Image by Elvert Xavier Barnes Photography

Simple Steps

Our minds are really like human computers. If we want to improve our productivity and efficiency, we need to empty the cache of temporary “files” and reboot for our brains to perform at their peak levels. Otherwise we can suffer from brain overload with too many circuits firing at once and so many programs (thoughts) running in the background that we either “freeze up” and can’t remember anything or simply process the information much more  slowly than we’d like.

Sounds difficult. But it’s not. It only requires a few minutes and some manner of recording your thoughts.

Choose your time – Try first thing in the morning and again before bedtime, but if that doesn’t work for you any time can work. I prefer to sit with my morning coffee for a few minutes and let my brain wake up. I apparently need the caffeine kick to form coherent thoughts.

Choose your method of recording – You can keep an electronic list on your mobile phone or computer, use a voice recorder or similar app or go the traditional pen and paper route. Though I tend to be a “techie” by nature, I still prefer to use a pen and pad for this process.

Now, take just 5 minutes and write down whatever is in your head or on your mind. Sounds doable.

And I mean everything… Not just tasks, but thoughts, concerns, questions and ideas too. You can sort them later, just get them out of your brain so that they can stop cycling through and using up precious brain power and space.

Once you’re finished you can add any tasks to your ongoing tasks list (you have one of those right?) Add any new ideas to an idea file to pursue later and record questions or concerns in a journal to mull over at another time. (If you never go back to mull them over, then they weren’t that important.)

By making it a habit to take just a few minutes each day to empty and organize your brain, you can drastically improve your ability to focus, complete tasks, achieve goals, find better balance and increase your energy. Not bad for 5 minutes work.

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.