. Additionally, you can cut down any notebook that you like to fit.

[@sar.planss]

What size midori is the small one you use? And did you make it or buy it? Great video :) helped me so much!

[@skinnylove911]

I have started using an app for it on my mobile and iPad

[@ryancastro9120]

Great Video!

[@MrLexicon1971]

This was great! Thanks for this...

[@sarahsassy100]

So very helpful!

[@awpovv9530]

For the same format as Carie has, visit: gettingthingsdone.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Mind_Sweep_Trigger_List.pdf

[@CarieHarling]

AWPOV V Thank you!!! I can't believe I couldn't find it! You're awesome.

[@eleonoragiannetti3603]

It's a great way to organize the mess I have in my head having an idea of the cathegories i might pay attention to (not as many as in the lists, hopefully!). I'd love to print the lists and punch them in my personal size filo, but i can't figure out how ;( any advices?

[@CarieHarling]

Eleonora Giannetti The best way I can think of to do it is to either: A. downsize it, print it, punch it, and possibly fold it in so it horizontally fits, or B. Copy & Paste the text from the document into an empty Word document that's the correct page size to fit into a Personal Filofax.

[@cristianasilva6980]

Where do you buy your field note inserts from?

[@CarieHarling]

Cristiana Silva I use all different inserts for all of my notebooks. Moleskine Pocket Cahiers are the same size as Field Notes notebooks, so they fit perfectly. I've made several of my own and cut down notebooks to use as well.

[@angelataylor6121]

I call my fog days, "squirrel days"

[@GraceBye]

Is that new hair color love the color

[@dantellor1024]

Thank you so much for this video! It hreally helped me. :)

[@kmwvb]

I don't know if your found the in-completion trigger list you have in your brain dump planner bit, i google searched it and here is the website for in. gettingthingsdone.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Mind_Sweep_Trigger_List.pdf

[@deborahrose4943]

+Kristel Bregman ... that is SO funny Kristel ... I don't know what made me think about it and google it a couple days ago, and I found it too and was going to post it here! Thanks :-)

[@deborahklomp1776]

Deborah Rose

[@ButterflyCottage]

Hi Ms. Carie Harling Darling. I do think you resemble Tinkerbell, you are indeed too cute. I am looking for the info on the Gray Highlighter and I also need help on the inserting the Chronodex into the mobile pages. I've ordered them and I've tried but I can't get it to work. Can you share any tips on that? Thank you!!! Waiting on my Field Notes size Crème Brule' Can't wait and am trying to get set up!!! TIA TIA for sharing your tips and tricks!

[@CarieHarling]

Rechelle Louis The gray highlighter is part of a pack of Mildliners that I ordered from JetPens, link here: goo.gl/hXvXda . I honestly didn't insert the Chronodex into that file (Rhomany did it for me because I couldn't get it to work either). I think your best bet, if you're using the same DIYFish file I used, would be to contact Fish (probably through Facebook) and see if she knows how to get it to work. All I know for certain is that file type of the Chronodex (jpeg vs. pdf) matters.

[@charlean_sherrod]

Brain dump, not bran, ha ha

[@CarieHarling]

:)

[@PlanClutivateCreate]

This is great! How have I never heard of these incompletion trigger lists?!? Game changer... settling in with some tea and the personal list right now :) Thanks so much for this!

[@sansanfan83]

Could you (or have you done) a video on your reference book? Just what it is, what you put in it, how you use it etc.