We all have the same number of hours in the workday, but have you noticed that some people seem to get a lot more completed in those hours than others? 

The key to a productive day is time management. The good news is, with just a few changes in your day, you can boost your productivity and feel like a more accomplished, prepared and successful employee. 

Here’s what you need to know and some tips to try. 

• Write a to-do list every morning. While drinking your morning coffee/water/tea/juice/smoothie, take a moment and think about what you need to get done. What are your current projects? What needs to get done today or by the end of the week? Write everything out. Then review the list carefully and determine what absolutely needs to, or should, be done today. Rewrite or number your list accordingly. 

• Use your calendar. It’s so easy to get distracted by email or chat notifications. But those little alerts and dings can ruin your momentum. Instead, turn on the “do not disturb” or “busy” settings when you really need to focus. Set aside a few chunks of time in your day, maybe 10 minutes or so every hour or 20 minutes every few hours, to check and reply to email. The rest of your day is reserved for getting work done and you’ll be able to do more without the constant distraction. 

• Organize. What does your workspace look like? Can you find what you need quickly and easily? Or is every day a game of hide and seek? Being able to find what you need immediately means you’re able to focus and not waste time searching for that document or those numbers or that phone list that’s so important. Having your workspace organized to best meet your needs will save you time and help keep your concentration steady. 

• Prioritize. Inevitably, things will come up that will require you to rearrange your to-do list. That’s life. But the best way to keep your momentum going is to take a moment to check your list with the new task. What’s your top priority? Focus on that and work on only that project until it is completed. Then move on to the next task. Multi-tasking is not going to help you here; people who try to work on several things at once often end up making mistakes and needing to redo things later. 

• Set boundaries. In addition to using your calendar to block off time for work and for checking emails, make sure you schedule time in your day for breaks — and for when the workday will end. Protecting your time, and stepping away to give yourself a little mental refresh for a few minutes, will help you stay focused and in a good groove with what you need to get done. And when the workday is over, leave it behind. Close your computer, or otherwise step away from your work, and head home. You might want to set things in place for the morning, but leaving work at work will create a healthy boundary between your work life and home life. Keep the two separate and you’ll focus more on each in turn. 

The ability to be present and focused while at work is important and can help you be more productive and satisfied with what you’re doing. It can also help you feel like you’re contributing more to your team! 

If you’re still having a tough time getting projects done at work, maybe it’s time to consider a change. Davis Staffing can help! Take a look at the jobs we’re currently working to fill and we can put in a good word for you with our clients. Contact Davis Staffing today and let’s get started!