Tool for Success | List Producer

Parents’ Checklist for Back to School

August 2, 2011/in Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, Children, Fellow List Producers, Guest Posts, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time, School, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

Back to school time can be just as tough on parents as it is on kids. I created a “Back to Campus Shopping Checklist” for GetButtonedUp.com and just about now grade school students are getting supply lists sent to them. But what about a checklist for parents? For that I turned to my mother-in-law, Irene Berman. She shares my love of lists and stationary.

She has taught public school for over 30 years in New York and Chicago. This past June she retired and I’ve never seen anyone so upset to leave a job. She really loves finding creative ways to teach kids things for the first time. It’s an amazing trait – I could never do it.

Here’s her Back to School Checklist for Parents:

Take advantage of back to school clothes sales in July and August.
Organize closets to help kids get ready faster in the morning.
Get back to a school time bed routine. You might want to practice with an alarm clock.
Try to get your child’s supply list and shop during sales because Halloween items come out soon.
Update your calendar with school holidays and events.
Check your immunization and medical records to make sure they are up to date.
Make your sure you have emergency phone numbers and contacts for the school to reach.
Create an IN/OUT box for school notice and forms.
Get your home ready by organizing a quiet place for your child do do his homework.
Create a homework box-with all supplies needed for homework…NO EXCUSES!!!! Also, if your kids are a little younger and need a helping hand with a certain area of learning, you could visit somewhere like Little Thinkers Center to get them back into learning!

Happiness Seeker Gretchen Rubin is a List Maker

August 1, 2011/in Benefits of List Making, Books, Fellow List Producers, Increase Productivity, Reduce Stress, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

Have you ever wished you were happier? I think a lot of people think about this but do nothing about it. Author Gretchen Rubin did something about it and spent a year focusing on ways to be happier. The result is a fabulous read called The Happiness Project. If you haven’t read it — you must. It’s funny, cute, insightful and thought provoking. She also has a blog by the same name.

It has changed the way I think about a lot of things and it has even altered my morning commute. Instead of stuffing myself onto the packed L train — I opt to walk to Union Square through a lovely park. I get a little exercise and I get some time all to myself. Happiness found!

As you’ll read in the book — Gretchen is a list maker. I’ve asked her to share some of her list-making secrets as my featured “List Producer” this month. Read more

Avoiding Stupid Mistakes With a Checklist

July 22, 2011/in Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, Decision Making, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Saving Time, Tool for Success, TV/by Paula Rizzo

This happens every year – someone’s kid gets left on a hot bus for hours. It’s inexcusable because it’s dangerous and it’s such an avoidable mistake! I heard about the first one of the year this morning as I listened to 1010 WINS. It made me think — a simple checklist would fix this problem.

Seriously – how many of you think…”I could NEVER leave a kid on a bus by mistake”? But guess what… it happens all the time! And the reason it happens is because we are so distracted with everything else going on in our lives that we forget the easy stuff.

Picture It…An Avoidable Mistake

My very first TV job was at WLNY-TV 55 on Long Island. I was an intern in 2001 and then hired as a writer while I finished up my degree at Hofstra University. Random fact: It’s where I met my hubby, Jay, and also my best friend, Danielle! One night at the station will live on in infamy – all because of a stupid, avoidable mistake. Read more

Packing for Two Weeks in Europe in Carry-On Luggage

July 21, 2011/in Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, Fellow List Producers, Guest Posts, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success, Travel/by Paula Rizzo

I Listen to this. The government says that airlines collected $3.4 BILLION in baggage fees in 2010! $3.4 Billion! How many of you contributed to that ridiculous number? Jay and I definitely have – we even did on our short trip to Miami. Don’t judge us.

It’s just so difficult to pack smart especially with the 3.0 oz. liquid rule. How will I bring my sunscreen? I slather on tons of it because covering health news has made me paranoid about looking old and getting cancer.

Anyway — back to the baggage fees… It IS possible to travel for two-weeks – in Europe with only carry-on luggage. I know it’s possible because my good friend and fellow Hofstra University alum – has done it! It’s true! And she’s sharing all her secrets so we can all save money and time. Take notes… Read more

I Wrote an Ebook for Busy Moms

July 18, 2011/in Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, Children, Decision Making, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Relationships, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

I’m thrilled to announce that I wrote an ebook called “Top 10 Lists Every Mom Needs“!

I designed the lists for Enough Time Moms, which is a new site dedicated to helping busy moms save time and money, while being more productive.

Some of the lists include: Ways to Save Time in the Morning, The Best Free Apps for Moms, and A List of Healthy Snacks to take on trips. Although the ebook is geared towards moms — any busy person can benefit from most of the lists.

Please check out the Enough Time Moms Facebook page and sign up for their newsletter to download the ebook.

I’d love to hear what you think!