When Your Brain Is a Spring Tornado
A gentle strategy for creative people juggling too many ideas at once
Mar 12, 2026
Some days my brain feels less like a calm lake and more like one of those spring storms that roll across the Midwest.
You know the kind.
The sky goes dark.The wind starts moving sideways.And suddenly the air is full of things that were supposed to stay on the ground. That is my brain this week.
I’m in the middle of narrating a book I already wrote and need to publish.
At the same time, a brand new suspense story popped into my mind last night and insisted I start brain-dumping ideas before it disappears.
It was a late night and I’m currently running on coffee and chaos.
Meanwhile, I’m mapping out an audio-first series set in small-town Appalachia, writing the first short story, and reminding myself that narrators also have to do something called earning money if we want to keep buying groceries. So, I’m throwing a few auditions into the wind as well.
Add in the fact that spring is starting to peek through the trees outside my studio window, and suddenly all I want to do is grab a sketchbook and go sit in the sunshine.
Except there are still chapters to narrate.
And emails to send.
And stories to write.
And drafts to finish.
And ten pounds to lose.
And my ADHD brain is spinning faster than a spring tornado.
Gah!
If you’re a creative person with ADHD, you probably know this feeling.
Your brain is not short on ideas.
Your brain is too full of them.
The Beautiful Chaos of an Idea Brain
People often talk about ADHD like it’s only a deficit.
But the truth is, ADHD brains are often idea generators.
Research into divergent thinking shows that people with ADHD frequently produce more creative possibilities and novel connections than neurotypical peers.
Which sounds wonderful.
Until you’re trying to decide which idea you should actually work on today.
Because suddenly you’re juggling:
• the book you already started• the idea that just arrived• the project that might make money• the thing that feeds your soul• the task that someone is waiting for• the creative experiment calling your name
And your brain says:
“Yes.”
To all of them.
At once.
The Lie of the Perfect Creative Day
When my brain starts spinning like this, I catch myself falling into a familiar trap.
The idea that there is a perfect creative schedule somewhere out there.
One where:
• all my projects move forward• income appears on time• the house stays clean• my art practice happens daily• and I still have energy left to enjoy a beautiful spring afternoon
But real creative lives rarely work like that.
Creative work moves in seasons and waves.
Some weeks are narration weeks.
Some weeks are writing weeks.
Some weeks are marketing weeks.
And some weeks… your brain is simply a tornado of ideas trying to land somewhere.
A Different Way to Look at the Swirl
Instead of fighting the swirl, I’ve been experimenting with something simpler.
I call it The One Thing and the Wild Card.
Each day I choose:
One ThingThe task that genuinely needs to move forward.
And then I leave room for
One Wild CardSomething playful or creative that my brain wants to explore.
Not everything.
Just one.
Today my one thing might be narrating a chapter.
My wild card might be sketching in my art journal for fifteen minutes.
Tomorrow the one thing might be writing a scene.
The wild card might be walking outside and taking photos of spring light.
When I give my brain a small container like this, the tornado calms down.
Not completely.
But enough to move forward.
A Note from Miss Bitsy
(For those new here, Miss Bitsy is the voice of my inner critic. She dresses like a retired school administrator and always has an opinion.)
Miss Bitsy would like to remind everyone that we could simply:
• finish the book• publish it immediately• write three more novels• record an audiobook• start a podcast episode• launch a marketing campaign• and clean the house
all before lunch.
I have gently explained to Miss Bitsy that humans require snacks and sunlight.
She is not fully convinced.
If Your Brain Feels Like Mine Today
If you’re sitting in a swirl of ideas and unfinished projects, I want you to know something.
You’re not broken.
Your brain is doing exactly what creative brains do.
The goal isn’t to stop the storm.
The goal is to build small places where the ideas can land so you can come back to them later.
One task.
One playful moment.
One small step forward.
That’s enough.
I keep a brain dump journal for this. Then seperate notebooks for the books/stories that start to take shape. We won’t discuss how many sketchbooks I have going because I’ve actually lost count.
Into Your Hands
On days when your brain starts buzzing, swirling, and spinning, try one of these small creative resets.
Choose only one so you aren’t so overwhelmed.
Write down every project currently bouncing around your brain. Then circle just one to work on today.
Set a timer for 15 minutes and work on the project that feels most alive right now.
Step outside and take three photos of something that signals spring.
Sketch something simple in a notebook—your coffee mug, a leaf, the view from your window.
Write the opening sentence of a story that has been tapping on your shoulder.
Make a tiny “idea parking lot” list so your brain knows the ideas aren’t lost.
Play instrumental music and tidy your creative space for ten minutes.
Sit quietly and ask yourself:What is the smallest next step?
Write one paragraph about the project you’re most excited about.
Close the laptop and go outside for a short walk.
Creative work is not a race.
Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply choose one direction and begin.
Follow the Spark
Once your brain and body finds a bit more balance to coexist, try one of these prompts. They aren’t meant to be finished pieces or perfect pages. They are simply places to begin.
Choose the one that calls to you:
• Create an abstract page using colors that match how your mind feels today. Fast lines. Soft washes. Scribbles are welcome.
• Draw a tornado made of words. Inside the swirl, write every idea currently circling your brain.
• Make a “parking lot” page in your sketchbook. Write down ideas for future stories, art projects, or creative experiments so your brain knows they are safely stored. (I love this strategy!)
• Sketch the view from your window in the loosest way possible—no erasing allowed.
• Create a collage using scraps, receipts, envelopes, or magazine pages. Let randomness lead.
• Draw your inner critic as a character. (Miss Bitsy would absolutely insist on sensible shoes and a raised eyebrow.)
• Use only one color and see how many marks and textures you can create with it.
• Make a page called “Things I Want to Create Someday.” Fill it with doodles, words, and tiny sketches.
• Step outside and bring back one small natural object—a leaf, feather, or twig. Use it as the starting point for a page.
• Fill a page with circles and turn each one into something unexpected.
Remember:
Creative play is not a distraction from your work.
Very often, it is the fuel that makes the work possible.
Until next time,step outside,notice something beautiful,and let it lead you back to your art.
Jenn
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