7 Ways Your Job Could Be More Balanced

balance copyYou’re sitting at your desk with a long list of tasks in front of you. It’s only 10 a.m., but you’re already set up for an un-productive day because all you can focus on is the dishes sitting in the sink at home. Maybe you forgot to make lunch for yourself. Or worse, you forgot to make lunch for your family. We all have to find a work-life balance. But just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Getting some help and cutting down on menial tasks allows you to use your brain and time for more productive endeavors.

Time that isn’t spent benefiting the company is time and money wasted, so many employers actually invest in different ways to keep their employees happy and working hard. Sometimes productivity requires creativity, and these 10 companies took that to heart when developing these awesome policies for employees:

  1. netflix-logoNever thought 9-5 could work for you? Employees at Netflix don’t work a set schedule. They are instead given a list of tasks to complete and their performance is judged based on how well they complete those tasks.
  2. Asana-logo (1)Can you only work standing up or in an office that is totally feng-shui? At Asana employees are given $10,000 to customize their workspace.
  3. evernote_logoI’ve loved Evernote even more when I found out that the company sends a cleaning service to each employees’ home twice a month. Imagine the time you would save if you never had to worry about going home to vacuum!
  4. Facebook_LogoGone are the days where you have to make the choice between working and raising a family. At Facebook, employees are given $3,000 annually to help cover child-care expenses.
  5. airbnb-logoAre you a vegan who loves Tupac in the San Francisco Bay area? Well then pass the Kale Mary! Airbnb provides healthy meals with fun music-themed menus so all employees can eat together!
  6. JibJabLogoForget about separating your darks and lights if you’re employed at Jib-Jab. This fun company does their employees laundry for them!
  7. new-google-logo-knockoffIn addition to the many perks Google offers employees, now friends and families of employees can reap the benefits too. Is your daughter visiting you at work today? Take her to lunch at one of Google‘s 16 in-house cafes, all free to employees and guests.

 

Livescribe3 Pen Digitizes Your Notes In Seconds

livescribe1One of the biggest complaints people have about switching to digital list making is that they really enjoy writing notes down on paper.

I agree completely and that’s why I haven’t totally made the switch myself, I use both. When I take meeting notes on a phone call or in a meeting I usually end up taking a photo of my notes and uploading the photo to Evernote for later use. Then if I misplace my paper notes I know I have a backup that is searchable. There are also some notes just don’t translate to digital well — like if you’re drawing a seating chart or map.

But fear not, now you don’t have to give up your handwritten notes! Some techie geniuses at Livescribe have solved this problem with a pen that transcribes everything you write onto your mobile devices. Sounds like the coolest thing ever, right? Yeah — I thought so too. The company sent me a pen so I could check it out for myself and tell you all about it.

How Does It Work? Read more

6 Things I’m Thankful For In My Life

Thanksgiving2This month, I’m featuring a short list of things I’m thankful for in the List Producer newsletter! I

Things I’m Thankful For:

1. Everyone who follows my blog!
2. My fun and fabulous family
3. My Interns
4. Dark Chocolate
5. YouTube videos of cute puppies
6. Evernote

There’s more where that came from! Sign up for the mailing list or use the form below to receive even more lists and awesome special features.

But also work on your own “Thankful List” — scientists have discovered that giving thanks and being grateful are extremely important to increasing happiness!  Don’t believe me?  Watch this video to see a little experiment to prove it.