Paper calendars are a great alternative if you want the satisfaction of crossing things off or you like processing your to-do list visually. [2] X Expert Source Alyssa ChangLife Coach Expert Interview. 16 October 2019.

It can take awhile to identify your energy peaks. Try tracking your energy level and overall focus throughout the day for a week or so. This should help you figure out when you would be the most productive.

For example, say you work from eight to four and need to call your grandmother for her birthday and pick up your dry cleaning after work. In the morning, figure out what order you should do those activities. If your grandmother is in a later timezone, plan to call her after work so it’s not too late where she is. Then, plan on picking up your dry cleaning.

Schedule large breaks or interruptions in addition to tiny deviations from your work throughout the day. For example, plan to have an hour-long lunch at one in the afternoon each day and to watch half an hour of television to unwind after returning from work. You can also plan tiny interruptions during daily tasks. For example, say you’re writing a paper. Allow yourself five minutes to check Facebook per 500 words you write.

For example, you could briefly check and review e-mails during the weekend and then send out a few so that you’ll have fewer e-mails piled up by Monday. Alternatively, you can just flag those that will require immediate attention on Monday morning.

Before making your list, write down categories in terms of important. For example, tasks labeled “urgent” must be done today. Tasks labeled “important, but not urgent” are important to do, but can wait. Tasks with labels like “low-priority” can be put off if necessary. List tasks under each category. For example, if you need to finish a report for work, that would be an urgent task. If you need to begin another work project, but the deadline is not for another two weeks, that would be an “important, but not urgent” task. If you would like to go for a run after work, but it’s not vital, that would be a “low-priority” task.

For example, if you have five e-mails you need to respond to and a report that must be proofread, do that as soon as you get into the office. Stop any unnecessary socializing before you start your priority tasks.

If you’re a student, think about investing in some audiobooks or recording your lectures. While waiting in line or walking to class, you can listen to material for your courses.

For example, return all your emails. Then, log out of your email account and move on to another task. Do not worry about your email for now. If you need to return more emails later in the day, you can do that after you complete the task at hand.

For example, maybe a particular artist inspires you. Invest in a few prints of their paintings and hang these up on your walls. If you can choose a particular space to work, choose a space free of distractions. Working in front of your television may be a bad idea, but maybe you can push a desk into the corner of your bedroom and work there.

If it’s necessary for you to have your phone on for work, place it across the room. If it’s not as easy to access your phone, you’re less likely to do it. You can also turn off any notifications on your phone that are not necessary to work.

Challenge yourself to only have one or two tabs opened at a time.

SelfControl is an app for Mac users that blocks access to any sites you choose for a set period of time. It is free to download. If you need to get offline altogether, the app Freedom allows you to block your access to the internet for up to eight hours at a time. The Firefox add-on Leechblock allows you to limit your use of certain sites to a set period per day.

For example, if you realize you need to return an e-mail while you’re in the middle of something else, do not stop to return the e-mail. Instead, jot down somewhere that you need to send the e-mail and get to it after you finish the task at hand. Keep in mind, sometimes disruptions are inevitable. If you receive an urgent phone call during a task, for example, you should definitely take the call. Do your best to avoid interruptions, but do not beat yourself up over the occasional distraction during your work.