Grandma Knows Best (Productivity Tips That Stand The Test of Time)

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grandma-3Coastal grandma style is trending this summer. But there’s more that grandmas can teach you besides how to dress. Whether your grandma was an expert coupon-er or kept all her coupons in a repurposed can, you can learn a lot from their ability to save money (and time).

Here are few ways being more like your grandma could help you save time and money:

Check Email in Batches: My husband’s grandmother only checks her email a few times a week. She doesn’t do it in between other activities, but sees it as a daily task, much like reading the mail. Grandparents I know also tend to respond to each email right away rather than saving it for later. The younger generation tends check emails constantly, often as a way of procrastination. Checking your email once a day like your grandma allows you to be more focused on your other tasks. Read more

Checklist for Bringing the Suburbs to the City

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Dalas skyline and suburbs

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I grew up in the suburbs so moving to the city was a bit of a culture shock for me. It’s always a bit of worry when you’re moving to a completely different town or city. You have no idea what to expect.

Grow your own vegetables – My dad has a garden that is his pride and joy in the summer time. He grows tomatoes, kale, basil, peppers, zucchini and lots of other veggies. So going outside to grab an eggplant or a squash was super easy growing up. But now in the city it’s a bit more challenging to grow a garden.

Host a garden party on your fire escape – Okay, so it won’t be your typical garden party with gazebos and fancy hats – but it is possible to bring a relaxed, outdoor vibe to a fire escape or roof deck near you.

Sign up for a farm share – To get that home grown feel in the city, why not join a CSA. Farm shares work with family farms to deliver organic and naturally-grown produce from a small local farm directly to your door. The shares allow you to become a “member” of the farm for a season. It’s great because as the harvest changes you get to discover plenty of new tastes and foods.

Watch an outdoor movie – You can’t get much more suburban the laying in the grass, stargazing and watching a movie with friends. Now you can experience this in the city too. Bryant Park runs a summer film festival every year showing all of your favorite classics.

How do you bring the suburbs into your life?

7 Travel Apps For a Fabulous Vacation

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CroatiaIt’s one of the things that I love the most but do the least — I’m talking about travel. I’ve been to a lot of great places like Italy and France but I’ve still yet to explore some of the best cities in the US like San Francisco. Don’t worry — it’s on my list! When I’m out and about on a trip — I always have a few go-to apps that help make my trip run more smoothly.

TripAdvisor – When planning a vacation, the first stop is always TripAdvisor, and for good reason. The site has millions of reviews on almost every hotel/restaurant/beach villa out there. It’s a great way to narrow down your hotel choices, plus some of the reviews are unintentionally hilarious. Check out some of my reviews here.

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Feel Like You’re Stuck? Let Me Help!

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Paula Making ListsI would like to thank everyone who participated in my recent survey, I received a lot of fascinating suggestions on what you would like to see on ListProducer.com. One of the most popular response by far was people looking for one-on-one productivity coaching sessions.  I love this idea and have been doing some sessions unofficially for years.  So I’m expanding my website and adding services to help you get your life back on track.

Who is My Coaching Designed For?

Do you pop out of bed in the middle of the night because you forgot to:

  • Send an email?
  • Pack lunch?
  • Enter a meeting into your calendar?
  • Jot down the items you need at the grocery store?
  • Or any other item on your to-do list?

Let me help you get organized and become more productive.

I know how you feel! I’ve been there myself… constantly worried about looming to-dos and unable to relax. But it doesn’t have to be this way. If you’ve tried to “get organized” or “get more done” before and haven’t been able to stick with it… I’m here for you. Sometimes the toughest part of finding a system that works is just getting started. I will help you identify the best tools for you and find the most effective methods to deal with frustrations that are keeping you stuck. Read more

5 Apps to Make Cleaning Easier

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Cleanly App (Photo Credit: darnellthenewsman.com)

Cleanly App (Photo Credit: darnellthenewsman.com)

I’ve always had a love/ hate relationship with cleaning. Being tidy and organized helps increase your productivity and makes you feel less stressed—but the process of cleaning is never fun! As a kid my mom even nicknamed me “the mess maker.” Even though I would make a big mess – I would always clean it up!

Especially when you have a lot on your plate, it’s easy to push cleaning off to the bottom of your “to-do” list.

Not wanting to clean isn’t something new either. It’s always been a burden on everyone from someone living by themselves, a stay-at-home mom or business owner.

Here are a few of my favorite cleaning apps:

1. Cleanly: If you’re in New York, and have ever dragged your laundry down the street…this app is for you. It allows New Yorkers to schedule laundry pick up and delivery at their own convenience! Cleanly users can schedule a time for pickup, including directions on how to wash their clothes, and a “Cleanly Valet” will come pick up the clothes and drop them off at a local laundry mat or dry cleaner! Fresh, clean clothes are then delivered within 24 hours.

2. Handybook: Users can book a company certified maid, plumber or handyman on their mobile phone by filling out an online application in less than two minutes! You fill out what type of cleaning you want done, how many rooms need to be cleaned and choose from a list of available time slots. In just minutes, an e-mail confirmation will provide you with a housekeeper’s name and phone number.

3. HomeRoutines: No list is complete without a cleaning “to-do” list! This app lets you create thorough to-do lists and then rotate tasks by day or week, so you can develop a routine that makes keeping your house clean a habit. The app splits your home into five zones and gives you a task for each area, reminding you about tasks that often get overlooked, but need to be done!

4. BrightNest: Take your lists to the next level. This app helps you build a customized list of projects based on your personal living conditions. The app asks you questions, such as whether or not you have kids or pets, the appliances you use and what your goals are. Weekly projects are then illustrated with an estimate of how much time they will take. It even lists surprising tips to help you get the job done and gives you home maintenance advice based on your region’s climate.

5. Chorma: If you’re living with multiple people that leave their space messy, this app can help. Chorma lets you create lists of repeating chores and then assigns them to housemembers, who can check-in with their progress. To encourage people to get their stuff done, the app allows you to create redeemable individual or group rewards!

Make a list of five areas that you think need to be cleaned and then download one of these apps that will help you!