Sniff This to be More Productive

Lavender

Lavender (Photo credit: Iakobos)

Turns out certain scents will boost your productivity power. I’ve never tried it but it’s worth a shot especially because these smells are pleasant. Entrepreneur.com checked in with Beverley Hawkins, owner of the Vancouver-based West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy for her favorites:

  1. Lemon
  2. Lavender
  3. Jasmine
  4. Rosemary
  5. Cinnamon
  6. Peppermint

Aromatherapy is an ancient practice that can help relax, destress and empower, through the use of products such as a Scentsy Scent Circle, room sprays and essential oils.

There’s no need to go over the top and spray down the entire office. Just put a few drops of any of these essential oils on a cotton ball and sniff.

For more on why these scents will have you finishing up your work in no time — check out the original article here.

Best Places for Writing Lists?

Lists help to make you more efficient, save money and time, boost your memory and aid in decision making.  But how do you make your lists? I’ve found that doing a combination of things has helped me to be more organized. Maybe it will work for you too.

1. Handwritten: For me, I feel like it’s not really a to-do list unless it’s written out. I also write out my packing lists and my pros v. cons lists. Read more

Mom Turns Kids into Foodies One List at a Time

Recently my two worlds of TV producer and blogger crossed paths at the BlogHer conference.  I took a seminar about incorporating video into a blog that Catherine McCord, founder of Weelicious.com, was teaching.  Brilliant stuff and I plan on adding some more video here soon!

Anyway — I’ve also done segments with Catherine about healthy eating and getting kids to be better eaters.  She started out as a food blogger and has uploaded hundreds of videos to her website Weelicious.com. Now she has a book called “Weelicious: One Family, One Meal,” and I’ve even tried some of the recipes even though I don’t have kids!

Turns out — all that recipe making and brand building has been possible because of list making!  Love that! Check out Catherine’s list-making secrets:

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

A: As a working mom and wife, if I wasn’t armed with a list I’d be in big big trouble! Read more

Join Me to Talk Travel Lists

Deutsch: Paris: Eiffelturm

Deutsch: Paris: Eiffelturm (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Everyone loves going on vacation.  It’s great to be able to reconnect, recharge and relax!  But all that fun takes some preparation and lots and lots of lists!

  • Pros & Cons lists for destinations
  • Research lists
  • Packing lists
  • Organizing your luggage
  • Sightseeing lists
  • Must-Eat Restaurant lists
  • Bucket lists of must-visit spots
  • etc.

I recently started a Meetup group called “Lists & Libations.”  We meet once a month to talk about lists and enjoy libations!  Our next meeting on October 24th will be all about travel lists.  I would love for you to join us if you can.  Click here for all the details.

If you don’t live in NYC or can’t make it — I’m also hosting Virtual Meetups.  The next one is on October 2nd and is all about productivity apps!

Hope to see you there!

Madonna is a List Maker Too

Madonna

Madonna (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When I was in Paris this summer — there were reports that Madonna was staying at the Ritz Carlton hotel.  So me, my friends and hubby did what any sensible traveler would do — we stood in the rain outside the hotel hoping to get a glimpse.  That never happened. Oh well — thanks to my hubby Jay I will be going to see her perform live tonight at Yankee Stadium! Yay!

Madonna Makes Lists

But the real reason for this post — is that Madonna is just like you and me — she’s a list maker! Yep — it’s true.  There have been several reports of her listing away in her limo while trekking off to events and concerts.

There’s even this to-do list that I found on my new favorite site “Lists of Note” — check it out — it’s a list she wrote in the 1990s: