Alongside brain dumping, keeping a meaning tracker can prove to be a powerful mental health tool.

According to research conducted by University College London, people who had higher meaning in their lives were less likely to develop depression, chronic disease and obesity, as well as showing more positive heath behaviours such as eating well and exercising regularly.

“I strongly believe (supported by research) that finding a sense of meaning in life is a fundamental and significant source of wellbeing,” Eloise Skinner, an author and psychotherapist specialising in existential therapy tells Stylist. “Create a personal practice of looking for meaning and purpose in everyday life. This can be done through a simple exercise called the ‘meaning tracker’: essentially a journaling exercise that enables you to observe and reflect on sources of meaning in your life.”

If you’re not sure where to start, Skinner recommends simply taking a sheet of paper and writing the following headings: People, Places, Objects, Experiences and Hopes.
“Under each category, write as much as you can (taking as much time as you need or whatever time you have available),” she says. “Write down everything that comes to mind, as quickly or as slowly as you like, and feel free to write in any format: drawings, bullet points, diagrams… whatever works best.”

You can then look for any patterns that emerge, and go back to your tracker, amending it over time.

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