how to be more productive | List Producer

Limit Your Options And Get More Done

July 29, 2014/1 Comment/in Apps, Benefits of List Making, Food, Happiness, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

(Photo credit: maclauren70)

We often think that the more choices we have the better. That’s the whole idea behind bigger supermarkets and larger malls – more choices. But is that really what’s best for us?

For example, if you’re a bridesmaid picking your dress can be a fairly daunting task, especially if the bride has told you to wear whatever you like. You know very well that she’d be unhappy if you really did wear whatever you like so you second guess every option. But if the bride narrows it down to a specific color and designer — the choice suddenly becomes much easier.

This concept is called decision fatigue – the central premise being that the more decisions we make the less likely we are to make good decisions. Once you accept that fewer choices are better you can start being more productive and improve your judgement.

Follow the items on this list to limit your options: Read more

Be More Productive While Driving to Work

July 27, 2014/0 Comments/in Apps, Books, Increase Productivity, People, Saving Time, Technology/by Paula Rizzo

(Photo credit: neoporcupine)

In many of my post I advocate using your commute time on the train to get some of your work done. Which is great, if you live in the city like me, but I know many people who commute to work by car. I remember the days, I used to do it myself. I’d drive an hour each way back and forth to the city when I lived in the suburbs.

Here’s some ideas to get more done while you cruise:

Audio books – I love reading, but finding the time to sit down with a book can be difficult. So why not listen to one on your commute? iTunes does an audio version of most books, or you can always try a service like audible.com. You could also try an app like Umano which read out popular articles to you. Read more

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

July 20, 2014/0 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Food, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, List Making, Saving Money/by Paula Rizzo

Coastal 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

Procrastination Planner Pinterest Giveaway

June 26, 2014/0 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Contest, Fellow List Producers, Increase Productivity/by Paula Rizzo

Given that I run a blog dedicated to productivity and list making, you might be surprised to learn that I’m actually a huge procrastinator. No really, I can be pretty slow with even the simple things like reading, eating, even chopping vegetables. I think that’s why working in the news business is so appealing to me. We have really strict deadlines, which forces me to do things quickly and not procrastinate. Read more

Pre-Order My Book Today!

June 22, 2014/0 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Books, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, List Making, Reduce Stress, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

ListfulThinking I’m so excited to announce that my book “Listful Thinking: Using Lists to be More Productive, Highly Successful and Less Stressed” is now available for pre-order! You can reserve your copy now from either Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Indigo.

Do you have family members who are list makers? Or friends could use a few productivity tips? Then I have an extra special offer for you – if you pre-order 3 copies of my book you’ll get a free 30-minute phone or Skype call with me to assess your productivity!

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