How to Capture Those Random Thoughts
There is a line in the Pearl Jam song “Even Flow” that paints how “thoughts arrive like butterflies”. I was never big on searching for meaning in lyrics, or even quite paying them attention at all, but this one resonates with me.
When I had first heard this song, I was close to ten years away from discovering I had ADHD. Over time, those words seemed to be a more and more perfect fit.
In the middle of the night, out of a dead sleep, or at 3AM in the shower, the butterflies attack. I have a few hours of sleep under my belt and the needed rest has my mind racing ahead of me. It looks over its shoulder at me, imploring me to keep up.
At these times, the clarity of thought is there. The quality and importance of the information is there. It feels like a waterfall of ideas.
I have said elsewhere, knowing when you’re at your best is important to your success. But capturing these thoughts are equally important.
I have experimented with everything from scraps of paper and post-its to various day-planners. But there is another method for getting many ideas onto paper and then discovering how they work together.
A mind map is non-linear thinking at its best. Commonly, it would be a diagram, linking words, ideas, tasks, or other items to and around some central concept or goal. Wow-that’s a mouthful. When they were first described to me, I didn’t get it either.
I was introduced to an online service called MindMeister. This program lets you drop your ideas on a page and then easily move them around and link your thoughts. Think of of it as a data dump for the brain. Get your ideas down as they come to mind, then re-arrange them as you go.
MindMeister Mind Map
MindMeister has a free version of the program which is quite capable by itself. If you are a non-linear thinker, finding yourself thinking in random bursts of information, this may be a great tool for you. Click here to visit the MindMeister site.
What tools do you use to organize your thoughts and plan? Share your ideas using the “Speak Your Mind” section, below.
Excellent article – I think the same way …. will be trying out the MindMeister software and adding your blog to my blogroll – thank you.
Thanks for the comments Rivka. I hope MindMeister works for you as well as it has for me.
I like the poetry of butterflies. I’ve heard the expression, “monkey chatter,” and sadly, that’s what it’s like at 3am…Trade you for your butterflies?
For me it’s like clear blasts of important information – something I have forgotten to do that is important or a crystal clear answer to something that has been troubling me. These thoughts just pop without working on them at the time. Not sure how to help with your monkeys though. Sorry!
Well..im thinking of trying it.Thanks for the twitter add ChrisG. Was diagnosed with ADHD last year, yet my gifted/talented teacher has told me that if we knew what adhd was when I was in first grade, then I could’ve been diagnosed earlier.And about putting thoughts on paper or somewhere-is that all your ‘adhd’ thoughts? Because,I have some pretty odd things pop up sometimes..
Thanks for joining the conversation Adam. I am curious as to what you mean by “odd thoughts”. Not all of my thoughts belong in the “think tank” department. I tend to think in very abstract ways, often with a dark humorous bent.
I’d be happy to here more if you’d like – either here or e-mail me at Chris@adhdhunter.com.
P.S. -Just put you to your Twitter alias. If I’m understanding right, looks like your were in for a time. Huge respect for those who’ve served. Thanks.