Reduce Stress | List Producer

What’s on Your Happiness List?

February 29, 2012/4 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Children, Decision Making, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Relationships, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

D. Sharon Pruitt

What is happiness? That answer can be as different as a fingerprint – unique and personal for every single one of us. I went to a screening, with my friend Terri, the other night to see Project Happiness, which is right up my ally. I joke that I’m a happiness seeker in my Twitter profile – but it’s true – I try to find the best in all situations and the silver lining in anything. I can’t help it – my mother is like that and it rubbed off on me.

The film sought out to answer the huge question “what is happiness?” and although I felt it fell short – it got me thinking and inspired me to think about my own experiences with happiness. (Side note: I liked the book The Happiness Project much better.) I think the problem with the film is that they were looking for one big “aha moment” as Oprah would say. But the thing is – that isn’t going to happen. I’ve always said it’s the little things that make should people happy: Read more

6 Ways to Get Better Customer Service

February 28, 2012/2 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Guest Posts, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

89studio : FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Sometimes New Yorkers do live up to the “they are so rude” stereotype and usually I can let it roll off my back. But sometimes it’s really irritating — especially when I’m paying for a service or asking for help in a store. Well guess what — there are ways to ensure that you won’t have to deal with such “service” again — in this town or any other! My guest blogger today is my best friend Danielle Freni who has started a Customer Service Revolution. Of which I gladly ride on the coattails of so I can get free drinks, better service and more bang for my buck! Now you can too. Read more

Where’d I Put That Metrocard?

February 21, 2012/2 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, Decision Making, Increase Productivity, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

I’m sure this has happened to you at least once — you are running for the subway and realize you can’t find your metrocard. It’s happened to all of us. Or you realize that you don’t have enough money left on the card for a ride and the train goes whizzing by you. Yep — it’s unfortunate and avoidable.

Metrocard Overload

This very thing happened when I was with my friend Danielle recently — she was searching and searching for a card with $2.25 for a one-way trip on the NYC subway. She found 7 cards total — none of them had enough on them. We missed our train. I always keep my metrocard in the exact same place so I don’t lose it. But not Danielle…sigh. Read more

The “Hit Time” Method for Getting More Done

February 20, 2012/0 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

In TV news we use the term “hit time” a lot. It means the time that your story will be “hitting the air.” We will say “what time is your hit?” or “this hits in 10 minutes,” or “are you going to make your hit?” Using strict deadlines in the news business works — the newscast will carry on with or without you. So you better be prepared and make your hit time. I’ve carried over the idea of hit times into my daily life.

Using the “Hit Time” Method

When I get dressed in the morning I have several “hit times” where I know if I’m not doing a certain thing at that time — I will be late. For instance — if I’m not out of the shower by 7:15am — I won’t be able to do my hair, makeup, eat breakfast, read the newspaper and check my email. I like doing all those things (and yoga) before I leave in the morning. I know by this “hit time” what I have time to do and what I can’t do so I can still make it to work at a reasonable time. Read more

6 Steps to Simplifying Your Daily Routine

February 17, 2012/6 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Decision Making, Guest Posts, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

I have a problem getting out of the house in the morning. I do a lot of things like make lunch and pick out my clothes the night before. So that’s helpful. But in the morning I check emails, I tweak my blog, I post to Facebook, I poke around Twitter…all while I’m trying to get ready. It drives my husband crazy. I suppose even I could use a list for getting out the door in the morning.

I actually wrote one in my ebook called “The Top 10 Lists Every Mom Needs.” Download it and check it out. But I could always use some fresh ideas so that’s why I asked organizing goddess, Tracy McCubbin, for a little insight.

6 Steps to Simplifying Your Daily Routine

by Tracy McCubbin

Most of us know the benefits of de-cluttering, especially if you’re reading this blog, but what we don’t realize is that clutter causes stress in our everyday lives. How many times have you scrambled in the morning to find your keys, a matching shoe or even your purse?

It’s my goal to help everyone, whether you’re a mom of quints or a single 20-something, develop livable systems of organization they can incorporate into their daily lives to make it more enjoyable and less stressful.

Here are six simple steps you can take to give your daily routine a makeover. Learn it, live it, love it. Read more