reduce stress | List Producer

8 Last-Minute Packing Reminders

September 8, 2013/0 Comments/in Apps, Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, List Making, Reduce Stress, Saving Time, Travel/by Paula Rizzo

English: Photo of luggage (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I don’t really need any excuses to make a list. But whether it is getting ready for a vacation or planning a major move, there is nothing like travel to send me into super list-making mode. I’ve made lists of:

things to do before I leave
things I need to buy before I go
things I need to remember to pack

But no matter how organized I am or how early I start packing, there are always a few things I can’t pack ahead of time because I use them so frequently. I created a list of “Last Minute Packing Reminders” – may you never stress that you left the stove on or visit an airport convenience store again!

Outsourcing Your Life

August 20, 2013/1 Comment/in Increase Productivity, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time/by Paula Rizzo

Help Wanted? (Photo credit: brizzle born and bred)

I’ve written a lot about how important it is to remember that you are just one person. Give yourself a break sometimes! It’s not always possible to get everything done on your own, which is why sometimes, you have to ask for help. I finally took my own advice and enlisted the help of some interns — wow has my life gotten better. It’s really amazing what giving up a little control can do.

I haven’t always found it easy to let someone else help me out, but when I went to the BlogHer ’13 convention in Chicago, I sat in on a session, run by Meagan Francis, about outsourcing and why you should do it…and I’m so glad I did. There are major benefits that come from having an extra set of hands: Read more

Simple Ways To Make Your Life Easier

August 18, 2013/0 Comments/in Increase Productivity, List Making, Reduce Stress, Saving Time/by Paula Rizzo

Day 89 – After The Run (Photo credit: slgckgc)

Sometimes the simplest thing can help you accomplish so much more. Like tying your shoe the right way! Sounds silly, right? I thought so too, but humor me for a minute. I found a video of the very first three-minute TED talk in 2005 where Terry Moore told his audience that many of them were actually tying their shoes incorrectly…as he had been doing until about three years prior!

As it turns out, there is a “strong form” of the knot used to tie your shoes, and it can make your life the teensiest bit easier because it won’t come untied as often as the “weak form” of the knot.

So, in honor of Moore’s statement that, “Sometimes a small advantage somewhere in life can yield tremendous results someplace else,” here is a list of things you can do to gain a small advantage here and there: Read more

Reasons to Take a Staycation

August 6, 2013/2 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Books, Decision Making, Food, Health, Home, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, List Making, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time, Tool for Success, Travel/by Paula Rizzo

For the whole summer, everyone is daydreaming about jetting off for a beach getaway. I bet very few of you dream of staying near home for your vacation, but don’t sell it short! In hindsight, it’s easy to overlook all the bad parts of a taking a trip – the delayed flights, missed connections and lost luggage.

So next time you think you need a break, consider taking a “staycation” instead. This could mean that you stay in a hotel just down the road, or it could mean that you look to buy a “holiday home” near you. This way you’ve always got a place to go on the weekends or somewhere to use if you have guests staying with you.

List of Must-Watch TV Shows

July 2, 2013/0 Comments/in Holidays, Home, Reduce Stress, Technology, TV/by Paula Rizzo

Breaking Bad (season 2) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’ve literally been glued to my TV for weeks watching Breaking Bad on Netflix.

Each night Jay and I would watch a few episodes and we are finally all caught up and excited for the series finale in August. The writing and the characters are superb. If you don’t watch it — you need to!

Summer can be a great time to indulge a little and catch up any TV episodes you missed last season or discover your new favorite show. Access to old TV shows has never been easier — with the amount of streaming videos available online, a marathon of your favorite series can be just a few clicks away.

And the best part is, you don’t need to sit through commercials or wait through the end-of-the-season cliffhangers — its all right there for you to watch when you want. (That’s one of my favorite parts about watching an old show. All the episodes are already out!) So break out the popcorn and get cozy on your couch!

Set aside some time this summer to relax and unwind. Here’s my list of TV shows to give a try:

Breaking Bad (Netflix, Amazon Instant Video)
Homeland (Amazon Instant Video, Showtime Online, iTunes)
Downton Abby (Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus)
The Sopranos (HBO Go, HBO on Demand)
Lost (Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus)
Grey’s Anatomy (Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus)
Bones (Netflix, Amazon Instant Video)
Mad Men (Netflix, Amazon Instant Video)
Alias (Netflix, Amazon Instant Video)
Dexter (Amazon Instant Video)
Heroes (Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus)
Girls (Amazon Instant Video)

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