Tool for Success | List Producer

Nutrition Guru Makes Lists

September 1, 2011/2 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Fellow List Producers, Food, Health, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

I love finding successful list nerds just like me! I’ve been working with Frances Largeman-Roth for several years. She’s the Senior Food & Nutrition Editor at Health Magazine, a mom and also a list maker! She’s expecting another little bundle in a few weeks and she’s shared her Food-Shopping List for a Healthy Pregnancy and let me feature her here as this month’s List Producer.

Q: Why do you call yourself a compulsive list producer?

A: Because if I have a notebook or even a scrap of paper, a list will get made! I find that list-making helps to clear my head so that I can move on with the rest of my day and be productive.

Q: What do you make lists about?

A: You name it—I do 5-year goal lists, errand lists, packing lists, and since I have a move and a baby coming up, lots of lists related to what I need to buy and do. I also do work-related to-do lists since I work in a deadline-driven industry. Read more

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

Simple Solution for Gift Giving

August 19, 2011/0 Comments/in Decision Making, Holidays, Increase Productivity, Reduce Stress, Relationships, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success, Weddings/by Paula Rizzo

Today Jay and I are loading up the car and heading upstate for our friend’s wedding. It’s going to be at a gorgeous place called Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY. Ok – so it’s not really upstate but if you live in NYC everything north of Westchester is upstate. It’s going to be a gorgeous and relaxing get away and we’ll get to celebrate with some of our dearest friends.

This weekend is also my best friend Danielle’s 30th birthday. So between this wedding and Danielle’s milestone – I have gifts on the brain. You know me – I’ve already had their gifts covered for weeks. Another reason why you should start your holiday shopping immediately – you won’t stress when the time comes! Read more