Is your head swimming with all kinds of thoughts when you wake? Like that conversation yesterday that didn’t go as you planned - and the meeting you’re not prepared for - and the client who won’t call you back - and that new restaurant you really want to get to - and the list goes on and on and on and on…..

Mind chatter - it slows us down. And some of it seems to replay over and over.

Here’s an idea that works really well for me: Just Dump It!

As soon as you’re awake, and before you start “doing” - - take 5-15 minutes and sit quietly with a notebook or journal. And write. Anything that’s in your head…questions, thoughts, ideas, replays, worries, issues. Just follow your stream of consciousness - wherever it goes. No editing. Voice your anger, or your frustration, or your joy, whatever your feeling and thinking. Just keep writing until you run out of steam.

When you finish, I can almost guarantee that your head will be clearer, you will feel lighter, your thoughts will have slowed, and you may have even come up with a brilliant idea or solution in the process.

I’m not sure why it works so well, but it does - for me and lots of people I know. My personal theory is that your (mind/ego/whatever you call it) is carrying around all this stuff that it wants you to hear, and by writing it down, you show that you’ve heard it. It’s been expressed, and now it can be let go.

The bonus, that I never expected when I began doing this little ritual, is that when I am worrying over some problem, big or little, in writing down my frustration, and simply stating the question, why is this? or what do I do? - - more times than not, as I continue putting my rant on paper — at some point, I write the answer, or the solution.

Yes, it’s weird, but it’s true.

Give it a try - a real try - and see if it doesn’t make the start of your day feel a bit better.