Health | List Producer

7 Foods to Eat Your Way to Productivity

July 22, 2014/1 Comment/in Boost Memory, Food, Health, Reduce Stress/by Paula Rizzo

When we think about the different ways to get more out of our day, we don’t often think about changing our diet.

Put down the donut and try these yummy productivity boosters instead.

Blueberries – If there were such a thing as ultimate super fruit, it would be blueberries. They’re high in antioxidants, high in fiber and low on the glycemic index. Plus a recent study shows eating blueberries can help ward off degenerative diseases such as Alzhiemer’s disease. Which means there’s a good reason to indulge in blueberry pancakes for breakfast today! Read more

7 No-Cook Recipes To Try This Summer

July 8, 2014/0 Comments/in Food, Health, Reduce Stress, Saving Time/by Paula Rizzo

There are so many things I love about the summer like going to the beach, drinking wine and Summer Fridays (in theory because I don’t really get to partake.) However, on hot days the last thing I want to do is turn on the oven, which is one of the reasons no-cook recipes are so appealing. They also drastically save on cooking time, allowing me to make the most out of my evenings.

Here are a few go-to recipes to try out this summer from RealSimple.com.

Sesame Lime Chicken Salad

1/4 cup canola oil
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/2 red chili pepper sliced
1 small head romaine lettuce
2 carrots, grated
4 cups shredded chicken
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
1 cup crispy Chinese noodles
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Whisk together the canola oil, lime juice, sugar, sesame oil, chili, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper in a large bowl.
Add the lettuce, carrots, and chicken and toss to combine.
Serve the salad sprinkled with the sesame seeds, noodles, and cilantro. Read more

Make THIS List This Summer

June 3, 2014/0 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, Decision Making, Decorating, Happiness, Health, Home, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, List Making, Reduce Stress, Saving Time, Tool for Success, Uncategorized/by Paula Rizzo

(Photo credit: melodygranger.com)

Any season is great for list-making but summer is especially perfect. There’s always so much I want to do and hopefully, the weather cooperates. With a busy schedule and summertime just around the corner, it’s a great time to make a list of goals to accomplish by the end of the summer.

My Summer Goals

1. Go to the beach at least two times. I grew up near the beach on Long Island and strangely enough, I haven’t been on the sand in the summer in a few years. I must remember to take a beach chair with me the next time I go so I at least have a bit of protection from the sand! As much as I love the beach, there isn’t anything worse than being covered in a large amount of sand.

2. Read two fiction books. I spend a lot of time reading lots of non-fiction for work and my own research that some of the stories I love to get lost in getting put on the back burner. Right now I’m reading Emily Giffin’s “The One & Only” and I have a few others on my list. Check them out on GoodReads. Read more

Put My Book on Your Must-Read List!

June 1, 2014/0 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Books, Boost Memory, Decision Making, Happiness, Health, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, List Making, Reduce Stress, Tool for Success, Uncategorized/by Paula Rizzo

Me and my publisher Brenda Knight at Book Expo America in NYC

I have exciting news to share with you — my first book is coming out in January 2015! It is called “Listful Thinking: Using Lists to be More Productive, Highly Successful and Less Stressed”! I can’t wait for you to read it.

The swag my publisher Viva Editions gave out at Book Expo America to promote the book!

Every year I go to Book Expo America here in New York City for my day job as a TV producer. I check out all the new titles and set up meetings with publishers so they can tell me about their upcoming books and authors in the health field. It’s a huge trade show and the who’s who of book publishing is always there. This year, I got a great surprise — my publisher, Viva Editions, already started creating some buzz about my book with these adorable “Listful Thinking” notepads!

We’re still working on the cover art and ironing out all the details for the January publication date. I’m working on all sorts of fun events and activities leading up to the launch and I hope you’ll participate in them! I’m open to ideas too, so shoot me an email if you have any.

I will be sure to keep you posted but just couldn’t wait to share the news! Please add the book to your “Want to Read” list on Goodreads and please spread the word!

Be Productive On Summer Fridays

May 29, 2014/0 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, Happiness, Health, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, List Making, Reduce Stress, Saving Time, Tool for Success, Uncategorized/by Paula Rizzo

Enjoy your summer Friday! (Photo Credit: blog.syracuse.com)

If you are lucky enough to have summer Fridays at your workplace you know it’s where every Friday throughout the summer people get off of work at 1pm (or so.)

When I first heard about this, I tried to convince my boss to pick up on the trend. But unfortunately, the news business runs a little differently. But if you participate in shorter workdays on Fridays – you can enjoy your longer weekend by being as productive as possible up until the moment you leave work.

Here are a few tips on how to make your summer Fridays as productive as possible:

1. Do more during the week: Plan your schedule appropriately, so a shorter workday on Friday is do-able. Rather than cramming everything in at the last minute, really make sure you’re on track with your work. Schedule busier tasks earlier on in the week and reserve Fridays for follow ups and smaller tasks only.

2. Don’t open your e-mail until noon: It’s harder than it sounds. There’s many times when it’s easy to keep hitting refresh on your inbox to kill time, but resist the urge. Spend your mornings doing what’s important, rather than responding to e-mails that aren’t urgent. As important as you may think it is, usually e-mails can wait a few hours.

3. Prepare the night before: Throughout the week, make a to-do list of the things you must get done each day. If you’re writing an article, outline it the night before– it’ll save you hours the next day. Don’t leave the office until everything you need to accomplish gets done. You’ll thank yourself when you get to start your weekend early.

4. Keep your office cool: Working in a hot room tends to make us feel groggy and sluggish.

5. Treat yourself: Get as much out of your day by working hard first and then enjoying a nice reward of your choice afterwards! Whether you plan to get a manicure or treat yourself to a nice meal, finish your task first and reward yourself afterwards. It’ll act as a motivator and you’ll be able to enjoy it at your own leisure without stressing about all of the things you have left to do.

6. Meditate: In the morning, spend a few minutes to focus your mind and listen in. You will discover ideas inside of you that will help you find success throughout your workday. By relaxing, you’ll be able to align your goals and plan your day to be as productive as possible.

Enjoy your head start on your weekend!