Cognitive Restructuring
Change Your Brain

What is it?

Cognitive restructuring is basically your conscious effort to take back control of your thoughts. It can be used to change the way you think and turn negativity into positive thinking.

Do you need it?

Let me ask you a question: When it comes to organization is your glass half full or half empty?

If you set a specific goal for the day, work diligently toward achieving your goal and, at the end of the day, realize that you have gotten halfway to completing your goal, have you failed because you haven't achieved your goal or do you celebrate the fact that you have gotten halfway to success?

If, at the end of the day, you feel you have failed because you have not completed all of the tasks you set out to, you need cognitive restructuring.

Learn how to organize your thoughts.

The easiest way to organize your thoughts is to keep a note pad with you at all times. Every time you think of a task you want to remember to do, write it down. Once the thought is down on paper you won't have to worry about forgetting it. You will be able to keep a clear mind, allowing new thoughts to enter.

You can also use your note pad to organize your goals in life. Once you have broken down your goals into small, achievable steps, add those task to your to-do list.

At the end of every day, take a few minutes to review your list and prioritize the items for the next day. This is a great way to keep track of what you want to accomplish and ensure you stay on the road to success.

If you want to get a little more in depth and really learn how to open your mind, mind mapping is a great way to organize your thoughts.

Mind maps are visual like visual aides for mapping your thoughts, linking and prioritizing them and helping you focus on what is important.

This book is a great resource.

Celebrate Small Successes

Each morning, check your to-do list and create a daily plan based on the tasks you have listed. Throughout the day, keep your to-do list in mind and make an effort to stay on track and accomplish your goals.

Keep in mind that your to-do list is meant as a guide, not a mandatory chore list. It is okay not to accomplish everything on the list.

As you complete items from your to-do list, check them off the list. At the end of the day take a few minutes to celebrate all of those successes. Give yourself a pat on the back for all that you accomplished.

Keep up that positive thinking and feel good about your organized life.