Tag Archive for: productivity

Try This Tip To Be Less Stressed

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Google Calendar

Google Calendar (Photo credit: HRC)

I have a productivity tip that will help you save time, your sanity and make sure you arrive stress free to dinners, meetings, phone calls and appointments.

The way to do this is to prepare and think ahead. Whenever I make plans for anything I instantly import them into my digital calendar. I use Outlook for work and Google Calendar for home stuff. As soon as I make the appointment I type in the time, date and how I will get there.

I make sure to do this right then and there so I don’t forget. If I move on to something else I’m sure to get wrapped up in that other project and might not remember what I’ve committed to do. So I put in all the pertinent information and figure out how exactly I’m getting there. If I’m taking the subway, walking or driving I make sure to get directions and include them in my calendar notes.

Then I set the reminder alarm for however long I think it will take me to get there plus 15 minutes. Sometimes you need a little time to get ready to go if you are doing something else. So I add in this extra pad for myself.

When I’m ready to leave , I just glance down at the directions I’ve already laid out — and I go. It’s a great system for arriving on time and unstressed.

Carrot: Bossy To-Do List App Makes Productivity a Game

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image_1I don’t usually respond well to bullies but for some reason I’m really liking the Carrot app because of it’s pushy ways.  I downloaded the to-do list app after a friend told me about it and I’ve been using it for several days.

The idea is that this to-do list with a personality will help you to get all your tasks ticked off.  And when I say “personality” I mean “attitude.”  Carrot’s mood changes depending on how productive you are.  It’s pretty funny actually.  But as you finish a task you earn points and unlock new features and get rewards.

Here’s my list of pros and cons:

PROS:

  1. The fun game-type format makes you want to complete tasks to find out imagewhat Carrot has in store next.
  2. It’s very easy to use and intuitive.
  3. One of the gifts I was given was a cat named Captain Whiskers.  How cute! 

CONS:

  1. Not very forgiving if you make a mistake at first.  As you work your way through the levels you are able to edit, undo and change tasks.
  2. There aren’t any pictures of Captain Whiskers. I think they will probably improve on this in future versions to increase the fun factor.  
  3. I could see people getting tired of Carrot’s schtick and not using it after the novelty wears off.

I think this could be a fun way to get more done for a lot of people.  It’s definitely worth a try.  Let me know what you think of Carrot if you’re using it.  Also — I have no idea why it’s called Carrot.

Happy 2nd Birthday to My Blog

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Candles spell out the traditional English birt...

Candles spell out the traditional English birthday greeting (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My blog is two years old today!  Happy Birthday!  I can’t believe it — what started as a list to help me find an apartment has turned into one of the most fun things I’ve ever done.

Thank you to all who read regularly and all of you newbies too.  This year I’ve learned that it’s OK to take a break here and there — and not beat myself up over it!  I hope no one minds too much when I disappear for a few days.

Like some of my favorite things (wine!) in intend for this blog to get better with age!  Here’s some of the upcoming projects that I’ll be working on to make this blog even more fabulous:

  1. Posting more regularly with themed days! (Who doesn’t love a theme?)
  2. Uploading more tips and tricks via video.  (Sometimes talking is so much easier than typing. And I get to talk with my hands which speaks to my Italian heritage)
  3. A Private Productivity Assessment Giveaway! (Yes, I will post more details next week but I want to help you get more productive and
  4. Connect with my readers more often! (I’m thinking Twitter chats and more events with my Lists & Libations group)

If you have any ideas for blog posts or would like to team up on a project I’m all ears!  Please shoot me an email to Paula (at) ListProducer (dot) com.

Thanks for reading!

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Start Your Day Fresh, Not Frantic

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Home Office Toys

Home Office Toys (Photo credit: cogdogblog)

It happens to everyone from time to time.  You walk into your office and your day is completely derailed because of added meetings, ringing phones and creeping deadlines.  But there is a way to tame the beast.   Check out my latest YouTube video for my number one tip on how to start your day fresh, not frantic.  It’s a technique I’ve been using for years as a tv producer and it’s served me well!  Hope it works for you — let me know how you do.

 

Never Pick Up Your Phone Again

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Desk Phone

Desk Phone (Photo credit: mnadi)

I’m going to share a productivity tip I learned a long time ago.  In the past when I was working as a line producer of a local news station — I would always pick up my phone when it rang at my desk.  I had to — it might be about that night’s show.  Some people don’t have a choice.

But when I started producing longer-term stories and didn’t have a daily deadline the calls became too much.  I get pitched dozens and dozens of times per day — whether it be through email or phone.  If I talked to every single person who called — my productivity would suffer.  So instead — I use a simple trick that has been extremely successful for me.  Click on my latest YouTube video to find out how to make it work for you too.