Hi, it’s Neil Cowmeadow here with episode 435 of The Tutor Podcast, the Monday morning shot of uncommon sense for anyone who wants start, grow and love their own tutoring, teaching and coaching business – the same way I love mine.

As usual I’ve been rummaging through the ragbag of my mind and my notebooks, the ones I’ve made during all the courses, seminars, classes, webinars, conferences, field trips, research projects, books, trade press, videos and a ton of other stuff I’ve done over the years… Boiling it down to get at the good bits so I can give them to you in a no-nonsense, No BS kind of way... So I’m squeezing a little more juice out of it for myself, and –at the same time - sharing it with you here in the hope that it helps you have as much fun at work and in life as I do.

And – of course - I’m not just here to talk, I’m listening - so if you have any ideas that might be worth sharing via the show – get in touch info@neilcowmeadow.com or on X where I am @TutorPodcast, and maybe you can help me to learn something new, something better? Because I’m smart enough to realise that I don’t have all the answers, and if I rely on my own tiny, pea-sized brain to solve all of my problems…. Well.....

If you’re good with that, let’s crack on...

This is an idea I’ve used for years, and I highly recommend it to anyone who can’t get away fast enough...

It’s one of those simple, effective routines that makes so much sense, takes very little effort, and makes life significantly better, right off the bat.

It’s a few minutes, last thing at night – and it can remove oceans of stress and anxiety, letting you sleep better and get more epic stuff done.

Here it is:

Open up your diary or organiser – PAPER, please – to the page where you run the week or day. Paper, please - because it will make things more immediate and improve your thinking. Previous ep 426 – exploring how writing longhand with a real pen improves brain function and learning
Empty your brain out onto the page – simple note to yourself of all the things that are whizzing round in your tiny, pea-sized brain.
Don’t sort or judge – just dump everything onto the page
Now go to sleep.

Simple – but powerful... you see, your brain is for thinking with, not for storing large amounts of data. Forcing that data – all the stuff – out onto paper relieves the pressure on the brain to NOT FORGET STUFF. Reducing the load on your brain’s limited resources by externalising cognition (getting it out into a different location) is like cleaning the desktop after a busy day, putting everything where it should go, ready to begin tomorrow with a clear desktop, uncluttered by yesterday’s chaos.

Write down EVERYTHING: jobs and tasks you suddenly remembered, the slides for tomorrow’s lesson or presentation, a reminder to pay the cleaner.... everything.

We’ve all had the experience of turning out the light, snuggling down for a good night’s sleep and then – ooh! Something pops up in your mind – usually minor but important. You now have to decide whether to turn the light on and find something to scribble it down on, or risk that sleep you were just drifting into... or – worst of all – swiping your phone and making a note to yourself on it...

This CLOSEDOWN procedure is common in many high performance environments – including armed forces, intelligence services, spaces agencies and the like.

So if it’s good enough for them....

You can also use your brain dump to set up your most important 1-3 things to do tomorrow - once you’ve finished your dump.

I know a few of you will now be smirking like naughty schoolboys because I said “finished your dump”. You know who you are!

Running this routine every night ensures that less important STUFF slips through the net, and – perhaps more important than that – promotes better sleep whilst giving a feeling of being more in control of your life.

So get started with this one if you want to do better work, forget fewer important things, sleep better and enjoy a more relaxed life with less stress...

And let me know how it works for you via email to info@neilcowmeadow.com

AND if you have any comments, questions or problems, get in touch - again it’s info@neilcowmeadow.com or on X where I am @The Tutor Podcast

Let’s leave it there for today – I hope this show has got you thinking and has been some help to you. Join me – Neil Cowmeadow – for the next episode of The Tutor Podcast for more No-BS tips and ideas of how to Start, Grow and Love YOUR Tutoring Business – just like I love mine.

Till then, remember that Life is largely what you make it, so make it gorgeous. Be excellent to yourself and to those you love - stay healthy, stay useful, and Have a Fabulous Day!