This simple 3-minute habit has helped me write every day for 503 days in a row.
Here's how it works:
For the last 503 days, I've woken up and written for 90 straight minutes.
But I don't wake up, crack open a fresh blank page, and start typing.
If I did, the dreaded blinking cursor on a blank page would crush me.
Overcoming this friction day after day would be impossible.
But I don't wake up, crack open a fresh blank page, and start typing.
If I did, the dreaded blinking cursor on a blank page would crush me.
Overcoming this friction day after day would be impossible.
So here's a secret... My morning writing sessions start the night before.
Every night before I go to bed, I take out a journal, set a 3-minute timer, and do the following 3 steps:
Every night before I go to bed, I take out a journal, set a 3-minute timer, and do the following 3 steps:
• Write down 1 idea that's top of mind to write about
• Brain dump 10 bullet points on that idea without judgement
• Close my journal and go to bed
• Brain dump 10 bullet points on that idea without judgement
• Close my journal and go to bed
Just like that, tomorrow's writing process has begun.
And this nightly brain dump makes the next day's writing effortless for 3 reasons:
And this nightly brain dump makes the next day's writing effortless for 3 reasons:
Brain dumping eliminates friction.
Waking up to a brain-dumped list of bullets means I never stare at a blank page in the morning – which means it's easy to get started.
I can gain momentum quickly, dropping straight into flow.
Waking up to a brain-dumped list of bullets means I never stare at a blank page in the morning – which means it's easy to get started.
I can gain momentum quickly, dropping straight into flow.
Brain dumping allows my subconscious to work overnight.
Maybe it's a bit "woo woo," but I always wake up with a better grasp of the idea I went to bed thinking about.
My brain makes connections overnight, leading to unique insights I never would have thought of while awake.
Maybe it's a bit "woo woo," but I always wake up with a better grasp of the idea I went to bed thinking about.
My brain makes connections overnight, leading to unique insights I never would have thought of while awake.
Brain dumping clears my head before bed.
Often times, I'll brain dump on more than just the idea I want to write about the next day.
I take anything that's on my mind and dump it onto the page – which leads to relaxed & restful sleep.
Often times, I'll brain dump on more than just the idea I want to write about the next day.
I take anything that's on my mind and dump it onto the page – which leads to relaxed & restful sleep.
Boom – that's it.
Brain dumping is the simple 3-minute habit I do every night before bed that makes writing the next day effortless.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes for you!
Brain dumping is the simple 3-minute habit I do every night before bed that makes writing the next day effortless.
Give it a try and let me know how it goes for you!
If you want to give this a try tomorrow, jump back to the top and retweet it & come back to it later.
Then, follow me @dickiebush for more short, tactical writing threads like this:
Then, follow me @dickiebush for more short, tactical writing threads like this:
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And if you're looking for more ways to generate writing ideas:
Use this thread to come up with 100+ ideas in 30 minutes or less (even if you think you have nothing to say):
Use this thread to come up with 100+ ideas in 30 minutes or less (even if you think you have nothing to say):
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And now that you're overflowing with ideas, here's a free, 13,000-word Ultimate Guide to help you start writing online:
Startwritingonline.com
Startwritingonline.com
I love that this thread got such a positive response, because before posting, I thought to myself "I don't think people will find this very useful, should I even post it?"
As always, writing is 95% getting comfortable sharing ideas that are obvious to you, but amazing to others.
As always, writing is 95% getting comfortable sharing ideas that are obvious to you, but amazing to others.
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