In living color
I’m a visual learner. It took me over 40 years to put a name to it, but there it is. To process something I need to see it, even if I picture it in my head.
Don’t tell me, show me.
So when I found myself with lots of projects bouncing around in my head the calendar wasn’t cutting it. Lists and spiral books and notes on napkins were starting to annoy me. I was writing everything down but it was all moderately discombobulated.
In the least likely of places – the grocery store – I saw it. A white board. Not big, not small, rimmed in pink it was perfect. I also purchased markers in various colors. I would not only be organized, I would be color-coordinated. Things would change. I would not have to try to remember anything – it would all be there for me to see.
I can scan the board and play the “pick a project” game. Or I can sit down at my desk with something specific in my mind, get it done and also get the satisfaction of wiping it off the board when I done, or adding a writers necessary words, “Follow up.”
It has also helped in showing me not how overwhelmed I am, but how fortunate I am to be busy doing things I enjoy. I also am enjoying not having to try to remember everything on my own — and the colors — they make me happy.
The blog section of the white board? It’s pink!
How do you organize work, fun, kids, writing — whatever? If it fills up your time and your head, how do you keep track of it?
I have mind maps, Super Notecard, and Remember the Milk, which is piped into the sidebar of all my gmail accounts. And One Note. Between all that, it gets out of my head an on screen somehow!
Spy, you’re so techie! I like old-fashioned calendars and the white board is really working for me. I guess if I could chisel my notes into the side of a cave that would probably work too!
I love that idea! I think I’ll add that to my list of dream things for my office wherever we live next. I could never do all the tech-stuff like Spy. I’d forget to check it!
I love it! And pink? One of my girlie-girl favorite colors. I tend to clog up my already discombobulated brain (did I just use that word in a sentence?), although I do have a beautiful notebook I bought at the airport in Cancun on our way home from our anniversary trip in June that I’ve been using for my novel. (Can you say run-on sentence?) I like to be organized and I hate clutter. Good for you, girlfriend. Life is too short to drive yourself crazy. White boards and yoga – the keys to sanity.
Queen of clutter and snippets of paper here. It helps to have different colored sticky notes in prominent places. Yep, I’m a visual learner too. Do NOT show me a manual or directions…just show me once, or let me play around with it.
I’m a visual learning as well, and totally with Angie on the “clutter and snippets of paper” thing. Right now I mainly use Tadalists.com to sort out my mental madness, but the white board idea sounds appealing as well. Thanks for the tip!
I am a visual learner and a tactile one–the act of writing something down helps me remember—but I need to brain dump in one place. I now carry a notebook with me everywhere–and I keep a table of contents–thanks to great ideas from Carolyn at http://www.jugglingfrogs.com
Funny I came across this. My husband was trying to teach me how to do something (use our sons’ Matchbox racetrack if you must know…I am clueless about such things). He kept talking through the steps instead of showing me. I finally told him that I’m a visual learner and must *see* what to do versus just hear about it. And voila, I can work the track. Also, I the whiteboard in my office. I am uber organized and anal so I like to use colored post it notes to stay on top of projects. And hey, anything to make you happy!
PS
I wrote the deal breaker list on Deep South Moms. I’ll be following up with an extensive deal maker list. Stay tuned!
i’m definitely a list-maker. If I don’t have a physical on paper to-do list, I can’t even start my day. Even if I know intellectually what I’m supposed to get done. It’s too jumbled until it’s on paper.
And I may be somewhat visual as well, unless I’m really really paying attention I don’t learn by hearing. It’s part of why I can’t really listen to audio books. My mind will trail off and I’ve lost the plot of the story.
lists baby, lists and more lists. I’ll have a list in the morning and love nothing more than the feeling of crossing off stuff. I too am very visual in that way. If you tell me, you’ll lose me in a minute.Show me and you got me for as long as you need me