Drawing a Blank? My Secret for Good Clinical Thinking

Happy Friday, everyone! Check out the video below for more on this week’s topic. Today, I want to share a simple tip to help BCBAs overcome that dreaded writer's block and spark creativity in their practice.

I often hear from fellow BCBAs, clinicians, and educators that they sometimes hit a wall when trying to develop treatment plans or behavior goals. They have all the necessary data and assessments, yet when they sit down to draft their plans, they feel stuck. It's like their brains refuse to cooperate, leaving them staring blankly at their computer screens or, if they're working with a client, feeling unsure about what to do next.

So, what's the solution?

Surprisingly, it involves stepping away from the computer. I know, it sounds counterintuitive, especially coming from a guy who built an online platform to help BCBAs come up with goal ideas.

Our brains are bombarded with stimuli when we sit in front of our computers—emails, text messages, chat notifications, the list goes on. It's overwhelming and counterproductive. Despite the computer's potential to enhance productivity, it often ends up overwhelming us instead.

You may have heard me talk about how I encourage you to check your email two or three times a day—no more than that. And this week’s tip is in line with this logic.

Instead of succumbing to digital distractions, I encourage BCBAs to embrace analog solutions. When you’re trying to come up with that behavior plan or treatment plan, go old school! Once your assessments and data have been analyzed and it becomes time to put it all together, close your computer and take a blank piece of paper—yes, actual paper—and start jotting down what your thinking, ideas, and strategies. Find a quiet space where you can focus, free from the endless barrage of digital noise. Do a major brain dump.

Why does this method work? Because it allows you to concentrate on one thing at a time. Without the constant ping of incoming emails or the temptation to check those tabs that are open, you can give your undivided attention to the task at hand.

I challenge BCBAs to spend at least 15 minutes a day solving the toughest problem they have with nothing more than a blank sheet of paper, away from their computers.

It's amazing how much clarity you can gain when you quiet the digital chaos and give your brain that space to think freely.

In a world dominated by screens and notifications, it's easy to forget the power of doing one thing with all of our attention. BCBAs are knowledge workers, we get paid to think of solutions and come up with programming ideas. We honestly can do our best work with a blank slate in front of us, and the space to allow these ideas to surface.

So, the next time you find yourself staring confoundedly at your computer screen, remember this tip, close your computer and get that paper. You’ll be shocked at what a big difference this makes.

Reach out to me with your feedback. I love hearing from BCBAs! Have you tried this before? If so, what did you find? I encourage you to share this post with a colleague! Furthermore, I want to give an update on BxMastery.com, we’re excited to be adding more daily tasks/day-to-day skills. We have over 4,000 skills now, all sequenced. This is a great resource for BCBAs and is constantly growing.

Martin Myers is a BCBA with a passion for helping improve the field of ABA. With 10+ years of experience in the field, he’s dedicated to empowering others and fostering positive change through effective leadership and communication. Connect with Martin on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more insights and updates.