Do you like having the paperwork on your desk in piles surrounding you?  Do you like to store your papers horizontally instead of vertically?  Or...are steel file cabinets and labeled file folders more your desire?
 
If you can quickly identify yourself in one of these two scenarios then you are on the path to identifying whether you have a left-brained or right-brained style of paper management. 
 
Why is that important? 
 
You may have heard information about this topic in the past,  but are you aware of how it impacts your daily life?  It is may be the basis for your chosen profession and it may explain the choice of some of your personal interests, but it definitely plays a role in how you organize and handle your paperflow.
 
Left-brained individuals are usually analytical and methodical in their approach to things and situations.  They are frequently defined as someone who is orderly and punctual and likes putting things away in folders in a file cabinet. Language resides in the left hemisphere of the brain, so left-brainers usually like clear labels on their file folders and they like the folders to be stored vertically …preferably in their file cabinet.  They are generally upset by a great deal of clutter on top of the desk. However, this does not necessarily mean they have a system or are more organized...they may simply be more orderly in their appearance when it relates to their paper storage.
 
Right –brainers are usually described as very creative, inventive and nurturing and their approach to organization and the type of system that supports them is a little different.  They usually like the use of color to distinguish the various projects and like to have their files and papers stored horizontally….in sorters, bins or baskets.  It is important for them to feel that their work environment is a comfortable and happy place, so there are many personal items throughout their office…pictures, trinkets from vacations, wall hangings, etc. .   
 
When it comes to getting more organized, there are 3 things to remember.  You need to 1)set up a system, 2)practice the process and 3) manage your behavior.  The need to ‘set up a system’ which supports your natural style is important because if you don’t identify and honor your style, it can continually feel like you are trying to put a square peg into a round hole.  Not only does your personal performance and productivity suffer, but your stress level increases when the corresponding workload increases.
 
So what do you think?  Left or right? 
 
(c) Cynthia Kyriazis 1996