Brainstorming is coming up frequently here on All Behind A Smile – and there’s a reason. I have fallen in love with brainstorming.
Whether it looks like scribbling ideas on a napkin or jotting them down in a notebook or even speaking ideas into a recorder, brainstorming has been saving my life lately. Figuratively, of course.
Initially, brainstorming never crossed my radar.
Planning ahead – even a menu – is not really my cup of tea. Well, that’s not precisely true. I love planning for the future and imagining what it may hold. When it comes to more practical things, (like meals) planning falls by the wayside.
Not because I don’t enjoy planning – this girl can sit and talk for hours about the future! – but because there are a million and one other tasks that need doing.
Did I over-explain that enough?
It’s a weakness.
Explaining things in so many different ways it’s time to simply shut my mouth.
So why did brainstorming never cross my radar?
Well, I believed it would take too much time. Time I didn’t have to devote to it. It didn’t seem like it would be beneficial. How could brainstorming possibly help? Most of all, it seemed unnecessary. Just another task to add to an ever growing to-do list.
Boy was I wrong!
Brainstorming has been a major time saver in this busy time of year.
With debates about whether or not to move, getting ready to start a family, my best friend (a teacher) being on summer vacation and a trip coming up, there is a lot going on. It’s absolute chaos!
Thank goodness I spent hours beforehand (spread out over many days) brainstorming ideas. Which brings me to point number one …
Why Loving Brainstorming?
- On busy days (or months!) I only have to choose an idea to write on, rather than having to rack my brain for a topic AND write on it.
- I can plan my content way ahead of time (aiming for a year out, currently) and know what I will be writing on way in advance. Much less stressful than having absolutely no clue!
- Clearing out my head! When I have ideas swimming around it can get pretty overwhelming. This way I can write them all out (I’m a visual person).
- Being able to rearrange ideas in ways that make the most sense. When I write out ideas, I can move them around and make sure they are published in a way that makes sense. If I simply wait until the week the post is due, the ideas might be out of order or posted in a less beneficial way.
- Brainstorming also provides a sense of purpose. While that probably sounds strange, think about it – if you are overwhelmed and confused, you need direction. This kind of goes along with numbers one and two, but brainstorming provides direction. Kind of a “start here” sign to get my brain into “work mode”.
So there you have it…
Five reasons brainstorming has become my bestie – and could easily become yours too, if you let it! Whether you love to plan or just fly by the seat of your pants, start loving brainstorming. Time saving, stress-reducing, overwhelm-fixing, and even guiding, brainstorming has a lot to offer.
P.S. Feeling pumped about loving brainstorming now that I’ve waxed poetic about it? Check out these 7 Methods to Brainstorm More Productively!
Christian, wife, “hybrid” mama, I run the site All Behind A Smile to help others like me.
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