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If you’ve been working remotely because of the pandemic, by now you’ve probably got some of the basics down — where in your home you work, what your hours are, and what you wear. (Although I have my opinions about the Zoom shirt…)
https://listproducer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/road-1030789_1920.jpg12711920Paula Rizzohttps://listproducer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ListproducerLogo.pngPaula Rizzo2020-08-20 23:43:202020-11-10 15:32:21Checklist to Take Your Remote Office on the Go
BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? Click hereto get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.
Do you feel overwhelmed by all the “helpful” content all over social media and the internet? I know I do. Everyone is sharing information on the positive things we can do during quarantine.
From baking bread to learning new yoga routines, it seems like tips for being more productive and learning new skills are everywhere you look.
Lots of people are feeling the urge to use this time to do something new and productive. But sometimes it just feels like there’s too many options. The pressure of all those things to do can be really stressful!
And you definitely don’t need more stress in your life — especially not during a pandemic. From adjusting to working from home to figuring out how to maintain healthy relationships with roommates or family members, everyone is figuring out how to stay sane and productive.
That’s why it’s especially important to be mindful about what kinds of content you’re engaging with right now.
Make a list of the things you wanted to do before quarantine.
If all this content is causing you stress, think about whether you’d have wanted to try these hobbies and tips before lockdown. If the answer is no, try to remember what you always wished you had time to do. Give yourself some a few minutes to brainstorm, and then see which of those goals is still viable with the restrictions of the pandemic. From there, you can decide which couple of things you want to try first. This isn’t just something that will help you during this time of crisis — it’ll be crucial as you design your post-pandemic life.
Find themes.
Once you have a list of things you’d like to try, think about what themes show up. Are multiple items on your list related to getting involved in your community? Do you want to work on mindfulness? Are you hoping to be a more adventurous cook? Identifying these categories is a helpful trick for seeing which pandemic trends actually align with your existing interests.
This is something I talk about in Listful Living. If you’re feeling overextended or burned out, it’s time to start thinking about which commitments and activities fit with your priorities. And what was a priority pre-pandemic might not be anymore.
Cut down on screen time.
If you’re in the habit of spending your free time scrolling through social media, you’re probably seeing all kinds of ideas on how to introduce more positivity and productivity into your quarantine routine. All those options might make you feel pretty anxious.
If this sounds like you, maybe it’s time to cap your screen time. When you find yourself mindlessly reaching for your phone, think about whether you’d feel better using the time to work on one of the projects you’ve already written down. Seeing lots of new ideas can distract you from what you already know you want to do. If you need help thinking of ideas, give yourself a set amount of time to search the internet for inspiration.
Keep track of the content you connect with.
Lots of the positive content that’s out there can be helpful — but only if you have a way to interact with it that doesn’t cause more stress. If you do see something online that you think sounds interesting, keep a list of ideas. That way, you can keep track of things without feeling like you need to do it all right now. Maybe you saw a productivity hack that would make sense for you in a few weeks. Maybe a friend told you about a yoga routine she loves, but you’re just not feeling up to it right now.
Whether it’s a notebook or an app, keeping a running brainstorming list of all the best tips and ideas you come across will help you unload and focus on what you want to be doing right now. It’s key to think about what you need in your life today, not a week from now. If there’s an idea you love but aren’t ready to try, put it on hold until it makes sense for you and your life.
Everyone is experiencing the pandemic differently, so what’s helpful for other people right now might not fit with your needs. Acknowledging this will help you prioritize the things that do fit.
By spending less mindless time online and creating a system for keeping track of the interesting tips and new hobbies you come across, you can start taking control of your time.
Do you have any tips for prioritizing your goals during lockdown? I’d love to hear about them in the comments.
BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? Click hereto get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.
https://listproducer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/checklist-2589418_1920.jpg12771920Paula Rizzohttps://listproducer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ListproducerLogo.pngPaula Rizzo2020-04-30 21:22:572020-04-30 21:45:36Four Ways to Focus on Your Goals During Lockdown
BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? Click here to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.
As you know, I’m all about lists. I’ve tested lots of list-making apps — there are thousands on the App Store! I used to always suggest Wunderlist, but it’s shutting down on May 6. Here’s three alternatives that I recommend:
Clear is a beautiful app — I love looking at it. The simplicity of the design helps me stay focused. You use gestures (pulling down, pinching, and swiping with your fingers) to add and manage tasks. Each task can only be 30 characters, which means you have to write exactly what you need to do and nothing else. If you have complex things to do that require longer explanations, this might not work for you, but it’s great for unloading your mind and keeping track of straightforward tasks. I also like how the tasks are color-coded according to urgency.
Todoist is great if you’re looking for a straightforward, well-designed task manager app. There’s lots of features I like in this app, including the option to connect with your other apps and devices, like Google Calendar, Dropbox, and Amazon Alexa.
You can schedule recurring tasks or use “quick add” to pop something on your list. Todoist also has a business version so that your team can assign tasks, communicate with each other, and share files all in one place. It’s a nice mix between a complex task management system and a simple list-making app, since it has lots of features but it’s also easy to use and you can use as many (or as few) extra features as you need. Plus, you can also import data from Wunderlist into Todoist.
The basic app is free, and the business and premium versions cost $29 per year per person.
Zenkit To Do is probably the most complex of the three apps. It’s still intuitive to use, but it has the most options and add-ons, making it great for people who need to manage lots of complex tasks. You can share lists with other uses, assign and add due dates, and leave comments. There are also “quick add” and recurring task features. I especially like the offline feature, which lets you keep working when you’re not connected to the internet. You can easily import all your due dates, tasks, and lists from Wunderlist to Zenkit To Do — you can learn how to switch here.
The personal version is free. The version that allows multiple users to collaborate is $4 per month per user, and the business versions start at $19 per month per user.
I hope this helps you find the list-making app that fits your needs. If you have recommendations of list-making apps you like, I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? Click here to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.
https://listproducer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/iphone-2617704_1920.jpg12801920Paula Rizzohttps://listproducer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ListproducerLogo.pngPaula Rizzo2020-04-15 19:45:272020-04-24 10:32:16The Top Three List-Making Apps
BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? Click here to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.
Doing acts of service can feel like a big challenge – just one more thing to add to your already long to-do list.
But what if making time to be of service to yourself and your community could actually make you happier and more productive?
My friend Kate Hanley is all about the idea that being generous and making small changes in your life pays off.
She’s an expert on how to make small but meaningful changes in your life that will have a big impact.
You can check out our full conversation here.
Here are some highlights from the conversation::
Make it seasonal.
When you’re trying to come up with plans for doing service or helping your community, take the season into consideration. For example, one of Kate’s goals is to start a compost bin. Leaves are really important for composting, so fall is a great time to start helping the environment in this small but important way.
Let people know you care.
Kate loves sending thank you notes, because it’s a small gesture that can make someone’s day. Sending a note will remind you to slow down and give thanks to the people in your life, whether it’s your child’s teacher or a new client. I can’t agree enough with this – I still send paper thank you notes whenever possible!
Think local.
Being a better person doesn’t mean you have to save the whole world! Instead, look in your community for ways to give back and make a difference. Drop off some canned goods at a food drive or attend a pasta dinner fundraiser. These acts of service will help you feel more connected to your community.
But like Kate says, self care also means being mindful of yourself in relation to the people around you, whether that’s your family, co-workers, or neighbors.
When you feel good about your place in your community, you put yourself in the best position to be happy, healthy, and productive.
BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? Click here to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.
https://listproducer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Screen-Shot-2020-03-09-at-1.06.59-AM.png462899Paula Rizzohttps://listproducer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ListproducerLogo.pngPaula Rizzo2020-03-09 01:16:022020-03-09 01:18:05Top Tips To Be a Better Person
BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? Click here to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.
