Increase Productivity | List Producer

Backtiming: Producer Tip for a More Productive Day

March 27, 2012/1 Comment/in Benefits of List Making, Decision Making, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success, TV/by Paula Rizzo

In television news – timing is everything. Producers, anchors, reporters, videographers and editors work on very strict deadlines. Sometimes stories have to come together quickly – this makes time management one of the keys to success in this business. Working in TV news for over a decade has conditioned me to use this skill to be more efficient in everyday life.

Time Management

One of those time management skills is called backtiming. It’s a technique used to make sure all the stories fit into the show and you can get off the air on time. A line producer assigns a time estimate to each story depending how important it is. All those time estimates add up to fill the newscast. You have to make all the news of the day, sports, weather and entertainment fit in that timespan. Read more

Difficult Discussions Are Easier With a List

March 26, 2012/2 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, Decision Making, Fellow List Producers, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Relationships, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

I had lunch with a friend recently and she was telling me about her boyfriend troubles. They’d come to a point in the relationship where it made sense to start talking about the future and if each other was in it.

Cut Down on Digital Clutter

March 22, 2012/2 Comments/in Fellow List Producers, Increase Productivity, Reduce Stress, Saving Time, Technology, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot : FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It can be worse than real clutter — I’m talking about digital clutter. If it seems like your emails are never ending and you can’t come up for air — you are a victim of this electronic issue. I’ve written about websites that will help you manage your emails better. And I’ve even shared a video about ways to reduce inbox anxiety too.

But there’s always room for more tips if you’re becoming an electronic hoarder! I was recently interviewed about computer clutter by TheCourier.com. You can check out the full article but here are some of the highlights from the experts:

Make folders in your email and hard drive
Make organizing files a habit
Get rid of files and emails that you don’t need
Make an archive folder for emails you want to keep but don’t need right now
Get a separate email for newsletters
Unsubscribe if you find yourself not reading newsletters

List of Items to Buy When Sick

March 20, 2012/2 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, Fellow List Producers, Food, Guest Posts, Health, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time, Shopping, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

For some reason — everyone was out sick yesterday. It’s weird. Not only in my office but in others too — did I miss a national holiday? Nope — it turns out the change of weather does strange things to people and makes us sick! Yep — I have a list for this. This one comes from my friend and colleague Jess Lieberman, a fellow list maker.

Documents to Keep in a Safe & a FREE Giveaway

March 19, 2012/13 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Decision Making, Home, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Relationships, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

If there is a fire, earthquake, tornado or other natural disaster– time may be working against you. Would you know which of your family’s important documents to take with you? Would you even know where they were located?

What Documents Should You Keep in Your Safe?

These essential items should be kept in a central location so you can access them quickly. It may be a good idea to get a safe to store them.

Adoption papers
Automobile titles
Bank account information
Birth certificates
Cemetery deeds
Check book
Divorce papers
Doctors’ contact information
Education records and diplomas
Government bonds
Health information for each family member (blood type, allergies, medications)
Health insurance cards
Insurance policies
Investment & retirement account information
Last will and testament
Lease
Living will
Marriage license
Military records
Mortgage paperwork
Passports
Patents and copyrights
Real estate deeds
Social security cards
Tax records