Learning With a List | List Producer

Uncommonly Productive Tasks

March 25, 2014/in Benefits of List Making, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Saving Time, Tool for Success, Uncategorized/by Paula Rizzo

productivity (Photo credit: Sean MacEntee)

Twenty-four hours is not nearly enough time to accomplish your daily routine while still having time for yourself. If you are not a naturally productive person, it can be hard to get into the habit of allotting your time correctly for all your to-do’s. If you attempt to be a super star of productivity, you can get frustrated and burnt out fast! Trust me – it takes some trial and error to see what works best for your needs.
Recently, I came across a Forbes article that lists 24 ways to be uncommonly productive.

Here are 5 of my favorites:

1. Get up an hour earlier: The early bird gets the worm as the saying goes! I know the snooze button is easy to hit but getting up a little earlier everyday can help you be more productive. Whether it be reading the newspaper and enjoying a cup of coffee, finishing a pitch for work, or doing that last load of laundry, your day starts out with crossing SOMETHING off the to-do list. Check out what the most successful people do before breakfast!

2. Avoid meetings at all costs: Impromptu meetings, unless totally necessary are a waste of time and energy! You will not be prepared and the things you want to accomplish will most likely not get done. Having a schedule of weekly meetings is the best way to go – even during the meetings you should have a set schedule of talking points and goals.

3. Take a proper break – after one or two hours take 10-20 minutes to dance to your fave song, do some push-ups, or get out in the fresh air. You always need to give yourself a break to refocus your energy. Working on a task for too long can burn you out. Madonna (another fellow list maker) is great to jam out to when you need a break.

4. Don’t answer your phone: This is also one of my mottos. I NEVER, I repeat never, answer my phone during the work day unless I have scheduled a phone call (I even have a YouTube video dedicated to it). If it’s really important that person will leave a message. You don’t want to get stuck in a conversation for a half hour that is not on top of your priority list or that you’re unprepared to have.

5. Ask yourself “Is what I’m doing right now getting me closer to what I want to achieve?” I think this would be great to put on a Post-It note on your computer, or as the background of your phone. It’s a simple reminder to keep focused on what really needs to be done throughout the day!

Try out one of these tips this week, and build up to the rest! Rome wasn’t build in a day and neither is a productive lifestyle. Check out the rest of the productivity tips from Forbes here

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My First Blog Tour

March 23, 2014/in Fellow List Producers, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, People, Uncategorized/by Paula Rizzo

(Photo credit: Dvortygirl)

This post is going to be a slight departure from the content you’re used to reading on ListProducer.com but I hope you’ll find it as fun. I was invited to participate in what’s called a “blog tour” by writer and blogger Sarah Klein.

Here’s how it works: I answer four questions about my writing process and then introduce three new bloggers who will do the same thing on their blogs next week. And so on and so on…kind of like a chain letter for blogs. I hope it’s a fun opportunity to gain some insight into how I’m able to pump out this blog three times a week and also introduce you to some bloggers I really admire.

Here we go!

1. What am I working on?
I’m always working on something! My biggest project to date has been my book, which will be published this fall by Viva Editions. It’s called “Listful Thinking: Using Lists to be More Productive, Efficient and Less Stressed.” Right now we are working on marketing plans and what the cover will look like. It’s very exciting and I’m thrilled to be able to share it with all my Listproducer.com blog readers when it’s ready!

I’m Going To B-School!

March 9, 2014/in Benefits of List Making, College, Decision Making, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, School, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

I never thought I’d be going back to school — but I am! Today is the very first day of Marie Forleo’s B-School and I couldn’t be happier to get started. I found Marie a few weeks ago through Twitter and have been devouring her content ever since. She teaches people how to be entrepreneurs and turn their passions into much more.

It’s an 8-week online course and there are people from almost every inch of the globe participating. Just check out the map of participants — insane, right? I’ve done a few continuing education classes here and there since graduating college. I’ve taken a novel writing class, a children’s book writing class and of course a bunch of cooking classes — but never anything like this.

Getting ready for class has been exciting and scary. Here’s a list of my preps in case you find yourself in a similar situation one day:

1. Get a notebook you love. Seriously — this helps calm my fears. I chose a notebook that a close friend gave me for my birthday — so it has some sentimental value. It’s the perfect size to stick in my purse if I need to take my work on the road. And the best part is the cover. It’s plastered with stamps from fabulous places all over the world that I want to visit. It’s an excellent inspiration for the traveling I’d like to do in the future.

Say Goodbye to Distractions and Stay on Task!

February 13, 2014/in Apps, Fab Find, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Saving Time, Technology, Tool for Success, Uncategorized/by Paula Rizzo

(Photo credit: Out.of.Focus)

Apps, texts, cute puppy photos, prank YouTube videos, Facebook feeds, and delicious foods on Pinterest are just some of the distractions that I am faced with on the daily. I mean how can you focus at work when your friend just sent you the funniest Buzzfeed link?!

It’s hard to “turn off” from all this distracting technology to accomplish a task – so, for today’s “Fab Find” I found some awesome apps to help block out the “noise” of everyday life, and get focused!

Computer Apps

1. SelfControl
Some days it’s just too hard to be good and not check your favorite Twitter feed. This app will deny you access to your social media sites for the amount of time you choose. You are still able to access the Internet — just no more “liking” cute dog photos, at least for a little while.

Make Awkward Small Talk Disappear With This List

February 11, 2014/in Benefits of List Making, Learning With a List, List Making, People, Reduce Stress, Relationships, Uncategorized/by Paula Rizzo

This picture of Paul McCartney will make much more sense when you continue reading this post! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Remember in high school or college when the teacher would make each student in the class introduce themselves and say one interesting fact? My hands would sweat, and I would panic trying to think of something cool to say before the teacher got to me. Total torture!

Well this still happens today. You know what I’m talking about. Those awkward situations where you are forced to make small talk or be interesting. Like at a business meeting, at the dentist’s office (why do they always want to talk when you can only mumble?,) with your hairdresser, at a party that you felt obligated to attend, or maybe even on a blind date.

My solution for these awkward exchanges are simple. Make a list. This can be something you write down or just keep in your head. But this list should contain several interesting facts about yourself and a few conversation starters. Here are a few of mine for inspiration:

1. I was named after Paul McCartney. Yes, really. My mom had BeatleMania big time.