Brain Dump Planner

Author

Yahya Nazer

Introduction

A brain dump is a technique used to transfer all the ideas, thoughts, and information in your head onto another medium, such as paper or a digital document. The primary purpose is to clear your mind, organize thoughts, and help with memory and concentration. It’s often used as a productivity tool or a stress-relief mechanism. During a brain dump, you write down everything on your mind without filtering or organizing your thoughts. This can include tasks, worries, ideas, or any random thoughts. Afterward, you can sort through the information, prioritize tasks, and plan accordingly. This process can help reduce anxiety, improve focus, and facilitate better planning and problem-solving. It’s a simple yet effective way to manage mental overload and enhance productivity.

How to Install

Please do the following steps

  1. Save the Brain-Dump-for-Excel.ZIP file in your computer system
  2. Unzip the folder
  3. Review the following files in the Brain-Dump-for-Excel folder
File Name Description
1 Brain-Dump-for-Excel Excel Program
2 Documentation Step by step on how to use the program
3 Video Step by step on how to use the program

How to use the Program

Open the Excel program then select worksheet {ToDo} and do the following steps:

1. Check Excel Macro

  • Click Button [1] check macro

if you get a message that Excel Macro is disabled, then Select worksheet {Fix-Macro} and follow its instructions and then save the workbook, and repeat.

Step 1- Check Excel Macro

2. Remove Planner Sheets

This will remove all notes and planner sheets - Click Button [2] Remove All Planner Sheets

Step 2 - Remove all Planner Sheets

3. Generate Planner Sheets

First, Enter the following data

  • Start Date: The First day of the planner (Usually set to a Monday)
  • Number of sheets: The number of planner sheets you want to generate like 30 or 180
  • Days in Between: The days between Planner sheets ( 1 for daily, 7 for Weekly)
  • Add Note Sheets: Add a note sheet for each Planner

The program will generate two types of sheets

  • Planner: The Brain Dump Planner

    Planner Sheet

  • Note: A notes placeholder

    Note Sheet

Click [3] Generate Planner Sheets

This will generate Planner sheets in this workbook

Step 3 - Generate Planner[4] Save sheets as a workbook

This will save all Planner sheets as an Excel worksheet

4. Export the Planner Sheets

Please review the following

  • Workbook Name: The file name to save data
  • Saved File Name: The program will add the current date to the Workbook Name
  • Save Path File Name: the Path and File name (Path is the same as the path of the program file)

Click [3] Save sheets as a Workbook

This will generate a workbook with the following sheets:

  • TOC: Table of contents
  • Summary
  • Jan-Jun: Six months calendar
  • Jul-Dec: Six months calendar
  • All Planner Sheets
  • All Notes Sheets if option selected

How to Use the Planner

The Brain Dump Planner utilization is divided into four parts:

1. ACT: Dump your brain ideas

  • in the Work brain dump section write all activities you want to accomplish

  • use column B for Major Task

  • Use column C for part of the tasks

  • in the Exercise Brain Dump section write all the activities you want to accomplish

  • use column B for Major Task

  • Use column C for part of the task

  • in the Family Brain Dump section write all the activities you want to accomplish

  • use column B for Major Task

  • Use column C for part of the tasks

2. Plan; Tell yourself self “I intend to accomplish these tasks”

  • select ONLY 3 tasks from the panel below and write them

3. Do: Allocate time for these three Tasks

  • Rows are HOURS

  • Columns are 0: to 30: minutes and 30: to 60:

4. Check: End of the day, review and fill the status column with

  • C: Completed
  • F: Forwarded to next day
  • D: Deleted
  • I: In progress