Benefits of List Making | List Producer

Being Organized Helps Beat Stress

March 12, 2012/0 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Books, Boost Memory, Decision Making, Fellow List Producers, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, List Making, Reduce Stress, Relationships, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success, Video/by Paula Rizzo

One of the things I love about being a health producer is that I get to cover “news you can use.” From the newest super food to a cutting-edge surgery — we often learn about it first. Not only does this information help people but it makes me look really smart at cocktail parties.

That said — I had the opportunity to produce a segment with life coach and author Margaret Moore (a.k.a. Coach Meg) about her book “Organize Your Mind, Organize Your Life,” where she gave all kinds of tips and tricks for being less overwhelmed, less stressed and more productive. Love that!

Take a look at the video and accompanying article here for some ways to tame the frenzy in your own life. Here are some of my favorite Coach Meg tips:

Think about what puts you in a calm state and do it!
Set small goals to focus your attention (say to yourself for 30 minutes I’m only working on x)
Turn off your cell phone and/or email to get more done
Even super organized people can overload — build in breaks and time to relax
In the end you are the only one to hold accountable for your productivity

Online Calendar Makes Life Easier

March 9, 2012/2 Comments/in Apps, Benefits of List Making, Children, Home, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, List Making, Reduce Stress, Relationships, Saving Money, Saving Time, School, Technology, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

How do you keep track of everything going on in your life? Do you make lists? Keep a pocket calendar? Or track everything on your phone? Appointments, events, classes, your kid’s sports commitments and dance classes — can all fill up your lives but can be tough to organize in one place. I found a great solution — Hatchedit.com.

The online calendar is really smart — you can share it with several people and checkout what’s going on at all times. The site will help you keep track of upcoming events, invites, daily to-dos, favorite blogs, and groups you’re a part of. So if you want to plan an event with your book club or your child’s soccer team…all the information can be stored and shared on HatchedIt.com. When you sign up you get your own “dashboard” that you can easily make a part of your everyday routine.

If you’re drowning in paper calendars or want to ditch your dry-erase board – this is a great way to organize your life. HatchedIt is a free tool that will make your life simpler and more streamlined. You can even update the calendar when you’re out and about with their iPhone or Android apps. Let me know how you like using it.

How Not To Be Bored

March 7, 2012/2 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Decision Making, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Oprah, Reduce Stress, Saving Time, Tool for Success, TV, Wine/by Paula Rizzo

I’m almost never bored. I can always find something to do. Not because I’m a super busy person (some days I am) but because I like doing a lot of things. I have a lot of hobbies and I hardly ever tire of doing the laundry list of things that I enjoy doing:

Drink Tea
Watch the Golden Girls
Eat Guacamole
Write Blogs
Connect with Friends
Call My Mom
Watch Oprah
Paint My Nails
Drink Pinot Grigio
Read Magazines
Read Anything on my Kindle
Make Lists
Watch Chick Flicks Read more

Successful To-Do List Junkie Shares Secrets

March 1, 2012/0 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Books, Decision Making, Fellow List Producers, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

Finally — someone who might be more obsessed with to-do lists than me. Sasha Cagen wrote a book all about lists called “To-Do List: From Buying Milk to Finding a Soul Mate, What Our Lists Reveal About Us” and she actually analyzed lists sent in by ordinary people. I thought she’d be the perfect featured list producer this month so I asked her a few questions:

Q: Why do you call yourself a compulsive list producer? Read more

What’s on Your Happiness List?

February 29, 2012/4 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Children, Decision Making, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Relationships, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

D. Sharon Pruitt

What is happiness? That answer can be as different as a fingerprint – unique and personal for every single one of us. I went to a screening, with my friend Terri, the other night to see Project Happiness, which is right up my ally. I joke that I’m a happiness seeker in my Twitter profile – but it’s true – I try to find the best in all situations and the silver lining in anything. I can’t help it – my mother is like that and it rubbed off on me.

The film sought out to answer the huge question “what is happiness?” and although I felt it fell short – it got me thinking and inspired me to think about my own experiences with happiness. (Side note: I liked the book The Happiness Project much better.) I think the problem with the film is that they were looking for one big “aha moment” as Oprah would say. But the thing is – that isn’t going to happen. I’ve always said it’s the little things that make should people happy: Read more