Why You Need an Emergency Packing List

packingA few days ago my parents called me in the middle of the day at work and told me that my mom had to be taken to the hospital. She got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, blacked out and fell and hit her head badly. Eeek! I talked to her and she was fine but being admitted for all kinds of tests. So I wanted to be there with her. I left work and went home to pack an overnight bag and froze.

I couldn’t think of anything that I needed – and I should’ve known that I needed all the essentials.  You know — pajamas, an outfit for the next day, toiletries, etc. But I couldn’t think of anything. When something like this happens your mind is thinking a hundred different things. It catches you off guard and your not able to think as rationally. Read more

Why I’m Getting the iPhone 6

appleIf you know me you know I can’t live without my iPhone. It has made me a much more productive person and I’m excited the new operating system, iOS 8, is now available to download in preparation for the iPhone 6 release. Apple has put a focus on productivity this year, with many of the new features geared towards helping you get more done. With this being said, no matter what phone you decide to get, knowing that sites like mobilemob.com.au has the best accessories, hopefully, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for.

Here’s a breakdown of some the changes that will boost your productivity:

Keyboard -The new update makes typing much faster because as you type, you’ll see choices of words or phrases you’d probably type next, based on your past conversations and writing style. Read more

What’s a ‘Listicle’ Anyway?

ListiclesThe word listicle, a combination of the words list and article, has officially made it onto OxfordDictionaries.com. It is defined as ‘An article on the Internet presented in the form of a numbered or bullet-pointed list.’ While it may have only recently come into common use, I’ve been writing listicles on this blog for years now. So to celebrate the new dictionary entry I’m making a listicle of my favorite listicles from ListProducer.com!

1. 10 Gluten Free Grains For Everyone – I spoke with Leslie Cerier from ‘The Organic Gourmet’  and she gave me list of grains everyone should try. This is one of my most popular lists, especially as more and more people are going gluten free. Read more

Boost Your Productivity in Just 15 Minutes

yogaWe’ve all been there, working on a difficult project where everything seems to take so much longer.  Or a Monday morning when our minds are just moving a little slower.  What you really need is something to help kick start your energy.

Here are some quick things you can do in 15 minutes or less to make you more productive and help you get motivated:

10-Minute Yoga –  Exercise is a great way to stay healthy, reduce anxiety and  elevate your happy hormones.

Listen to Music – According to a recent study listening to music for 15 minutes can not only helps to improve your mood, but it also increases your creative problem solving abilities and task performance. So next time you need to brainstorm ideas – plug in your headphones and put on some of your favorite tunes!

Add a plant to your desk – Plants can help to liven up an otherwise dull office, and studies show that productivity can increase by up to 15% when plants are introduced into the workplace. This is most likely due to the perception of improved well-being. As well as the calming effect that plants and greenery naturally have on humans.

Go for a Walk – Like yoga, walking can help to boost creativity and mood, but an article in The New Yorker claims it goes beyond that. Writing and walking use similar parts of our brain. When we walk, we are surveying the world around us and constructing a mental map. This mental exercise can help us to organize our thoughts and come up with a plan of action.

Sniff a Lemon – It’s true — Scent Psychology finds the scent of lemon sends your concentration and energy skyrocketing.  It can also calm you down without making you less alert. So start using all those senses to get stuff done. 

What are some of your quick tips for boosting productivity?

Cameron Diaz’s Shopping List Tips

Cameron diaz

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A friend recently informed me that in her new book, “The Body Book“, Cameron Diaz mentions how important shopping lists are to her health. She even included a few tips for when you sit down to make your own shopping list for the week:

1. How active will you be this week? Cameron believes it is important to design your nutrition around your body’s needs. For example, if you plan on hitting the gym five days that week then you need to plan meals to support that higher level of activity. Read more