Planning for the Right-Brained, Maybe Left-Brained Gal

Hi Cindy,

I know you are very busy and may not have time to help, but I just had to write anyway.

I’ve been listening to your Productivity Seminar / Stuck? Get up and Get Going (Talk-a-Latte Mommy Club set–available soon!)… on organizing, etc. and am really motivated. They are really great!

My main question is: Are you a left brain or right brain thinker? I am totally realizing that I am right brain to the max. I realized that maybe your ideas don’t work for me because you may be left brain? And I don’t want to keep trying something that works better for a left brain thinker, when there may be something better suited for me. Any ideas? I would love to write someday (I always journal and many people have said that I should write a book) and I’d really like to share with others some day, BUT, I can’t get my day organized!

I try your ideas – brain dump, list out my to do’s, etc., but my problem arises when I try to put them into action. I procrastinate because there is so much to choose from. I forget which file or place I wrote my dreams/goals/etc. I may dump on one page and then on a piece of paper, etc.

I make a file in my computer and forget I made it. I write a list of goals and can’t figure out which notebook to put it in, or even which page! Or I don’t want to put it into a small notebook only to have to move it to my main planner. Obviously, as you can tell, I am so right brain that I can’t get organized. I take care of things when they need it and are right in front of me, but that leaves me never getting to the future ideas and goals.

You say you carried a small notebook to dump into. How did you know which page to write the idea on? Do you write everything on the day you thought of it, or do you have sections for each type of thought/goal? How did you remember where you put the idea or to-do?

I’ve read Kamakaze Cleaning, but that only relates to house items. My issues are thoughts/dreams/goals. I’ve tried to Google right brain planning, but couldn’t find anything, so that’s why I’m writing you.

Help! I know you may not have time, but I know there must be others out there who are struggling like I am. I get your ideas, but just can’t seem to move forward because of these issues with how to organize even the brain dump.

Thanks ahead of time for your help.

I so much admire all you’ve accomplished and the help you offer to others.

In His Name,
Terry Covey

Hi!

Thanks so much for your email. I am so sorry for the delay in answering you.

Actually I am both. I test as both. I operate in both constantly.

These ideas work for everyone—Hab. 2: 2-3. Overcoming the struggles in implementing would be easier in understanding the right/left brain differences. Of course, there is something interesting in what you are saying here—some of these limitations actually sound left-brain. 🙂

Planning, especially with brain dumping is a daily discipline that will help both learning styles. It helps the right brain thinker to focus and to be more organized and to get those wonderful ideas out of their brain and into action. It helps the left brain thinker to get moving and feel the success that is needed, as well as, SEE their accomplishment.

One big key is to have ONE NOTEBOOK for this year. ONE SPOT for everything. Keep all of your ideas inside of it. You need to know where to find your ideas. Even if it seems disorderly or too messy, let that go. (again, that sounds like a problem that a person who is left brain would struggle with) If you struggle with this—just tell yourself that THIS is going to help you get organized and to not let yourself quit before you SEE everything in action.

Also, don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed looking at what you see before you—you have to remind yourself that YOU WILL DO IT THIS TIME. Most people find that they have let themselves down so many times that they have to remind themselves that this whole planning process is so THAT ENDS and there is a new beginning that is productive.

Take time to dump your brain. Don’t worry about order. Don’t worry about not finding it. YOU WILL! This is not a one-time thing. It will be a regular discipline. There is something in our brain that really needs to be assured that this is WORTH it, that we will not LOSE this, and that we WILL take action. Decide that now. Make a commitment. It will make a world of difference.

After you brain dump, go back over it. Take a peek at the list of ideas, options, wishes. Pick which ones you will add to your calendar and your life right now. I use POST IT notes so I can be flexible. Don’t get upset if you can’t do EVERYTHING. You have to KNOW that you WILL be coming back to those others—this is effective in getting things done. You will not only get things done, but you will also get things done NOW. You will get moving. You will reach for your dreams—NOW! 🙂

Don’t try to do it PERFECTLY. This notebook is for your brainstorms. It is going to be messy. It is not going to be in perfect order. The important thing is to USE IT. You can set it up however you want—with sections or in order. Whatever works for you!

And, best news—if it does not work well the way you do it now then you can change it at any time. You can use another type of notebook. You can set up sections. You can even use something like an iPad. If what you use doesn’t work for you at any time, you can change it up! That is so nice. I have changed my notebooks mid-year lots of times. It is a super time to get away and see what has been done and what needs to be moved into a new notebook. It also triggers fresh new ideas. I pick the things I am most excited about or that I feel God really moving on my heart to do THEN, and I put those ideas on my calendar and to-do lists.

If my notebook gets packed full, I also get a new notebook and go back over the existing one checking off things that have been done and writing the undone things in my new notebook.

Now, there are SOME things that have been carried over time after time, year-after-year. If it is something that REALLY needs to get done, I take action on it immediately. Your notebook will give you that accountability. You will SEE if you are procrastinating too long. If you see yourself procrastinating, then ATTACK that task or goal.

If it is something that is still not done and not an immediate MUST, I still copy it into the new notebook. Some things just need the right timing. I don’t have to worry that I haven’t done it or that I will forget, I can rest knowing that its time WILL COME (remember Hab. 2: 2-3—the appointed time WILL COME). One good example is just this week—God brought to my heart that it is NOW time for a series (possibly a book—well, eventually a book) entitled DEAR DAUGHTERS. It is a book that I have had on my heart since Elisabeth was 3. I never got the clearance all of these years to dig in and write it. God woke me up a week ago and put that series on my heart. It is perfect now that my daughter has just got married and will be living in South Dakota. It is also perfect to encourage Whitney and those who would love a mom to mentor them. I am soooo excited about it. It is neat to know that ANY idea that goes through my brain can be added to my notebook without fear that I will not get it done EVENTUALLY. I am SO thankful for all of those brainstorms that I have added through the years. And, it is NOW time! I LOVE IT!

So, Terry, pull out that notebook and pour out your ideas. If you need more help or you hit snags, let me know. I will brainstorm and troubleshoot with you. I am SO looking forward to what you accomplish. It is going to be good—well, just look at how the enemy has tried to keep you from moving forward. You can do it! It is going to be easy. Just yoke up with Jesus and take those first steps!

Big hugs!

Love ya!
Cindy