Reduce Stress | List Producer

Back to Work Checklist

September 6, 2011/1 Comment/in Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, Holidays, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Saving Time, School, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

You know it’s “back to school” time when Target is selling Halloween decorations! So as the kiddies head off to class this week — it’s time to get back to work yourself! Summer months are slow and laid back in any industry. The news happens year round so I guess we’re a bit exempt from this rule –but nevertheless things still start to ease during the summer.

Here’s a checklist for taking that “fresh start” back to school attitude with you to the office today:

1. Get Inspired: Sometimes this is a tough one especially when you’ve been doing the same job for years. But I know you can do it! Check out the competition, read some industry magazines, google some interesting stuff, talk to your colleagues and get amped up about the next best thing! If that doesn’t work – do something you love and hopefully the ideas will soon follow. Read more

30 Days of List Making

September 2, 2011/0 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, Decision Making, Fellow List Producers, Holidays, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

It’s day two of the “30 Days of Lists” challenge! Yesterday’s list prompt was “Goals for this Month.”

Here’s what my list looked like:

1. Put a dent in my holiday shopping

2. Get more guest bloggers for Listproducer.com

3. Finish reading “The Lost Symbol”

4. Try 3 new recipes

5. Eat more dark chocolate — it’s a health food!

After members of the group made their lists — we share them via the private blog and Flickr group. That way you get to check out everyone’s lists. Some people are really crafty and make a little art project out of it. Others Photoshop some really beautiful lists and still others simply write them out on paper.

I’m a traditional list maker — I use my reporter’s notebook and a pencil! But seeing all these lists are really inspiring me to be a little more creative this month.

You can still sign up and participate in the full month of list making fun! I’m looking forward to making today’s list: “I’m Happiest When…”

To-Do List After Hurricane Irene

August 29, 2011/2 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Decision Making, Fellow List Producers, Home, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

We did it! We got through Hurricane Irene! I hope my checklists for preparation came in handy. Jay didn’t have to work after all (most sporting events were canceled because of Irene) so we got to wait out the storm together! Some trees were down in our Lower East Side neighborhood but nothing major. Our car survived in our garage even though it was in a flood zone. The subway system will be coming back to life slowly Monday morning so getting to work will be a task but hopefully not impossible.

Checklists to Prepare for Hurricane Irene

August 27, 2011/2 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Children, Decision Making, Food, Health, Home, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Tool for Success, TV/by Paula Rizzo

I’ve been making checklists since I heard that Hurricane Irene was going to hit New York City. Supplies lists, grocery shopping lists, emergency contact lists (because who can remember anyone’s phone number these days!), etc.

I usually don’t panic for storms and blizzards because working in the news business has conditioned me to handle tough situations.

It’s much different being in an apartment than in a house during a hurricane. This is my first experience in an apartment. Jay is working Saturday night — because the news business doesn’t stop in emergency situations. You can listen to his sports updates on 1010WINS if you happen to be listening to the radio. But once he’s home on Sunday we’ll have plenty of snacks, water, non-perishable foods, candles, batteries and wine — all thanks to my planning and list making. Read more

A Gratitude List

August 24, 2011/8 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Books, Fellow List Producers, Health, Learning With a List, Oprah, Reduce Stress, Relationships, Tool for Success, TV, Wine/by Paula Rizzo

Have you ever started to feel sorry for yourself and gotten in a real funk? That happened to me this week and it’s so unlike me. I’m not an unhappy person! I’m usually very upbeat and spunky. I put other people in a good mood. So when I found myself slipping into a foul mood I stopped myself immediately. What’s my problem? I have so much to be grateful for!

1. My job: Just today I had a wonderful shoot at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx with the Medicine Hunter, Chris Kilham. Chris travels all over the world looking for medicinal plants and medicines. I joked with him today that being in the Garden with him was the closest I’d get to going to the Amazon with him. I’ve worked with Chris for nearly 3 years and have featured him here as a fellow list maker. Read more