A brain dump is a simple exercise: you get everything that is on your mind out of your head, without sorting it first, and sort it afterwards. Set aside a few minutes, write or say every task, idea and loose end that comes up, and keep going until nothing new comes. Then go through the list and decide for each item: do it, schedule it, hand it off, keep it as a note, or drop it.
| Step | What you do |
|---|---|
| 1. Unload | Write or say everything on your mind, in any order |
| 2. Keep going | Use prompts when you get stuck (list below) |
| 3. Read back | Look at the whole list once |
| 4. Sort | Tasks, dates, ideas, things to let go |
| 5. Next step | Give every task a concrete next action |
How to do a brain dump, step by step
- Pick a time and a place. A quiet corner, a walk, the car before you drive off. Set a time if that helps you start, for example 10 minutes.
- Unload without sorting. Write or say whatever comes up: "call the dentist", "idea for the garden", "still annoyed about the meeting", "birthday present for Mia". Do not judge or order anything yet.
- Use prompts when it slows down. The list below walks through the areas that usually hold open loops.
- Stop when nothing new comes. The first pass is done when you start repeating yourself.
- Read it back and sort it. Use the worksheet below. The sorting is where the list becomes useful.
- Decide the next step for each task. "Taxes" is a worry. "Find last year's tax papers on Saturday" is a task.
Brain dump template: prompts
The Getting Things Done method by David Allen uses a "mind sweep" with a trigger list that starts with the question "What has your attention?" These prompts are our own short version, grouped the same way:
What do I need to do at work this week?
What did I promise someone?
Who do I need to call, email or answer?
What is waiting on someone else?
What needs fixing, buying or cleaning at home?
What bills, forms or deadlines are coming up?
Which appointments do I need to make?
Which birthdays, trips or events are coming up?
What idea keeps coming back?
What have I started and not finished?
What is bothering me that I have not said out loud?
What would I like to do if I had a free afternoon?
Go through the list quickly. If a prompt brings nothing, skip it.
Brain dump worksheet: sort the result
Once everything is out, put each item in one of five groups. You can copy this into a notes app or print it.
DO SOON (and the next step)
- [task]: [next step]
SCHEDULE (and the date)
- [task]: [date]
HAND OFF OR ASK (and who)
- [task]: [person]
KEEP AS A NOTE OR IDEA
- [idea]
LET GO
- [item you decide not to act on]
The "let go" group matters. Writing something down and consciously deciding not to act on it is also a decision.
Brain dump by voice
Many people find it easier to talk than to write when their thoughts come fast. The problem with a voice memo is that you end up with a recording you have to listen to again. A voice to text app that sorts the result for you gets you from the ramble to the worksheet in one step.
With Retexta:
- Open Retexta and tap New task.
- Under What do you want to do?, open More templates and choose Take notes.
- Tap Record audio and talk. Use the prompts above if you get stuck. You can jump between topics; that is the point of a brain dump.
- Stop the recording. Retexta transcribes what you said and turns it into notes.
- On the result screen, switch the text type: Structured notes groups your thoughts by topic, Task list pulls out the to-dos, Short summary gives you the gist.
- Read the result and check that every task is really yours and nothing is missing.
For a look back at your day instead of a to-do list, use Journal entry (also under More templates). The app describes it as "Speak about your day and get a personal journal entry."
Take notes and Journal entry are part of Retexta Pro, and copying, sharing or exporting results needs Retexta Pro or credits. The app is free to try: new users get a few free Pro results to view in the app, and everything after them needs Retexta Pro or credits. Retexta processes recordings in the cloud, so think about what you want to say out loud, especially about other people.
Example: from a spoken brain dump to a sorted list
We wrote this example ourselves to show the idea. It is not real app output, and your results will look different.
What you might say:
Okay, everything in my head right now.
The car needs its inspection, I think it's due in October.
I promised Priya I'd send her the photos from the wedding.
Work, the slides for Thursday, still not started.
And I need to ask Tom if he's taking over the supplier call while I'm away.
Mom's birthday is on the twentieth, no idea what to get her.
Maybe a photo book, that could be nice.
The kitchen faucet is dripping again.
Oh, and the idea for the neighborhood swap day, I keep thinking about that, I should write it down somewhere.
And I really need to cancel that streaming thing I never use.
As a task list and notes (Take notes, then Task list):
To do
- [ ] Book the car inspection (check the due date, probably October)
- [ ] Send Priya the wedding photos
- [ ] Start the slides for Thursday
- [ ] Ask Tom to take over the supplier call while you are away
- [ ] Get a present for Mom's birthday on the 20th (idea: photo book)
- [ ] Fix or report the dripping kitchen faucet
- [ ] Cancel the unused streaming subscription
Ideas
- Neighborhood swap day
The voice note jumped from the car to work to family. The list puts every task on its own line and keeps the one idea separate, so you can decide what comes first.
Brain dump journal, notebook or app?
| Paper notebook | Notes app | Voice app (Retexta) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you capture | Writing by hand | Typing | Talking |
| Sorting | By hand, afterwards | By hand, afterwards | Structured notes or task list from the recording |
| Where it works | Anywhere with a pen | Anywhere with your phone | Anywhere you can talk; processing happens in the cloud |
| Cost | A notebook | Usually built in | Free to try; Take notes is part of Retexta Pro |
A notebook is hard to beat if you like writing by hand and want the list on your desk. A voice app helps when you think faster than you write or when your hands are busy.
A tool for getting organized
A brain dump is a way to get your thoughts onto a list. It is not a treatment for anything. If your thoughts feel too heavy to handle on your own, talk to someone you trust or a professional.
Keep reading
When a brain dump turns into a story you want to keep, see how to record your life story by voice. For voice memos you already have, read how to transcribe a voice memo on Android or how to summarize a voice message. More about the app: Retexta, voice to text for Android.
Sources
Checked by FLAME Apps on September 25, 2026.
- Getting Things Done (David Allen Company), Incompletion Trigger List (PDF): "What has your attention?" and the life areas it covers.
- Retexta: names of goals, text types and plans as shown in the app (release 2026.1.23) and on its Google Play listing.
- Prompts, worksheet and example: written by FLAME Apps.
