1. Take a small first step

Getting things done is a skill. Just like with other skills, trying to do too much at once is not a good idea. If you are not a professional bodybuilder, you won’t be able to lift a 150-pound barbell right away. Same here: start small and break your projects into small manageable tasks.

2. Find a place where you are really productive

For some people, it’s a quiet library or a conference room in the office. For others, it’s a busy Starbucks or some other place with a lot of people. Figure out what works for you and stick with your routine.

3. Start early (or late)

Some people are early birds and are the most productive in the early mornings before others even wake up. Others like to work at night when it’s quiet and everyone else is in bed.

4. Move your lunch hour

Everyone is taking lunch at around noon, which will make you waste precious time in a line to get your salad or to get into an elevator in the office. Stay clear from the crowds to enjoy some peaceful quiet time.

5. Take frequent short breaks

Some scientists suggest taking a ten-minute break every hour. Others believe in five-minute breaks every 30 minutes. You will be more productive if you give your brains and your body some relief during your workday.

6. Manage personal interactions

A quick chat by the coffee machine or by the water cooler can eat up a lot of time if it happens multiple times in a day. Schedule your time in such a way that personal interactions do not distract you from getting the work done.

7. Acknowledge the distractions

Distractions are an inevitable part of life. One of the best ways of dealing with them is to acknowledge them and to do some breathing exercises.

8. Reward yourself for successfully completing tasks

You are probably doing this already with things like taking a family on a vacation, getting an expensive suit when you close a deal or getting a promotion when you are successful at work.

Rewards work just as well when you apply them to small milestones and projects. Obviously, the sizes of the rewards need to correlate with the sizes of the tasks.

9. Take on new challenges

Big goals make projects inspiring and work interesting. Many of the big athletes perform better during playoffs or major championships because the stakes are so high and so important to them.

10. Maintain a consistent pace

It is important to figure out what works for you and stick with it. There are certain things that you can do to keep focus, stay on track or think clearly. You need to find what they are for you and be persistent and consistent about creating a routine that helps you be productive.

Looking for more great reads? Check out these related articles:

• Get Your To-Do List Under Control
• The “1-3-5 Rule” Completely Changed My To-Do List
• How to Use Avoidance to Boost Productivity
• Technology, Boundaries, and Taking a Break From Emails and Notifications for Awhile
• How to Spark Creativity in Your Workplace
• Want to Succeed? Write Down your Goals.
• 6 Productivity Techniques Worth Implementing ASAP
• The 8 Biggest Time-Management Obstacles and How to Avoid Them for Maximum Productivity
• 10 Tips for Creating a Personal Time-Management System
• 25 Time Management Tips to Make the Most of Your Work Day