Organizing By Brain Type--Do What Works for You

Are you a minimalist or a hoarder? Do you like to keep your things in neat little piles or abide by the rules....A place for everything?

Just as our dominant brain type guides our thinking patterns, it also indicates how we like to organize. There really is no wrong way to manage your stuff; it only feels wrong if you follow advice that goes against your natural style.

This week let's take a look at the four major organizing styles as listed in Lanna Nakone's book, Organizing For Your Brain Type. They are Innovating Style---Front right brain dominance, Harmonizing Style, back right brain dominance, Maintaining Style, left back brain dominance, and Prioritizing Style, front left brain dominance.

Each style will approach organization from their dominant need.

Innovating---you need variety and novelty. Paying attention to details or adhering to the traditional rules of organization will not work for you. The greatest challenge is sticking with things as you tend to become distracted. When organizing:

• Keep it simple
• Use colorful storage containers
• Pace yourself and do a little bit at a time.
• Make it easy and fun
• You need to see things right in front of you.
• Since you tend to stack papers, have one container for all paper
• From time to time, clear away clutter and renew your energy.

 Harmonizing--you need soothing and pleasant environments. You tend to make decisions based upon your feelings so parting with sentimental items can be stressful.

• Sort your closets by color
• Keep momentos in decorative boxes
• Limit magazine subscriptions
• Use vertical rather than lateral filing cabinets
• Deal with paper as you receive it
• Display sentimental items in prominent places
• Digitize your photo albums and share with other family members

Maintaining---you need order and stability. Yours is the most naturally organized brain type. Organize your belongings and keep an inventory in a notebook or in a computer file.

• Keep checklists---you will feel so accomplished
• Once you start a project, you prefer not to be interrupted---Make a Do Not Disturb sign.
• Schedule regular space maintenance---seasonal cleaning
• Be flexible with others of different brain types who share your space.
• Follow your brain type's motto: Eliminate, Organize, Containerize and Strategize
• Before you start to organize, lay out a plan for your space.
• Label makers were made for you.

 Prioritizing---You like to delegate rather than do the work yourself. You work best with concrete goals and a sense of competition. 

• Hire a professional organizer
• Schedule relaxation time
• Write down your goals
• Minimize your need for storage
• Maintain a calendar and schedule. Use a daily planner
• Organize your closets by use---professional clothes, workout clothes, and clothes to hang out in.
• Keep track of important information digitally.

It is important to know what style you prefer, especially if you share space with a significant other. Even in the workplace, there can be conflicts over "getting organized".
Once we know what style works for us, and we take the time to understand the preferred types of others we live and work with, we can make the best use of our time and space.

If you would like to know more about your own personal brain type and receive an individualized report, check out my website  

Brain Boost---Ready to really let go of some stuff?--Check out the Minimalists.
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