Being productive at work can sometimes be a struggle. You start your day with all the best laid plans and enthusiasm, only to find yourself becoming distracted and procrastinating. At the end of the day, you feel defeated because you accomplished practically nothing.

So, how do you regain control of your day? Use these five strategies to become more productive and get more done.

How To Be Productive At Work

1. Prioritize Tasks

Sometimes, it seems like our to-do lists are never-ending so it’s essential to prioritize the tasks we complete first. Write out your complete list of assignments and figure out which ones are most important. Start with those and work your way down to the least significant jobs.

2. Try Time Blocking

Schedule tasks from your to-do list to be completed at specific times throughout the day. This may sound rigid but it really does work. After I started using this method, I definitely found that I got more done.

Time blocking helps to keep you on track and focused. You don’t waste time thinking what to do next because it’s already scheduled. This technique also helps to eliminate multi-tasking because you have one task on your schedule to do at a time.

Take a few minutes each day and look at your to-do list. You can do this in the morning before you start work but I prefer to complete this the previous evening. Pick 3-5 tasks that you know you can complete in one day and add them to your calendar. Dedicate 60-90 minutes to each assignment and schedule breaks in between each job. This prevents you from getting burnt out.

3. Start With The Hardest Task

There’s always something on your to-do list that you’re dreading. It’s usually a difficult or time-consuming task or something we just don’t enjoy.

Always start your day off by completing this particular task. This method is called “eating the frog”. If you get that one thing out of the way, you’ll set yourself up for success because nothing will seem as tedious as that was. Even if you only get that one assignment done, you’ll feel accomplished because it was the toughest task you had to do that day.

4. Eliminate Distractions

There’s no shortage of distractions when you’re trying to be productive at work. Co-workers stop by to chat, the incessant stream of phone calls and emails and not to mention, your Facebook page is just calling your name. It can be tough to buckle down and block it all out but that’s exactly what you need to do.

Ask your co-workers to hold their calls until a particular time unless it’s an emergency. Schedule time for checking emails and deal with them all then. Politely ask chatty colleagues not to disturb you during certain times. Find ways to eliminate disturbances as much as possible.

If your attempts to cut out the distractions are not working, tactfully speak to your supervisor about your concerns. I guarantee they want you to be able to complete as much work as you can so they should be willing to help.

Try one of these 8 Tools To Help Block Out Online Distractions.

5. Set Goals

Let’s face it. You may not always be onboard with your company’s goals or you may be completely unaware of what they are. It can be hard to be productive at work when you’re not actively trying to fulfill an objective.

If that’s the case, set some goals of your own. What do YOU want to accomplish in your career? And, what can you do to get there?

Read How To Set Goals- The Easy Way To Be Successful.

Having these goals in mind can seriously drive you and help you get more done. You now have a personal reason to work harder.

Productivity is not out of reach. You just have to find the remedies that work best for you within your personal work environment. Use these five strategies to get started.