What's the brain got to do with it?
In the study of the human brain and nervous system, it was found that three major systems have a significant influence on people’s behavior. These systems, the neocortex, the limbic system and the reticular activating system, have a lot to do with getting and staying organized.
In its simplest form, the neocortex is the thinking part of the brain, the limbic system is the feeling part of the brain, and the reticular activating system is the “toggle switch” that turns on the neocortex and shuts off the limbic system or vice versa. When someone is in a state of heightened emotions, the thinking part of their brain shuts off and the feeling part of their brain is activated. They re-engage (turn on) the thinking part of their brain by calming down and relaxing.
So what does all this have to do with being more focused, organized and productive?
- Under pressure, people act without thinking (limbic system on, neocortex off)
- They can turn the thinking part of their brain back on by relaxing
- If the feeling part of their brain is in control of their behavior, they default to their habits (good or bad)
- If they are going to insist on operating under pressure, they must learn good habits
- If they have good habits, it doesn’t matter as much which brain system is in control
- The feeling part of their brain always lags behind the thinking part of their brain (they can understand something intellectually, but it won’t feel right until they keep doing it for a while)
- Something that feels right may be bad for them (it’s a habit that feels normal)
- Something that feels wrong may be good for them (it’s not a habit yet)
The GO System doesn’t go into details of the neocortex, limbic system or reticular activating system, and using the GO System successfully doesn’t require an understanding of the brain. However, the ideas presented in the GO System are basically designed to do one of two things:
1. Flip the switch on that activates the thinking brain, or
2. Install good organizing habits in the nervous system for the times we must operate under pressure.
These ideas will work if people do one simple thing…try the ideas long enough to get the feeling part of their brain to accept them.
What does the kitchen have to do with getting and staying organized?
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