Brain Dumping Explained

[NotAChevy]

Here’s another topic that I buried within another post, and want to expand upon. To quickly define brain dumping, for me, it’s- the daily writing down of everything in my head right before bed.

Right before I go to bed every night, I spend 10-15 minutes with my journal brain dumping. I don’t worry about how long it is, I don’t typically use any grammar, and I really don’t care if it makes sense. I just need to clear my head so I can sleep.

Some people, like me, prefer a physical journal, but some do this in an app. It typically concerns the same things: work, ideas for this blog, people who are driving me nuts, and things I need to remember to do the next day. That way, I don’t have to rely on my memory, so it’s harder to forget to do something.

I’ve noticed that when my head is clear, I go to sleep quicker, sleep sounder, and wake up the next morning more refreshed.

Strattera, the med I take for my ADHD, warns us that insomnia can be a side effect of the med. However, I find that if my head is clear, I sleep better than if I try to lay down and just try to crash out.

Also, by writing down the things I need to do, I don’t forget anything. Each morning, I spend 5 minutes re-looking over the night before’s entry and adding anything I’ve written down to my to-do list. This also gives me a chance to re-read through the to-do’s to make sure they’re important enough to really be done, or are they just something I want to do.

It’s a great way to get better sleep, and another way to make sure I’m doing the important things every day.

What do you do to help you sleep??

[STEM_Dad]

Several months ago (maybe a year ago), I was doing the same thing. Like you, I found it helpful for helping my mind to settle down, so I could sleep.

I don't know why I stopped, because it was so helpful.

I've had to use over the counter sleep aids (melatonin and GABA) for the last few months, so that I could get to sleep (with the help of melatonin), and be able to stay asleep/get back to sleep if I wake up at 3am (which GABA helps me with).

My son takes melatonin and then reads before bed. I think that reading helps to settle his thoughts down.

[NotAChevy in reply to STEM_Dad]

I’m trying to do the natural thing- no meds so this works for me.

[STEM_Dad in reply to NotAChevy]

I know that some people find that moderate exercise in the evening helps them to fall asleep better.

Others will practice mindfulness/meditation.

I think that I should give brain dumping a try again. I remember it helping my mind to settle down. So I'm glad you brought it up.

[STEM_Dad in reply to NotAChevy]

For the record, the first way I remember hearing the term "brain dumping" used, it used about brain dumping in conversation with someone else. (It generally had a negative connotation that way.)

I later had to learn that it could be used for stream-of-consciousness journaling. I like this definition better.

[Gettingittogether]

Dim the lights starting in the evening. Sometimes take a low low dose of melatonin. Listen to podcasts .... think of something I am really psyched about ...

[ADDandMe]

I get up at 5.30am for an exercise class most mornings. This means I’m pooped by 9.30 🥱 though I’ve only been on meds for 3 months I am beginning to feel a bit more burnt out… but not sure if this is being back at school again (I’m a teacher). I do notice if I skip my classes I tend to lie and ruminate more. I might give brain dumping a go.

[Cranberry23]

im taking traxodone to sleep. it helps most nights.

[OldIndigoBlue]

I'm an obsessive journal writer. I don't however go back and read my entries (I type my entries in a document) and I think this would probably help me. I use it mainly as a way of letting the subconscious do its work - letting things percolate, an d yes, also a little reminder of things that need to be done - but I also keep a Habit Tracker to remind me to do things, and a large To Do List - if I don't write this stuff down, it gets forgotten quickly. I journal mostly first thing in the morning and sometimes throughout the day (I'm retired) but I usually try to read at night in bed to help me fall asleep. However, I admit to singing on Facebook or TikTok most nights instead of reading. I do also use ASMR at night to fall asleep... but here I am at 1:26 AM..... sleep is a real issue for me, and part of that is just the aging process, and part of it is the level of stress that changes over time.... I do have the luxury of napping during the day, tho. I try not to stress myself out about "not getting enough sleep" and yet I know how important it is.... a continuing work in progress.