List Making | List Producer

How Productivity Pro Laura Vanderkam Does It All

March 17, 2015/0 Comments/in Fellow List Producers, Learning With a List, List Making/by Paula Rizzo

LauraNew

If you’re a productivity wisdom seeker like me — you’ve probably heard of Laura Vanderkam at some point. I’ve followed her for years and recently read her e-book What the Most Productive People Do Before Breakfast and wrote about it.

She’s written several other time-management and productivity books, including the forthcoming I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make The Most Of Their Time (Portfolio, June 9, 2015.)

She was kind enough to post a guest article I wrote for her audience on her own site LauraVanderkam.com about how to create the ultimate to-do list.

But I wanted to know more about her and highlight her as one of my featured List Producers!

Why do you call yourself a compulsive list producer?

I don’t know if I’m compulsive, but I do like my lists! I find lists to be a simple way to organize my thoughts and remember things that I would otherwise forget. That in turn makes life much smoother. With two working parents and four kids, there are a lot of moving parts around here.

What do you make lists about?

Priorities and goals, and then practical matters like what I’m supposed to get at the grocery store. Read more

Why You’re Not More Productive and How to Fix it

March 15, 2015/5 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Happiness, Home, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, List Making, People, Reduce Stress, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

Here’s something that might surprise you — all this productivity stuff doesn’t always come so easily to me. I’ve shared this at several of the signings for my book Listful Thinking and people have really been shocked.

The truth is I’m actually a big procrastinator.

I know that working in television under really strict deadlines, with serious time constraints has helped to pull me out of my procrastinator ways. The same rules for productivity applies for many businesses too, as well as personal goals.

I use systems all the time like list making, rewarding myself and making fake deadlines to get more accomplished.

That’s how this blog got started but I want you all to know that I work at it every single day.

Yes I do have an advantage because I like to organize shirts by color and write my to-do list on beautiful stationery. But I have to work at maintaining my lists, keeping my schedule in check and being more efficient with my free time.

I think it’s important to share our productivity struggles as well as our successes. Too often when I speak with people who are struggling they feel like they are the only one.

If this rings true with you — remember you’re not alone!

In fact, the more people I talk to, the more I realize how similar our stories are.

The same phrases always seem to come up:

“I’m too busy.”

“I don’t have time.”

“It’s too difficult.”

I’m Grateful for You…

March 12, 2015/0 Comments/in Happiness, List Making, People/by Paula Rizzo

It’s been just about four years since I started writing this blog. My goal has been to help you become more productive and learn to use lists to get more out of your lives. It may sound a bit simple, but when you write to tell me how much this blog or my book, Listful Thinking, helps you personally — I value it so much.

I’ve written about keeping a gratitude journal in the past. It’s something I really believe in. The act of writing a list of all that I’m thankful for can boost my mood and make me happier. So I’m taking this opportunity to let you all know that you’ve been on my gratitude list for quite some time. Thank you to the regular readers of this blog for all the help and support you’ve given me over the years.

Below are a few of the delightful messages I’ve received recently:
Read more

See How I Detox a To-Do List on TV

March 8, 2015/0 Comments/in Apps, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, List Making, Tool for Success, TV/by Paula Rizzo

Last week I shared with you the exciting news that I was going to be on The Better Show. If you didn’t have to chance to catch it when it was on TV, here are the clips from the show:

Detox Your To Do List

There’s a right way and a wrong way to make a list. Watch this clip to make sure your doing it the right way to set yourself up for success.

Make A List That Works!

In this clip I show you how to make our lists work for you, not against you. Plus there’s a round-up of gadgets that can help you. Do your best ideas come to you in the shower? Watch this!

Appy Listing

In this clip I give a rundown for the best apps to keep you organized while you shop and travel.

I’m Going to Be on TV This Friday

March 3, 2015/1 Comment/in List Making, People, Technology, Tool for Success, Travel/by Paula Rizzo

Some super exciting news to share today. I’m going to be on TV this Friday! While I’ve made a few appearances on screen here and there, the majority of my television experience has been behind the scenes as a producer. Until now!

I was recently invited on to The Better Show to share my list-making expertise. With the assistance of a few gadgets, I explain how to detox your to do list and then chat about the best apps to keep you organized.

I had such a great time on set! The hosts, Kristina and JD where very gracious. Turns out JD is a huge list maker and Kristina told me she could use a little help. My segment will be airing this Friday, March 6th! If you’re in NYC – it’s on at 6am on WLNY (which by the way is the station where I had my first TV job and met my hubby!) If not — go to The Better Show website to find out what time it’s on in your area. Special thanks to my amazing friend Terri Trespicio who accompanied me and helped me nail all my listful talking points!