If your brain is foggy you can't really function. Your thoughts are jumping between things and you can't really focus. I want to share one technique with you that makes me feel better, calmer and way more effective
That technique is writing freehand. Just, writing whatever comes into your head uninhibitedly.
The idea originates from a book - The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. In this she advocates writing morning pages. This is 3 pages of A4, or 750 words, every morning before you start any work. In this, she says just write. Write write write. Don't worry if you make spelling errors. If things don't make sense.
Even if you feel blocked, just reach into that block and keep writing. Don't pause. Don't get distracted just write.
This idea was developed by a website - 750words.com There, it gives you a blank page and a word counter. And it's your job to fill those pages. The alternative is to get a A4 notebook and write out longhand. Or you can do what I do, and open Notepad and simply write there.
Why it works
The reason this works is that most of the time we have all this brain clutter.
What will I eat tonight? Was it awkward with my boss yesterday? I'm dreading seeing my parents at the weekend. I want to make money on Steemit, but I'm frustrated I never get many upvotes. What shall I do with the rest of my life?
Blah blah blah.
But this stuff is rattling around in our heads all the time. And by just writing you can clear things out. You can write down half-formed theories and ideas. You can go on random tangents, talk private stuff. It's a daily brain dump that stops you from getting overloaded or stuck.
You can write about feelings, you can process things. It's a bit like being your own therapist and giving yourself time and space to breathe.
You mustn't share this stuff with anybody. If there's any inkling that someone else will see what you write, you'll write differently. You'll worry. You'll be inhibited. So keep this private.
You simply write. The first thing that comes into your head. Silly sausages. Girls smell. Floppy whale willies. How do I feel? What am I angry about? Just write write write.
Post-writing clarity
After writing, you are fresh. Your ideas are flowing. You aren't constipated by all those thoughts you have to usually filter out. You've given your subconscious the time and attention it needs to communicate through you to you.
And then you can flow. You can write something else, something new, something interesting with much more purpose. You can write like a sharp knife. You can give somebody your full attention. You're incisive. You can focus on what matters. You can trim the fat of what's unessential.
Ultimately it gets you on good terms with your own being, your own mind and your own subconscious. Those little whispers of your soul will emerge during this daily writing habit. And you'll run with those ideas to be who you are meant to be.
Now, open up Notepad, or Word. Then write 750 words. Now. On the first thing that comes into your head. Now. Do it. Don't wait. Just do it.
I did this when I was reading Artist's Way. The 3 long hand pages worked well for me. My guess is that it wouldn't have been 750 words. I think one of the pieces of its magic is that it's getting you to write daily, and it's allowing you to by giving you permission to suck. So many of us kill our writing before it even hits a page because we're already imagining how judged it will be. Free the words!! (And the floppy whale willies, of course!)
I am actually using the same idea in video-blogging, just pushing the "RECORD" button and speaking 10 minutes to my smartphone's selfie-camera everyday. I found that there's no better decision in practises like this and freewriting than to actually start right now and repeat every day, it's a great training habbit for the mind and for the spirit. So many benefits one can have dedicating just as long as 10-20 minutes a day to an easy mindless practice.
Good idea. Although many people don't take time for themselves like this, especially after a long day at work and all the social media where they are bombarded with so many information. Worth trying though.
It should be every day to try something new ! This is a success
Ah, the 750 Word exercise! As they say, practice makes perfect, and that is none so true for writing.
That said, I will say that it's possible to get burned out. So, make sure you take a break. You don't have to do it religiously. Don't do it if you really don't feel like writing - it's time for a break.
It really works !
This would be an interesting idea for a new topic/tag!
I will try to do that, i just have 2 problems, my English is not so good and sometimes its hard for me to represent my thoughts in right shape, i think i'm just not confident in myself, but if i dont start and try it, then nothing will change and i will not improve my skills... thank u for ur post, i hope this method will help me.
As @alexc said, you can write in your own language. Nevertheless you don't share it with others. This way you can be free in whatever you are creating. I bet you will improve eventually.
thank u! i will try
You can always write in your native language
Very Interesting!
Hey, thats what I'm saying all the time. Writing should be a daily habit. I have now a name for my daily essays. I call them steemit posts. :-D
Excellent advice! Indeed in my head a lot of unnecessary things. Thank you