Boost Memory | List Producer

Do Not Resolve to “Get Organized” This Year

December 31, 2013/3 Comments/in Apps, Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, Decision Making, Holidays, Increase Productivity, List Making, Reduce Stress, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

Organizing my Seed Stash (Photo credit: Chiot’s Run)

Happy New Year! I love the way a new year feels like a fresh start and a chance to try new things. I’ve written about throwing away your resolutions and instead turning them into goals, and I think that’s a great way to create a better and more productive and organized you in 2014!

Every year “get more organized” tops New Year’s resolutions lists and it’s a great intention but it can be overwhelming and difficult to focus on. The problem with resolving to get more organized is that it’s a vague goal that points to the negative and doesn’t give our brains something constructive to work on. What does “get more organized” mean to you? Think about it. What is the biggest pain point in your day? Focus on that. Read more

5 Ways to Remember Anything

December 26, 2013/14 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, Decision Making, Health, Home, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I write down everything: To dos, books I want to read, groceries I need to get, websites I want to visit, gifts I want to buy, goals I’m trying to reach…I mean everything! Part of me does that so I can make the task or action a real concrete thing. Once I write something down it becomes attainable – it’s the first step of a plan to accomplish it. But the other part of me does it because I don’t want to forget it.

I rely on written list, emailed lists and lists in apps all day long to remember things. But what about when you are in a situation when you can’t write something down? You’re at the gym for instance and you have a great thought or remember something you need to do later… but there’s no pen and paper around. Or you’re taking a break from technology and don’t have your smart phone with you while you’re on vacation and inspiration hits you.
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Fab Find: Evernote Smart Notebook

October 3, 2013/0 Comments/in Apps, Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, Fab Find, Increase Productivity, List Making/by Paula Rizzo

Remember two weeks ago when I started a new thing called “Shortlisted”? Well I’m renaming it — yes, already! I think “Fab Find” is so much more “me.”

So behold…the brand new “Fab Find” for this week…an Evernote Smart Notebook by Moleskine.

First off — if you’re not using Evernote, you should be. It’s the best place to keep all your lists, recipes, website clippings, gift ideas, notes, etc. I’ve been a big fan for a long time. There is also a notebook that syncs up with the Evernote app and website to make the experience even more cool. Here are a few features:

1. It’s a Moleskine product — Have you ever written in a Moleskine notebook? You must — it’s like no other. It just feels smooth and special. Trust me.

2. Digitize your content — Whatever you write in the notebook can quickly be saved to your Evernote account. Simply take a photo with your smartphone and it will digitize the note.

3. Easy to find what you need — When the note is digitized it is also automatically tagged. There are also stickers that you can put on each page that will send it to the category you choose. What that means is that any keyword you can think of is now associated with that note — making it easy to find when you’re pulling your hair out because you need to just remember “that thing you wrote down that time.” Read more

8 Last-Minute Packing Reminders

September 8, 2013/0 Comments/in Apps, Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, List Making, Reduce Stress, Saving Time, Travel/by Paula Rizzo

English: Photo of luggage (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I don’t really need any excuses to make a list. But whether it is getting ready for a vacation or planning a major move, there is nothing like travel to send me into super list-making mode. I’ve made lists of:

things to do before I leave
things I need to buy before I go
things I need to remember to pack

But no matter how organized I am or how early I start packing, there are always a few things I can’t pack ahead of time because I use them so frequently. I created a list of “Last Minute Packing Reminders” – may you never stress that you left the stove on or visit an airport convenience store again!

Use Lists to Cut Out Clutter

August 4, 2013/0 Comments/in Apps, Benefits of List Making, Books, Boost Memory, Fellow List Producers, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, List Making, Reduce Stress, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

I love meeting people who are just as organized as I am and getting the chance to learn something new from them. I went to the BlogHer conference in Chicago last weekend (more about the productivity tips and tricks on outsourcing that I learned there to come soon!) and met Andrew Mellen, bestselling author of Unstuff Your Life. Needless to say, he’s an expert at staying organized and keeping it together! So I thought he’d be the perfect “list producer” to feature:

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

A: I don’t. I call myself a practical list producer.

Q: What do you make lists about?

A: Things I need to do that need to get out of my head, onto a page, then onto my calendar.

These are typically:

Errands

Home Projects

Work Projects