by A little while ago on the blog, I introduced you to Journablend – my personal journaling flow that blends planning, reflection, and paper craft into a style that’s both functional and creative. At the heart of Journablend is a gentle rhythm I call The BLEND Flow:
- B – Braindump
- L – List
- E – Engage
- N – Nourish
- D – Daily
In this post I’m diving into the first step: B is for Braindump. To make it easy for you to try it out, I’ve created two free printable braindump pages with plenty of space to write, plus a matching quick-start prompts card and bookmarks you can tuck inside your journal. You can grab them all inside The Planner Lovers Resource Library.
What is a Braindump?
A braindump is simply giving your mind a place to unload. It’s the act of writing down everything that’s swirling in your head – tasks, reminders, worries, ideas, random thoughts, all of it – so you don’t have to carry it around.
Think of it as decluttering your mind. When your thoughts are out on paper, it suddenly becomes easier to see what matters, what needs action, and what can be let go.
Why I Love Braindumps
Braindumps are one of the simplest yet most powerful tools in my journaling practice. Here’s why they mean so much to me:
✨ They clear mental clutter. Writing things down frees up space, so your brain doesn’t have to juggle it all.
✨ They calm overwhelm. Once thoughts are on the page, they feel less chaotic and far more manageable.
✨ They sharpen focus. With fewer distractions floating around, it’s easier to prioritise and move forward.
✨ They reset my routine. Even when I’ve fallen out of journaling, a quick braindump helps me start again.
✨ They give a fresh start. Every page feels like a reset button, a chance to begin with clarity.
My Experience with Braindumps
I’ve been using braindumps for years, and they’ve become my go-to tool whenever life feels too full. For me, they’re especially helpful when:
- I’m juggling lots of tasks and deadlines.
- I’m holding too much in my head and don’t want to forget something.
- I’ve slipped out of my journaling rhythm and want to find my way back.
Whenever I pour everything out – tasks, notes about my wellbeing, things I want to remember, even little worries – I instantly feel lighter. From there, I can create a fresh to-do list or simply enjoy that feeling of being organised again. It’s such a simple step, but it always helps me find my footing.
These days, I usually do a big braindump every Sunday or Monday to reset for the week ahead. I’ll grab a page, sometimes from a notepad, sometimes one of my printable braindump sheets – and just get everything down. Once I’ve written it all out, I turn it into a simple to-do list in my Daily BlendBook, add a few reminders or encouraging notes, and then either fold the braindump and tape it into my journal or tear it up and toss it out as a way of letting go. It’s such a grounding ritual and always helps me feel back on track. If I’m feeling overwhelmed midweek, or haven’t been engaging with my journal, I’ll use the same process to focus and reset.
How to Use Braindumps in Your Journal
The beauty of a braindump is that it works with any journaling style. You can make it as plain or as creative as you like:
- Creative journaling: Jot down everything quickly, then highlight or decorate key thoughts with doodles, washi tape, or stickers.
- Planners & structured notebooks: Keep one page each week for a braindump, then transfer tasks into your spreads or calendar.
- Junk journaling or art journaling: Layer scraps, tags, or envelopes and tuck your thoughts into different pockets or pages.
- Daily logs or diaries: Start with a braindump, then expand on a few notes to reflect more deeply on your day.
There’s truly no wrong way, the point is just to start writing and let your thoughts flow.
Morning & Evening Braindumps
One of the things I love most about braindumps is how they can bookend the day. They’re just as useful with your first cup of tea or coffee as they are before bedtime.
In the morning: I often start my day with a quick braindump while sipping my tea. It helps me get all the little reminders and to-dos out of my head and onto paper, so I can see what matters most and step into the day feeling organised.
In the evening: Braindumps also make a wonderful wind-down ritual. Jotting down any lingering thoughts, worries, or things I want to remember helps clear my mind and ease the day away. It’s like giving myself permission to let go and rest, without carrying the weight of tomorrow into my sleep.
Of course, you can do a braindump any time you need one, but using them at the start and end of the day can bring a real sense of balance and calm.
Try It Yourself
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, or even if you’ve just fallen out of your journaling routine, try a braindump today. Grab your notebook or use one of the free printable braindump pages, set a timer for 10 minutes, and write down everything that comes to mind. No editing, no second-guessing – just let it spill out.
When you’re done, you’ll feel lighter, clearer, and ready to take the next step in your journaling flow. And if you’d like a little extra encouragement, don’t forget to grab the matching quick-start prompts card and bookmark from The Planner Lovers Resource Library – perfect to keep tucked in your journal as a gentle reminder to pause and clear your mind anytime you need.
This is just the beginning of The BLEND Flow. Next time, we’ll explore L is for List – how to turn your braindump into something structured, actionable, and uniquely your own. Make sure you’re signed up for my newsletter so you don’t miss it!
Happy journaling!
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