Creativity: Redeeming the Left Brain

I’ve been reading about how our brain works via two hemispheres. We have a left brain and a right brain.  The left brain is used for logic, reasoning, motor skills and typically concrete processes.  The right brain is used for abstract thought, spirituality, randomness, instinct, intuition, and things less logical.  I’m not a neurologist or a psychologist by any means, but I’m a human with a brain. If you’re reading this, hopefully you are too.

There have been miles of ink written about creativity and I am not going to attempt to top any of the great authors who have exhausted the subject. I just want to share a quick point of view that might help you use both of your hemispheres.  Creatives have a terrible time with organization because they usually think with their right brain while their left brain is taking a power nap. Accountants are not usually considered to be creatives because they deal with routine processes and calculations. There is no room for abstract thought in accounting, unless you’re a criminal of course. Creatives tend to shun those who have more concrete or by-the-book approaches and solutions to problems.  However, non-creatives cannot fathom taking a paint brush and spilling, splattering, globbing, and stroking paint on a canvas randomly until a masterpiece comes to life.  We all are different, and that’s not a bad thing. I do think these polar opposite thinkers can learn from each other.

A creative can be more creative if they use both sides of their brain. I find it amazing that a good percentage of creatives I’ve talked to never have developed a work flow or a concrete routine to help them accomplish redundant tasks. Many freelancers struggle to maintain a system of time or expense tracking. These are all left brain activities. You probably hate them as much as I do but, they are important. When a creative shuns left-brain tasks, I propose it stifles right-brain awesomeness.

Left brain tasks are vital in that they provide us the security and freedom to perform right-brain tasks. Take a look at these simple scenarios that prove left-brain tasks are important.

• Paying bills are left-brain tasks that if ignored, hinder creativity because you won’t have the internet, lights, or a place to express yourself when your electricity is shut off, and you are evicted from your house.
• Failure to properly plan out your day and have an organized calendar results in loss of valuable time and the consequences of procrastination.
• Abstract note taking without any form of organization is a waste of time trying to find important information. This lack of left-brain organization can cause data loss and frustration.
• Not having an organized to do list gives you a foggy view of what projects/tasks should be priority.
• Keeping creative thoughts swirling in your brain for extended periods of time without writing them down can cause stress in your body. I’ve experienced much sleep loss because I did not download my thoughts to paper – a left-brain task. Your brain will work overtime to recall important information over and over so you won’t forget it. Pen and paper can bring your brain the peace it needs to rest.
• The absence of a well-thought-out work flow during redudent tasks can cost you hours of work.

I think you get the point. I am learning every day about the importance of paying attention to and completing left-brain tasks. The left-brain is not the enemy of creativity, it’s the catalyst to awesomeness. If creatives would take a few minutes every day to devote to developing their left-brain skills and creating processes for creative tasks, their efficiency and effectiveness would skyrocket. I think that mundane is the gateway to greater creativity. The more you organize your life, the less you worry. The more you are intentional about your schedule, the more time you have for expression. The more efficient you become, the happier your clients, your boss and your family will become. Left-brain tasks are the foundation for right-brain building blocks. Left-brain tasks are the easel for expression. Left-brain tasks are not so bad after all.

Here are a few practical left-brain actions you can take to enhance your creativity:

• Place a notepad by your bedside and download all your thoughts, appointments, tasks raging in your head every evening.
• Find a calendar that fits your needs. Some people prefer digital while others prefer paper.
• Research the latest work flow technologies and tips for your area of creativity. Start small by implementing one or two at a time.
• Organize your finances and give yourself peace-of-mind.
  • Define a specific place where you will always place your bills, receipts, etc…
  • Create a filing system for past financial papers.
  • Take time to track your daily expenses and record them.
• Read books. Books are different than blogs in that they have a beginning and an ending. Typically there is a logical progression that appeals to and flexes the left-brain. Blogs, social status updates and news sites are random abstract data in the vacuum of the internet that are typically processed through the right brain.
• Analyze when and why you procrastinate and take steps to correct this.
• Strive for discipline in every area of your life.