This summer, I found myself trying to do a bunch of things and ending up feeling overwhelmed.   This then led to overthinking and overdoing.   It seemed like the more I did, the more I still had to do, and I was trying to accomplish more and more.  I was getting up earlier and going to bed later and later.  It’s what my mom calls “burning the candle at both ends”.  I felt exhausted and finally just stopped everything and did nothing but relax and read.

Realizing that things had to change in order to accomplish anything, I started brain dumping.   This is known as a practice of writing down everything that comes to mind on a particular topic.   I don’t really practice it that way.  What I do is write down things as they come into my head:  tasks, thoughts, etc.   When I have time, I start doing those items and crossing them off the list.   By doing this, I have found that I’ve been able to accomplish more as well as rest more.  Realizing that small steps forward are still moving me in the right direction has been a game changer!  At the end of the day, if I find myself with lots still in my head, I just write it all down so my mind is clear, and I can have a good night’s sleep.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, try it out and see if it works for you.